Hilton, FHG Officially Celebrate First Tri-Branded Property

GlobeSt.com joins Hilton to celebrate the one-of-a-kind addition to downtown Chicago’s South Loop and Motor Row District lodging offerings.

CHICAGO—GlobeSt.com was in attendance last Thursday night with Hilton, along with First Hospitality Group Inc., to celebrate the opening party of its newest hotel, the company’s first tri-branded property, which includes Hilton Garden Inn Chicago McCormick Place, Hampton Inn by Hilton Chicago McCormick Place and Home2 Suites by Hilton Chicago McCormick Place.

Connected to McCormick Place, North America’s largest convention center, and adjacent to Wintrust Arena, the property is a one-of-a-kind addition to downtown Chicago’s South Loop and Motor Row District lodging offerings. The hotel also represents Hilton’s first tri-branded property, furthering the company’s leadership position in the development of multi-brand hotels.

Managed by FHG, the 23-story tri-branded hotel boasts 184 Hilton Garden Inn rooms, 187 Hampton Inn rooms and 95 suites within the Home2 Suites, as well as a skybridge providing guests with convenient access to McCormick Place.

Along with each brands’ signature offerings aimed at ensuring comfort, convenience and productivity for their respective guests, the hotel also provides larger and enhanced communal areas and amenities than what would be standard at a standalone property. These include an expanded exercise room, indoor pool, 24-hour business center and 10 flexible event/meeting spaces totaling nearly 7,000 square feet, as well as a wealth of added food & beverage offerings.

In addition to the signature, complimentary breakfast offerings for guests of Hampton Inn and Home2 Suites, as well as the fresh cooked-to-order breakfasts by Hilton Garden Inn, the property has the following dining options that are open to all Windy City visitors and locals alike, including: VU Skyward Bev & Eat: A rooftop dining and lounge experience operated by Concentrics Restaurants, which serves breakfast and dinner with locally-inspired small plates and craft cocktails amidst sweeping views of Lake Michigan and Downtown Chicago; Fatpour Tapworks: A street-level pub and grill operated by Big Onion Tavern Group, which will feature an eclectic selection of menu items including more than 220 beers, all available in 22-ounce pours; as well as Starbucks coffee shop, which can be easily accessed by guests and locals from Cermak Road.

Construction of the tri-branded hotel was led by McHugh/UJAMAA LLC, a joint venture between James McHugh Construction Co. and minority-owned contractor UJAMAA Construction Inc., and Merritt Development Group. Antunovich Associates served as the building architect, Todd Halamka + Partners as the hotel architect, and Looney Associates as the interior designer.

Other notable multi-brand properties include Hilton’s second dual-brand hotel in Mexico, Hampton by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton Monterrey Apodaca, which opened in June 2018. In addition, Hilton’s 100th hotel in Canada and the first dual-brand property in Halifax, Hampton Inn by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton Halifax-Downtown, which opened in June 2014.

In addition, Hilton has upcoming multi-brand properties which include: Tru by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton Smyrna Nashville opening in late 2018; Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton Ottawa Downtown in Canada also opening in 2018; Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton Saltillo in Mexico, expected in 2021; and Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton Lima San Isidro in Peru, expected in 2021.

Check out the below photos from the opening event and hotel tour. Also be sure to check back in the coming days for more on the company’s multi-brand strategy from our media executive roundtable including specific details on both challenges and benefits of a multi-brand model.

Stephen L. Schwartz, Chairman and CEO of First Hospitality Group.
Doug Leuthold, sales and marketing manager for VU Rooftop Bar provides us with a tour of the retail space at the hotel.