Illinois
Wyndham Hotel Group is overhauling the 334-room Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront, renovating and rebranding the former Hotel 71. Eighteen thousand square feet of meeting space will include 14 event rooms, a new 4,700-square-foot grand ballroom and a 1,660-square-foot outdoor terrace on the 39th floor. The first phase of the project is scheduled to wrap up this summer and will update guest rooms and improve elevators.
Chicago’s River North neighborhood welcomed a triumvirate of lodging options, with the opening of Aloft, Fairfield Inn & Suites and Hyatt Place properties on the same city block. With 272, 180 and 212 guest rooms, respectively, the Aloft Chicago City Center, Fairfield Inn & Suites Downtown Chicago/River North and Hyatt Place Chicago/River North hotels offer an assortment of amenities and price points.
The city of Naperville announced plans for a large conference center that will include a 168-room Embassy Suites hotel with 13,000 square feet of function space. If completed, the Freedom Plaza development will sit atop 13 acres of vacant land.
Iowa
The new 267-room DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex opened in June, as part of a $144 million capital improvement project in the area surrounding the 9,600-seat U.S. Cellular Arena and 80,000-square-foot convention center. The hotel was formerly the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons.
Michigan
The 225-room Holiday Inn Ann Arbor-Near the University of Michigan is undergoing a property update. The campus hotel offers more than 6,000 square feet of meeting space, accommodating events of up to 500 guests.
Nebraska
Carlson Rezidor opened the 110-room Country Inn & Suites, Lincoln Airport and added a Country Inn & Suites location in Traverse City, with 176 guest rooms located near Cherry Capitol Airport.
North Dakota
Choice Hotels International broke ground on a new 103-room Cambria Suites in West Fargo. The hotel will be connected to a 15,000-square-foot conference center that is currently in planning stages.
Wisconsin
The $54 million Milwaukee Marriott Downtown is now open, after being completed a few weeks ahead of schedule. The 205-room hotel is the brand’s first full-service property in the city and has 9,000 square feet of meeting space.