Illinois
- Hilton Chicago completed the first of four phases of its $150 million renovation. The 238-seat 720 South Bar & Grill restaurant was added to the lobby level and the opening of the Buckingham Room added meeting space on the same level. The hotel is located near McCormick Place and offers 234,000 square feet of exhibition space. Four-hundred-fifty-four of the property’s 1,544 guest rooms were updated. For more information, call 312.922.4400 or visit www.hilton.com/chicago.
- The Langham, Chicago is now scheduled to open in 2013 in the former IBM building designed by Mies van der Rohe along the Chicago River. The 320-room luxury property will offer 20,000 square feet of flexible event space and a 9,000-square-foot spa. The landmark building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. Dining options will include the historic Palm Court restaurant and a summer alfresco patio restaurant along the river. For more information, visit www.chicago.langhamhotels.com.
Minnesota
- Hyatt Regency Minneapolis completed a $25 million renovation of its guest rooms, suites, public areas and restaurants. The Stonehill & Taylor architecture and design firm made a goal of using materials produced within a 500-mile radius of Minnesota. The downtown property is located on the Nicolette Mall and offers direct access to the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Hyatt offers 74,000 square feet of meeting facilities and the 5,500-square-foot Prairie Kitchen & Bar is now open, serving locally sourced dishes. For more information, call 612.370.1234 or visit www.minneapolis.hyatt.com.
- DoubleTree by Hilton St. Paul Downtown opened in May. The former Hilton Garden Inn St. Paul City Center is located blocks from the St. Paul RiverCentre convention complex and 10 miles from the Minneapolis Convention Center. There are 251 guest rooms and 12,000 square feet of event space, accomodating up to 600 guests. For more information, call 651.291.8800 or visit www.doubletree.com.
Nebraska
- Ground was broken this month on the new Hyatt Place Omaha Downtown/Old Market. The property is an approximately $27 million investment for Hyatt and will be the brand’s first hotel in Nebraska. The 10-story, 159-room Hyatt Place is slated to open in 2014 and is located near retail, dining and corporate meeting facilities. For more information, visit www.place.hyatt.com.
South Dakota
- Choice Hotels International and Swift Hospitality group opened the new 111-room Cambria Suites Hotel in Rapid City. The hotel offers 1,500 square feet of meeting space and an indoor pool. For more information, call 605.341.0101 or visit www.cambriasuites.com.
- The new Adoba Eco Hotel Rapid City/Mt. Rushmore offers sustainable design touches and a 2,340-square-foot ballroom, coupled with a downtown location near local sights. A repositioning and expanded sustainability practices are planned for this fall. The 177-room hotel has two restaurants. For more information, call 605.348.8300 or visit www.adobarapidcity.com.