Illinois
- Hotel Felix, Chicago’s first hotel designed to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, debuted in April. Originally designed in 1926, the former Hotel Wacker closed for redevelopment in 2007. Following a more than $50 million renovation, the property is now a 225-room boutique hotel with a wellness spa and three small conference rooms. Hotel guests arriving in a hybrid auto receive complimentary valet parking. Other amenities include complimentary wireless Internet throughout the property and wired high-speed connectivity in guest rooms. For more information, call 312.447.3440 or visit www.hotelfelixchicago.com.
- The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, a Four Seasons Hotel, located atop Chicago’s Water Tower Place, unveiled in May a multimillion-dollar restyling of its guest rooms and suites. Guest rooms offer high-speed, wireless Internet access and 42-inch flat-screen televisions. For more information, call 312.266.1000 or visit www.fourseasons.com/chicagorc.
- The 234-room Sheraton Iowa City Hotel is undergoing a more than $11 million renovation, expected to be completed by mid-August. All guest rooms will receive new 37-inch flat-screen televisions and meeting space will be upgraded. The restaurant will be completely redesigned to incorporate a new wine lounge/small plates bistro and multipurpose meeting space. The nine-story hotel features 13,000 square feet of meeting space, including 2,000 square feet of additional space being added to the lobby level, high-speed Internet access throughout the property, an indoor pool and whirlpool, 24-hour fitness center and a business center. For more information, call 319.337.4058 or visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
- The GuestHouse International Inn & Suites, formerly the ClubHouse Inn, opened in Wichita in February. The hotel features 118 guest rooms, an outdoor courtyard with a heated swimming pool and a 600-square-foot meeting room. For more information, call 316.684.1111 or visit www.guesthouseintl.com.
- The 210-room Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis Downtown opened in February and features guest rooms and suites offering complimentary wired and Wi-Fi high-speed Internet access, flat-screen televisions, and a clock that allows guests to play their MP3 player. The hotel also features a complimentary 24-hour business center and five meeting rooms offering 3,000 square feet of meeting space. For more information, call 612.339.6633 or visit www.hiltongardenmin neapolis.com.
- Doubletree Hotel Collinsville/St. Louis, formerly a Holiday Inn, opened in March adjacent to the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. Following the completion of a $12 million enhancement project, the hotel offers 236 guest rooms and features 7,500 square feet of meeting space. Each guest room offers a 32-inch, flat-screen television and complimentary high-speed Internet access. The meeting space includes 11 flexible banquet and conference rooms. Other hotel features include an indoor pool, fitness facility and a new lobby bar. For more information, call 618.345.2800 or visit http://collinsvillestlouis.doubletree.com.
- The 910-room Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront is undergoing a $63 million renovation slated for completion in July. The overhaul includes 52 new suites, 350 newly designed rooms with Gateway Arch views, a new pool deck and observation area on the top floor and three new restaurants. Guest rooms will feature 37-inch flat-screen televisions with digital videos and high-speed Internet access. The hotel will feature a new 3,000-square-foot, 24-hour health club. The makeover also includes the addition of two meeting rooms, totaling 4,500 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space on the 18th floor. One of the meeting rooms will feature glass doors that will open up onto a 1,900-square-foot outdoor terrace and observation area. The additional 76,500 square feet of meeting space will also receive a makeover. All meeting rooms will be equipped with high-speed wireless Internet capabilities. For more information, call 314.655.1234 or visit www.stlouisriverfront.hyatt.com.
- The aloft Green Bay opened in April with 105 guest rooms. Each room is equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access and a 42-inch flat-panel, HDTV-ready television. Other amenities include a fitness center and splash pool as well as a 448-square-foot meeting room. For more information, call 920.884.0800 or visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
- The 118-room Staybridge Suites Milwaukee Airport South in Franklin opened in March. The all-suite hotel features three suite options—deluxe studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom. The hotel also offers 1,600 square feet of flexible meeting space, including four meeting rooms with high-speed Internet access. For more information, call 414.761.2800 or visit www.ichotelsgroup.com.