The day prior to check in I sent a note that this stay would be my final nights to achieve lifetime platinum status. They put me on the top floor facing the lake, really appreciated. It’s a small room but retro and well appointed. Lobby and restaurant have a boutique ambiance. Overall I liked the hotel and would stay here again. Easy to get taxis and the CTA buses which I recommend.

Great stay, good location to see a show and dinner. Willie at the front desk was very accommodating! Close to the park, museums and millennium park. Rooms were clean and looked to be recently updated. Would definitely stay again.

I stayed at the hotel for 6 nights for a conference at McCormick place. The proximity and location of the hotel are key drivers of the choice— east to get to McCormick and east to get to the various restaurant venues that were hosting events.

I am a Marriott platinum member and as a member, due to the destination fee, the main benefit I received was two bottled waters. That said, I did arrive at noon the first day and they were able to accommodate me and place me in a room and I was able to get a 12pm checkout on the last day. I was unable to get a straight answer at check-in as to what benefits the destination fee would provide. The only thing the front desk person said was $15 off breakfast every day, but as I was in town for a conference, I had breakfast at McCormick every day and had no value from their breakfast.

When I informed them I was noise sensitive at check in and wanted to confirm the room would be quiet, they said they could give me ear plugs. I knew I was in trouble then.

The sleep quality of my first three nights were terrible. One night there were cars or motorcycles doing wheelies and or donuts on Michigan Ave at 2, 3, 4am in the morning. Not something the hotel can control. Second night some inebriated guests leaned or landed on my door had an extended conversation in the hallway and stole my do not disturb sign. Third night I was able to fall asleep but woke up around 3 or so when the room next door had trouble sleeping and the two kids started playing games and watching tv to occupy themselves since they couldn’t sleep and unfortunately I could hear everything they were doing. By the fifth and sixth night I was so tired I was able to sleep as soon as I plopped down in bed and overslept my alarms but was able to sleep through the street noises with a few moments of intermittent waking and sleeping.

At checkout I raised the issue of the destination fee again. I was informed more clearly the fee benefits have a value of over $70 covers the in-room espresso coffees every day of which I consumed zero, access to super fast internet for all guests, the $15 restaurant credit, 2 hours of bike rental at an unknown offsite bike shop where available which I assume is walking distance from the hotel, daily personal training from someone I believe at a health center offsite but again how to access is unclear. I look at this and think they should just charge a higher room rate and remove the destination fee. It makes customers feel like they’ve been scammed. I get it, you list a lower room rack rate and you get the aggregators for corporate and personal travel listing the place as a bargain but the experience is quite diminished. The delta between this hotel and the others did sway me to make the booking here, but I just felt conned every day.

That said, housekeeping seemed great. I didn’t need housekeeping but after my do not disturb sign was swiped housekeeping came on their own and did a lovely job. The wait area for the front desk is tight, small and narrow but looks nice when you are the only person there. If there are more than 2 people it gets crowded.

I liked the room decor and interior, both the bathroom and room layout were well designed and functional. I especially liked the chair and ottoman. I didn’t need it but my room came with iron and ironing board. I liked the shower amenities very much, it is a brand that I like. Staff is amiable enough minus the clear obfuscation relating to the destination fee.

If I had another weeklong engagement at McCormick I would consider staying here again given proximity and the location. Taxi stand is right across the street and very convenient to get around. There are a lot of hotels in Chicago so there isn’t a lack of choice, it would just depend on what I have going on. The hotel would benefit from adding in weather strips to the windows as I think that would help with some of the car noise penetration going into the room from the street.