Illinois
Located between Michigan Avenue and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and set within the landmark Water Tower Place on the Magnificent Mile, The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago recently underwent a $100 million renovation that reimagined the 45-year-old property.
All 434 guest rooms were enhanced with navy couches and small built-in bars and offer a king or two double beds and picture windows overlooking the city. The hotel’s lobby on the 12th floor has been reimagined as a show-stopping Art Deco-inspired space that blends sophistication and socializing through casual seating and floor-to-ceiling windows leading out to the hotel’s rooftop.
The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago offers 25,000 square feet of meeting space offering views of Michigan Avenue or Lake Michigan, including cozy private dining rooms measuring 400 square feet and Chicago’s largest luxury ballroom, boasting 8,370 square feet of space adorned with a 400,000-crystal chandelier and room for up to 1,200 guests.
[Related: Central Illinois Cities Along Route 66 With Historical Meetings Opportunities]
Michigan
The nationally acclaimed hospitality company Method Co. recently announced the opening of its newest hotel, ROOST Detroit, alongside an extensive new events offering, Anthology, located at Detroit’s highly anticipated Book Tower development.
Book Tower is one of the country’s most anticipated real estate developments, involving a seven-year, nearly $400 million restoration effort that includes the 117-room ROOST Detroit hotel, 52,000 square feet of retail and office space and several restaurant concepts slated to open later this summer.
ROOST Detroit offers 117 furnished studio, one- and two-bedroom apartment-style hotel accommodations blending the practicality of apartment life with the amenities of a boutique hotel. Guests also have access to a bike share program, fitness center and a 3,000-square-foot coworking space.
Anthology, Method’s special events offering with a seasoned event planning, culinary and beverage team, will curate a wide variety of events ranging from personal celebrations and intimate gatherings to corporate affairs and more, all within the Book Tower developments numerous event venues. The Conservatory Ballroom capped with a glass skylight measures 2,800 square feet and can host 300 standing and 225 seated, while The Linden Room serves as a prefunction space for 150 with a Green Room.
[Related: Milwaukee's Baird Center Is Setting Big-Box F&B Trends]
Minnesota
Bellagala, a Twin Cities wedding and event planning operator, recently opened Equestria West at Bavaria Downs, a luxury events venue about 30 minutes southwest of Minneapolis in Chaska. The space is Bellagala’s second venue at Bavaria Downs. The company’s first venue—the Edward Anne Estate—opened in 2018.
Formerly a traditional horse stable, Equestria West now features more than 24,000 square feet of event space across two grand ballrooms, private suites, an indoor-outdoor bar, courtyard, manicured gardens and multiple ceremony locations. The property is equipped to host groups ranging from anywhere between 50 and 1,000 guests.
Equestria West’s two ballrooms feature natural light during the day and two-tiered chandeliers for illuminating the room at night, as well as exposed trusses and glass doors leading to a courtyard surrounded by meadows and wetlands. Other design highlights of Equestria West’s venues include vaulted ceilings and herringbone tiled floors, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplaces with a stone veneer of Minnesota limestone and a mantle handcrafted from reclaimed wood and rounded chandeliers.
[Related: The Essential Guide for Meetings in Minnesota]
Ohio
The LEED Gold-certified Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland (HCCC) is undergoing an expansion as part of a $49 million investment. The project is set to enhance HCCC with new flexible meeting rooms, the creation of an elevated outdoor terrace and expansion of the junior ballroom to double its current size.
HCCC’s rooftop terrace will also add an outdoor space showcasing views of downtown Cleveland, creating an ideal option for open-air receptions and events, and the entire convention center will see infrastructure improvements including new escalators, stairs, restrooms and meeting room technology.
The expansion will increase HCCC’s available space from 475,000 square feet to approximately 553,000 square feet and is expected to be complete by summer 2024 and in time for Cleveland to host the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition.
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