WHERE TO MEET, PLAY, AND EAT
The Langham, Chicago
The Langham, Chicago, occupies the first 13 floors of a stunning, 52-story glass skyscraper designed by celebrated Chicago architect Mies van der Rohe. It offers 15,000 square feet of meeting space.
Oak Street
Chicago's tony Oak Street is renowned for its high-end shopping. Attendees can drop a pretty penny at boutiques such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton.
The Field Museum
Originally built in connection with the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, The Field Museum today serves as Chicago's natural history museum and can host events for up to 15,000 amid spectacular exhibits.
Chicago's lakefront provides a spectacular backdrop for meetings and events
The Windy City and its environs have been humming lately with hotel openings and new enhancements that will not only attract, but "wow" groups. In June 2013, the city saw the expansion and renovation of the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, making it the fourth-largest hotel in Chicago. The hotel added a new 460-room tower with 12 suites and two premium suites. In addition, the lobby was renovated, as was the existing 800-room tower. That same month saw the emergence of a hotel trio in the rapidly developing River North district: the new 272-room Aloft Chicago City Center, a 212-room Hyatt Place, and a 180-room Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown/River North. They share 3,500 square feet of flexible meeting space.
Also in June, the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort in Lincolnshire, IL, completed a $13-million renovation that included updating its 221 guest rooms, its 72,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, and its state-of-the-art fitness center. The resort is located on 175 acres in Chicago's North Shore suburbs and features on-site attractions such as the Marriott Theatre, Crane's Landing 18-hole PGA golf course, four restaurants, two swimming pools, and an on-site working farm. The bees on the farm produce honey for the resort's restaurants as well as for the local Honey Badger craft beer.
In February, the city saw the opening of the Godfrey Hotel Chicago, located in River North. The property offers 221 rooms and a 15,000-square-foot rooftop bar and lounge called the IO Urban Roofscape. The IO Urban Roofscape is the largest 12-month outdoor lounge and bar space in Chicago, able to host up to 1,500 guests.
Also in February, the Kinzie Hotel opened with 215 rooms following a multimillion-dollar renovation of the space that previously housed the Amalfi Hotel. The upscale hotel boasts a timeless contemporary look and new image that pays tribute to John Kinzie, an important figure in Chicago history.
In April, downtown Chicago's Silversmith Hotel announced the completion of its own multimillion-dollar renovations and the opening of the lounge and restaurant, Adamus. A nod to the ancient Latin term for diamond, the venue focuses on handcrafted cocktails, tempting food, and social interaction around a communal table.
This spring, U.K.-based InterContinental Hotel Groups announced its plans to open the Hotel Indigo Chicago - Millennium Park, a new 156-room hotel located on Michigan Avenue just north of Millennium Park. An estimated $20-million renovation will include adding floors, a rooftop bar, and an 8,000-square-foot multi-level restaurant.
Meanwhile, the Hotel Sax Chicago is in the process of becoming the first Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel in Chicago, called Hotel Chicago. This centrally located and meeting-centric property in River North is transitioning to Marriot this year.
In July, the Avenue Crown Plaza Chicago will become two Hilton properties: the 230-room Hampton Inn & Suites Magnificent Mile, and the 120-room Homewood Suites Magnificent Mile. The hotel remains open as Avenue Crown Plaza Chicago until then. The new lobby will have separate check-in desks for both hotels, and conventions will primarily contract Hampton Inn rooms.
Also in July, the 172-room Le Méridien Chicago Oakbrook Center in Oak Brook, IL, will unveil a $25-million renovation that includes the creation of two luxury spa "suites" and a 3,000-square-foot Grand Salon Ballroom and Executive Club Lounge on the ninth floor, which will also house a new bar and restaurant.
This fall, a joint hotel project between Chicago-based AJ Capital Partners LLC and San Francisco-based Geolo Capital is expected to open on Michigan Ave. The 240-room property will be housed in former Chicago Athletic Association landmark buildings. Also this fall, the new 250-room Virgin Hotel Chicago will open in the historic art deco Dearborn Bank Building.
Next year, Loews Hotels and Resorts plans to open a new 400-room hotel on the lower floors of a 52-story residential building along the north bank of the Chicago River. The property is expected to offer 25,000 square feet of meeting space.