Illinois
The Westin Chicago River North recently completed an extensive renovation to its 429 guest rooms and 20th-floor executive club lounge. The property now features 19 meeting rooms and more than 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with the addition of the Riverfront Room. The hotel is also introducing the Treadmill Desk. This sit-stand-walk workstation is being piloted in a guest room on-property.
The Omni Chicago Hotel in June completed an $11 million renovation. This multiyear makeover transformed 347 suites, including 10 specialty suites, all public space located within the hotel, which also included updates to the 676 Restaurant & Bar, the hotel’s nine meeting rooms and its 8,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel also added an additional meeting room, the Van Gogh Room, which features 1,624 square feet of meeting space able to accommodate up to 120 people.
The 95-suite TownePlace Suites Champaign debuted in July. The property offers studio and one-bedroom suites. Hotel amenities include a full-service bar, an indoor pool, fitness center, bike rentals, a meeting room, complimentary Wi-Fi and on-site business services.
Hampton Inn & Suites Bloomington-Normal reopened in June following renovations. During the six-month renovation all 128 guest rooms were upgraded. The property offers guests access to an on-site fitness facility, flexible meeting facility, indoor pool, whirlpool and free Wi-Fi.
Michigan
Hampton Inn Ann Arbor-North reopened in June following an extensive renovation. During the six-month project, each of the 129 guest rooms was upgraded. The property offers guests access to an indoor swimming pool, business center and on-site fitness facility.
Minnesota
Ashford Hospitality Trust will acquire two Minneapolis hotels, the 229-room W Minneapolis Hotel—The Foshay, and the 60-room Le Meridien Chambers Minneapolis hotel, for a total consideration of $101 million in cash. Hotel amenities at The Foshay include 6,700 square feet of meeting space and the open-aired Foshay Tower Museum and Observation Deck. The Le Meridien Chambers Minneapolis offers 60 guest rooms and 3,648 square feet of meeting space.
The 67-room Fairfield Inn & Suites East Grand Forks recently opened near Grand Forks International Airport. Hotel amenities include an indoor swimming pool, exercise room and free Wi-Fi, as well as 1,900 square feet of function space.
Ohio
Formerly a Holiday Inn, the 267-room DoubleTree by Hilton Cleveland—Westlake recently opened 12 miles from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The property underwent a multimillion-dollar transformation before reopening, including a total renovation of the hotel’s guest rooms, public areas and meeting and banquet rooms, including four conference rooms, a grand ballroom and seven flexible meeting rooms. The hotel offers 11,000 square feet of meeting space as well as an array of amenities such as an indoor pool and fitness center.
OKLAHOMA
Best Western International recently debuted the Best Western Plus: The Inn & Suites at Muskogee, which features 20 guest rooms and 46 suites. Hotel amenities include an indoor pool and a fitness center, as well as complimentary Wi-Fi in all public areas. Meeting facilities for the hotel include 2,500 square feet of flexible meeting and conference space.