PUBLIC Chicago (312.787.3700; www.publichotels.com) opened in October in the former Ambassador East Hotel. The 285-room boutique property offers 8,600 square feet of meeting space.
The $125 million Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago (312.565.5258; www.radissonblu.com) opened in November. With a sophisticated style inspired by fashion, the property offers 334 guest rooms and more than 25,800 square feet of meeting space.
Hotel Lincoln (312.254.4700; www.hotellincolnchicago.com) debuted in February in Lincoln Park. The boutique property, operated by Joie de Vivre, offers 184 guest rooms, meeting space for 80 with lake and park views, and a rooftop bar.
The former Elysian Hotel was rebranded as the Waldorf Astoria Chicago (312.646.1300; www.wachicago.com) in February. The property offers 188 guest rooms and 4,500 square feet of event space. The hotel houses the Michelin-starred restaurant, Having.
In 2013, the landmark Miles van der Rohe building will be transformed into the Langham Chicago Hotel (www.langhamhotels.com). The riverfront property will offer 320 guest rooms, 20,000 square feet of meeting space and a 9,000-square-foot spa. The hotel will also house a fine restaurant expected to rival Langham’s other Michelin Award-winning eateries.
Aloft Chicago City Center (877.462.5638; www.starwoodhotels.com) is scheduled to open in 2014 at Clark and Illinois streets in Chicago’s business district. The modern, 274-room hotel will focus on connectivity with free Wi-Fi, plug-and-play centers in rooms, state-of-the-art meeting space and a stylish bar.
Virgin Hotels is converting Chicago’s Old Dearborn Bank Building into the 250-room Virgin Hotel Chicago (212.966.2310; www.virginhotels.com). Expected to open in 2013, the new property will offer 250 guest rooms in the heart of the Loop. The Art Deco building was erected in 1928.
The Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park (800.257.7544; www.fairmont.com/chicago) recently completed a $50 millionrenovation.
Swissotel (312.565.0565; www.swissotelchicago.com) began a $10 million renovation of its lobby and meeting space in December.
Hotel 71 (312.346.7100; www.hotel71.com) recently completed a $20 million renovation that included enhancements to guest rooms, the 39th-floor penthouse ballroom and the lobby. A new business center and a fitness center were also added.
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place (312.567.1234; www.mccormickplace.hyatt.com) is set to undergo an $87 million renovation and expansion scheduled for completion in 2013.The project will add a new 461-room guest tower and significantly upgrade the South Loop property’s existing 800 rooms and 43,500 square feet of event space. The Hyatt is connected toMcCormick Place Convention Center via enclosed skybridge.
Renaissance North Shore Hotel (847.498.6500; www.marriott.com) is slated to undergo a $7.5 million upgrade to its 385 guest rooms and 22,000 square feet of meeting space in 2013.
Located in Logan Square 10 minutes from the Loop, Greenhouse Loft (312.733.5762; www.greenhouseloft.com) is a new event venue that opened in November with 3,500 square feet of flexible space. The facility is housed inside the LEED Platinum-certified Green Exchange building. Features include floor-to-ceiling windows and an 8,000-square-foot organic garden.
