Illinois
- Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago is slated to open later this year. This hotel will occupy 18 floors of the 87-story Aqua, Chicago's newest skyscraper, and feature 334 guest rooms and suites. Accommodations will come equipped with Internet access and flat-screen televisions. All of the rooms will have views across Lake Michigan, downtown Chicago or Millennium Park. The hotel will have more than 28,592 square feet of event space, including a 12,035-square-foot ballroom with views from 20-foot-high, floor-to-ceiling windows. For more information, call 312.565.5258 or visit www.radissonblu.com.
- A Chicago-area developer plans to begin work by August or September on an $18 million conversion of the historic Loyalty Building into a downtown hotel. First Hospitality Group is working to convert the building into a 128-room Hilton Garden Inn by June 2012. First Hospitality also plans to use the nearby Grain Exchange Room at the Mackie Building as the Hilton Garden Inn's banquet and catering facility. The Loyalty Building will include smaller meeting rooms along with guest rooms and an atrium lobby. For more information, call 847.299.9040 or visit www.fhginc.com.
Indiana
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Wayne recently opened as a six-story, 79-suite hotel. The property offers studio, one- and two-bedroom suites. Additional amenities include a fitness center, basketball court, 24-hour executive business center and approximately 625 square feet of flexible meeting space. For more information, call 260.432.5100 or visit http://homewoodsuites1.hilton.com.
Michigan
- The 80-room Fairfield Inn & Suites Flint Fenton opened in June. The hotel offers guests easy access to Lake Fenton, the Michigan Renaissance Festival and the Mt. Holly Ski Resort. Among the options are rooms with Jacuzzi tubs. Other hotel amenities include a heated indoor swimming pool, fitness center and free high-speed Internet access. The hotel also offers 920 square feet of meeting space. For more information, call 810.629.0400 or visit www.fairfieldinn.com.
- An $18 million renovation is planned for the 400-room Greektown Casino-Hotel, including interior remodeling, improved dining offerings and a new marketing campaign. The casino plans to modernize its Opa/Center and Apollo bars this year and possibly its patio overlooking Monroe Street. For more information, call 888.771.4386 or visit www.greektowncasino.com.