Illinois
- The Hyatt Regency Chicago recently completed a $90 million renovation, which features a remodel and transformation of the hotel's 2,019 guest rooms and suites. The hotel also offers 228,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and six restaurants and lounges. In addition to the hotel's current environmental efforts, the renovation introduced energy-efficient lighting and low-flow showerheads, among other sustainability initiatives. For more information, call 312.565.1234 or visit www.chicagohyatt.com.
- Kimpton Hotel & Restaurants' Monaco Chicago recently unveiled a $3 million guest room upgrade. The 191-room hotel now offers a Tranquility Suite with an in-room water fountain, in-room massage rollers, sound machines, sleep masks and towel warmers. A "black-out" option is also available, so guests can voluntarily forfeit all methods of electronic communication at check-in. For more information, call 312.960.8500 or visit www.monaco-chicago.com.
- Chicago's Hotel Cass–A Holiday Inn Express at Magnificent Mile recently completed its half-million-dollar renovation, primarily focused on a new fitness room, corridors and guest room upgrades. The 174-room hotel offers free Wi-Fi and features 1920s Beaux-Arts style architecture. For more information, call 312.787.4030 or visit www.hotelcass.com.
- Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Peoria is slated to open in July with 319 guest rooms and more than 19,000 square feet of meeting space. Extensive renovations to all guest rooms and public areas will take place at the former Holiday Inn in preparation for its new start as a Four Points. The hotel will offer an indoor pool and sauna, 24-hour fitness center and business center, full-service restaurant, free Wi-Fi in public spaces and free Internet access in all guest rooms. For more information, call 309.674.2500 or visit www.fourpoints.com.
Michigan
- An $8.5 million renovation of the 197-room Four Points by Sheraton Ann Arbor was unveiled in May. The renovation of the 197 guest rooms included the addition of 37-inch flat-screen televisions and high-speed Internet access. The hotel also features a fitness center, indoor swimming pool, whirlpool and 15,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including the largest ballroom in Ann Arbor, which can accommodate up to 600. The hotel lobby features open spaces, free Wi-Fi access and a communal lounge. For more information, call 734.996.0600 or visit www.fourpointsannarbor.com.
- Detroit's Cobo Center is continuing a transformation that includes the addition of about 25,000 square feet to the rear of Wayne Hall, one of the four contiguous exhibit halls on the main floor. The additional space is scheduled for completion by November and is part of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority's three-year, three-phased $270 million plan for the reinvention of the convention facility, with the entire project due for completion by 2015. When complete, Cobo will be equipped with over 150,000 square feet of additional meeting and show floor space. Other upgrades during the third and final phase will include the reinvention of Cobo Arena as a 40,000-square-foot ballroom with supporting meeting, prefunction and back-of-house spaces. Work on this new ballroom begins this summer and will feature a glass wall and open-air terrace facing Hart Plaza and Detroit's downtown, as well as prefunction space. There will also be a new three-story glass atrium that links the main floor of the venue with a new entrance facing the Detroit River and a reconfiguration of most meeting and breakout room space throughout the venue. For more information, call 313.877.8777 or visit www.cobocenter.com.
- The Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Saginaw recently debuted 10 minutes from Saginaw Airport. The hotel offers a fitness center and outdoor pool, which is expected to be enclosed by this fall. Meeting space is available for up to 30 people. The 104-room hotel also features whirlpool suites, one-bedroom suites and guest rooms with flat-panel televisions, among many other amenities. For more information, call 989.792.7666 or visit www.countryinns.com.
Missouri
- The Wildwood Town Center Hotel recently took the wraps off its new 5,300-square-foot banquet and conference facility. The 110-room hotel also offers a 150-seat restaurant and is currently looking for a tenant. For more information, call 636.733.9100 or visit www.ascendcollection.com.