Indiana
The five-story Ironworks Hotel Indianapolis broke ground adjacent to the Ironworks at Keystone, a mixed-use apartment and retail complex. The 100,000-square-foot property will be the first boutique hotel on Indianapolis’ north side and is scheduled to open in summer 2017. The hotel will feature 120 guest rooms, a fitness center, a rooftop lounge as well as meeting and conference space. It will also offer 15,000 square feet of street-level retail space and an upscale restaurant.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis-Carmel opened after a renovation and brand conversion. The new hotel is the brand’s 400th property to open in its portfolio. The 137-room hotel offers a combination of studio-, one- and two-bedroom suites, featuring fully equipped kitchens and separate living and sleeping areas. The hotel features indoor and outdoor pools, an outdoor area with two grills and about 1,150 square feet of meeting space. The property offers convenient access to area attractions, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis Zoo, Grand Park and the Carmel Arts and Design District.
Illinois
The new Conrad Chicago is expected to open in August and is taking reservations for stays starting Sept. 1. The property is located just west of Michigan Avenue and will offer 289 guest rooms. There will be 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including 10 meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 150 guests, with an additional 12 guest rooms and two hospitality suites that can be used for smaller gatherings. The on-site food and beverage outlets will include Baptiste & Bottle, a barrel bar with an extensive bourbon and whiskey selection paired with classic American dishes, as well as Noyane, a contemporary Japanese restaurant on the rooftop of the 20-story building. The property will feature the Conrad Concierge mobile app, which provides keyless room entry and smart guest rooms.
Ohio
Drury Hotels Company unveiled its first property in Cleveland. The new Drury Plaza Cleveland Downtown is located in the long-vacant Board of Education building, which was built in 1931. After a two-year renovation to restore and preserve the building, the hotel opened with 189 guest rooms and 3,900 square feet of meeting space. The property is within walking distance of FirstEnergy Stadium as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The restoration kept as many historic details as possible; the two-story lobby features 12-foot arched windows, a marble floor, an early 20th century-inspired bronze chandelier and two fully restored Depression-era paintings. The preservation efforts extend to the meeting and event spaces, with the original stage in the auditorium intact while the rest of the auditorium has been transformed into meeting space. The original boardroom, where the Board of Education held its meetings, has also been transformed into a meeting space.
Wisconsin
The 155-suite SpringHill Suites Milwaukee Downtown debuted in July. The all-suite hotel is within the historic Commerce Building, which was built in 1928. The property is just two blocks from the BMO Harris Bradley Center and connected via a skywalk to the Wisconsin Center, which has 188,695 square feet of exhibit space and a 37,500-square-foot ballroom. The hotel itself offers over 1,900 square feet of meeting space for groups of up to 100. Designed for longer stays, all suites feature separate living, working and sleeping areas, and the lobby, equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi, is set up as a space for causal meetings and small gatherings.