Illinois
Phase II of renovations for the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel have started and are scheduled to be complete by March 2016. This phase includes the addition of a new ballroom that will have views of the Chicago River, an additional 4,000 square feet of meeting space and a new on-site bar with city views. The new 3,000-square-foot Looking Glass Ballroom will feature floor-to-ceiling windows and will be able to accommodate up to 275. The property currently has 34,800 square feet of meeting space, including a Grand Ballroom and 24 meeting rooms. Phase I of the renovation was complete in April 2015, unveiling a redesigned lobby and 560 guest rooms and suites.
Michigan
Located less than a mile from University of Michigan, Michigan Stadium and Hill Auditorium, and in the middle of downtown, the Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown is open. The 110 all-suite hotel features one- and two-bedroom suites with separate living, sleeping and kitchen areas, designed for longer stays. There is public space on-property for guests to relax or work and 1,530 square feet of meeting space, including five meeting rooms.
Minnesota
Mystic Lake will add a second hotel and convention center to its entertainment complex near Prior Lake. The new, 180-room hotel is expected to open in 2017 and will be the fourth-largest hotel conferencing center in the Twin Cities Metro Area. A new 70,000-square-foot convention center will be built and feature two ballrooms, multiple breakout meeting rooms and a three-story glass atrium facing the golf course. The current hotel on-site has 586 guest rooms, a casino and some of the existing 67,000 square feet of meeting space will be repurposed for other uses.
Missouri
Arbor Lodging Partners acquired the historic Hotel Phillips in downtown Kansas City. The 217-room hotel will go through an extensive property-wide renovation and will then join the Curio Collection by Hilton. The hotel originally opened in 1931 and in 1979 was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The hotel has about 11,000 square feet of meeting and prefunction space, including the 1,020-square-foot Crystal Room, which features French architectural detailing. There is also 12 Baltimore, a restaurant and bar that offers live music three times a week.
Red Lion Hotels Corporation announced its fifth location for the Hotel RL brand, Hotel RL St. Louis Airport. The property will undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation and is scheduled to open in 2016. The 197-room property is located adjacent to the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The hotel will offer 4,000 square feet of meeting space, a business center and airport shuttle service.
Ohio
The first phase of an $11 million renovation is complete at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. The 317-room hotel is undergoing an interior renovation and the guest room redesign is now finished. The hotel is located 15 minutes from Port Columbus International Airport and 10 minutes from downtown Columbus. The property features a 30,000-square-foot conference center and in 2016 the 10,000-square-foot Easton Grand Ballroom will undergo renovations. Additional 2016 renovations include the lobby, restaurant and concierge-lounge.