HIGH EXPECTATIONS Le Meridien Hotel, Oak Brook

BY LARRY ATSEFF | PHOTOS BY VICTOR HILITSKI

Marriott is known worldwide for its quality of hotels and service, especially among seasoned corporate business travelers as well as leisure travelers. The 104 Le Meridien hotels within the Marriott portfolio are yet another step up.

As Dick Turner, Le Meridien’s Oak Brook General Manager likes to say, “For travelers looking for a better travel experience, we have the right hotel, the right people, and the right location.”

Easy access to airports, the Chicago area itself, a location right next to Oakbrook Center, over 170 luxury rooms and suites, a knowledgeable staff, two restaurants with fine food and hand-crafted beverages, a spa studio for massage, and an upscale workout room, all combine to make heavy travel schedules much more bearable.

When you enter the lobby, you immediately notice differences. A large mural by Chicago artist Justus Roe catches your eye depicting the metropolitan feel of Chicago. On purpose, furnishings recall the bygone era of international luxury travel when Air France founded the hotel chain in 1972 in Paris. El Tapeo, on the top floor, specializes in Spanish cuisine. When you work out, it is on a Peloton bike. If you wish, you can make an appointment with a professional massage therapist. Each hotel has a restaurant that is named for the exact longitude of the hotel’s location, recalling the origins of the chain. In Oak Brook, it is Longitude 87.

The photographs tell the story.

Aside from taking care of business and leisure travelers coming to the Chicago area, Le Meridien is also gaining popularity among local residents. “More and more locals come to our hotel for a weekend, our cuisine, and for our spa massage experience,” said Turner. “We have regulars stopping by on a monthly basis.”

Turner said his hotel gives special attention to wedding celebrations with his experienced staff. “We book weddings of up to 150 guests, and only one at a time for the ultimate in a memorable occasion.”

He is proud of his entire staff. Of the 23 Le Meridien hotels in North America, the guest satisfaction experience of the Oak Brook location continually ranks in the top 5. Turner personally replies to comments on guest satisfaction forms from travelers. He smiles when he says, “Guests are a little surprised when they get a response from me. It is one of many ways we say to our guests that you are important to us.”

For more information, please call 630-368-9900. The website address is www.lemeridien.com/oakbrook

The restaurant website is www.eltapeooakbrook.com ■

Mama Maria’s

Restaurant & Pizzeria is an Elmhurst eatery which has been serving quality pizzas & pastas since 1982. It was one of the first pizzerias in this area to offer a panzerotti.

They’ve also made a name for thincrust pizzas, specialty items such as a white pizza topped with artichokes & basil & a full line of Italian pastas. You can choose to dine in, takeout or have your food delivered.

SINCE 1905 ITALY HASN’T BEEN

It all started with a very special spumoni created and lovingly produced by Lezza Spumoni & Desserts, Inc. The origin of this spumoni is Naples, Italy and the recipe came to Chicago’s West Side with Salvatore Lezza in 1905. The recipe has remained with the family for over 100 years!