Illinois
- The InterContinental Chicago in May completed major renovations at the Michigan Avenue-based property. The hotel features 792 refurbished guest rooms, including 73 suites. The multimillion-dollar refurbishment included 328 of the guest rooms and suites, along with the corridors of select floors inside the Historic Tower of the hotel. Originally built in 1929 as the Medinah Athletic Club, an exclusive luxury men’s club, the property is a Chicago landmark. The hotel’s junior Olympic-size pool is recognized as one of the best indoor pools in the U.S. For more information, call 312.944.4100 .
- Work is under way on the expansion of the Tinley Park Convention Center in south Chicago. An additional 24,000 square feet of exhibit space will be built, bringing the total of contiguous space to more than 58,000 square feet. Also part of the project will be 9,000 square feet of function space. More than 20 breakout rooms are planned as part of the expansion project, as well as the addition of a warming/serving kitchen. Other features will include Wi-Fi connectivity and a business center. The expansion is scheduled to be completed in May 2011. A 202-room Holiday Inn Hotel is connected to the Tinley Park Convention Center. For more information, call 708.895.8200.
- Alliance Hospitality Management, a hotel management company located in Raleigh, N.C., was selected to operate the Hilton Garden Inn St. Louis Shiloh/O’Fallon and adjacent Regency Conference Center, located in O’Fallon. The 128-room hotel features 32-inch high-definition televisions in each room and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. There is also a fitness center, heated indoor pool and Jacuzzi, outdoor jogging trail and business center. The conference center offers over 18,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space on a six-acre lake with fountains and a garden suitable for outdoor events. Meeting spaces include the Tuscany Grand Ballroom, the Becky Henry room and the Naples Executive Boardroom, which has a 50-inch plasma television and a 14-seat boardroom table. For more information, call the hotel at 618.624.4499 or visit or call the conference center at 618.624.9999.
Michigan
- A multimillion-dollar renovation recently wrapped up at the 155-room Baronette Renaissance Detroit-Novi Hotel, formerly the Baronette Hotel. The property’s interior received a complete overhaul, and guest rooms and public spaces were redone. Guest rooms now have 37-inch flat-screen televisions and Detroit-themed artwork. The property offers 6,600 square feet of meeting space as well as a new fitness center. For more information, call 248.349.7800.
Missouri
- Leisure Hotels & Resorts took over management of the 116-suite Resort & Yacht Club at Toad Cove in Lake Ozark. The property was renamed Camden on the Lake Resort, Spa & Yacht Club. The hotel offers over 9,000 square feet of event space, revamped restaurants and expanded services at the yacht club and marina. Ongoing improvements include guest room renovations and additional meeting space as well as a new restaurant. Amenities include a fitness center and full-service spa, open-air pool area with a swim-up bar and wave runner rentals, among many other features. For more information, call 888.365.5620.
Wisconsin
- The Hyatt Place Madison/Downtown opened in April as the first Hyatt hotel in Madison. The hotel is within walking distance to the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, State Capitol Square, Overture Center for the Arts and Monona Terrace Convention Center. The property offers 151 guest rooms, all of which feature a 42-inch high-definition television, and there is complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel. Other amenities include nearly 2,500 square feet of meeting space and a fitness center. Groups can use the property’s 6,600-square-foot ballroom as well as its executive conference room, reception/breakout room with a lake view, and outdoor seating and outdoor function space. Also available is a 48-seat movie and presentation theater equipped with surround sound. For more information, call 608.257.2700 .