REGIONAL NEWS
of on-site activities and services including an outdoor and heated indoor pool, a 24-hour StayFit gym and 24-hour business center. The hotel also features more than 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space as well as a 3,100-square-foot terrace. Meeting rooms have been fully redesigned with modern décor and feature state-of-theart technology and audio-visual equipment.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown South Loop
HOTEL NEWS»
Hilton Opens Dual-Branded Property in Chicago Downtown South Loop Hilton has officially opened the Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown South Loop and Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown South Loop, a new multibrand hotel on the shores of Lake Michigan. Developed and owned by SB Yen Management Group, the Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown South Loop and Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown South Loop offer a total of 342 guest rooms and suites (many of which feature scenic lakeshore views) and convenient access to McCormick Place (the largest convention center in the country) and attractions like Soldier Field, Grant Park, the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium. “The popularity of Chicago and its flourishing South Loop neighborhood is undeniable, and the city remains a top destination for business and leisure travelers from across the globe,” says Bill Duncan, global head, All Suites and Focused Service category, Hilton. “With increasing demand comes increasing competition, but by drawing on our vast experience with multibrand hotels, we were able to bring two of our award-winning brands, their wealth of amenities and an enhanced choice
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of lodging options to this downtown market.” Boasting a sleek, contemporary design, the multibrand concept has helped to create enhanced communal areas on-property, benefiting both business and leisure travelers. The hotel also offers a shared 24-hour business center, fitness center and indoor pool as well as flexible meeting space that can accommodate groups of up to 85 guests.
Marcus Hotels & Resorts Assumes Management of Hyatt Regency in Schaumburg Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a national hotel management company and division of the Milwaukee-based Marcus Corporation, has assumed management of the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg in Schaumburg, Illinois. “We selected Marcus Hotels & Resorts because of its established industry expertise and extensive hotel management capabilities, as well as intimate knowledge of the greater Chicago market. Marcus Hotels & Resorts’ strong Midwest roots make the company an ideal partner in further positioning Hyatt Regency Schaumburg as a preferred Chicagoland destination,” says Tim Gallagher, co-principal of First Equity Group, which owns the hotel. The 468-room hotel, which recently completed a $15 million renovation, boasts spacious suites with courtyard views and a host
This summer, the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (RACVB), in partnership with Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara and the City of Rockford hosted CRE8IV: transformational ART, a mural festival incorporating the creation of eight large-scale and daily events throughout downtown Rockford. Inspired by the city’s vibrant art scene, the festival was modeled after similar successful festivals in Montreal, Denver and Detroit as a community-building arts-infused event. The festival, which included eight lead artists who worked with teams of other artists to create large-scale murals throughout the city and daily free-to-attend events, was made possible, in part, by a matching grant from the state’s Department of Commerce and Office of Tourism. “As we considered new experiences we could bring to life, the idea of a mural festival quickly rose to the top. Local and visiting artists transformed tired and dull walls into beautiful works of art. The daily Block pARTy events allowed residents and visitors a chance to interact with the artists and explore downtown Rockford,” says John Groh, RACVB president and CEO. “Perhaps most important is the long-lasting impact the murals will have as, over time, the city itself becomes an art gallery.” “Illinois is full of vibrant cities and towns with endless attractions that are of interest to both residents and visitors alike. We are excited to provide the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau with a grant that will further their work to establish a new arts festival that will attract artists and tourists to the city,” says Erin Guthrie, Acting Director of Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
P H O T O S : H I LT O N C H I C A G O D O W N T O W N S O U T H L O O P ; ( O P P O S I T E ) M I C H A E L JACO B S P H OTO G R A P H Y; T H E S M I T H
RACVB Hosts Arts-Infused Festival
| FALL 2019
8/28/2019 9:43:15 AM
