Indiana
Kimpton is set to open a downtown Indianapolis property by fall 2026 or early 2027. The hotel will occupy the former Odd Fellows building, once the city’s tallest office tower. The 167-room hotel will offer meeting venues that include a 4,500-square-foot ballroom with prefunction space and a boardroom. The hotel will also feature a rooftop bar and restaurant.
Illinois
In November, Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile wrapped up a multiphase renovation that transformed the hotel’s restaurant and lounge, 347 guest rooms and meeting spaces.
The reimagined guest rooms balance comfort and artistic expression. The custom artwork pays homage to Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. The colorful palettes and natural light blend bold artistry and warm minimalism. Another focal point of the room renovations was lighting. Now, layered illumination in the property’s guest rooms deliver ambiance along with function.
The Hyatt offers 20,000 square feet of indoor meeting space with upgraded audio technology. The property’s Grand Ballroom was one of the first areas to be transformed during the renovation. The ballroom includes blue and copper tones that evoke the fluid movement of water to fit the theme, “where the city meets the lake.” Flowing sheets of metal mesh located on the ceiling create a wave-like effect.
The Bridge Kitchen and Cocktails is a reimagined bar and lounge that celebrates Chicago’s culinary spirit and cultural diversity. The bar and lounge is a warm gathering place with wood finishes and an open concept.
Wisconsin
The luxury Kohler, Wisconsin resort announced 66 new guest rooms as a coming addition to the Inn on Woodlake Hotel. The three-story expansion to Kohler’s boutique hotel is intended to be completed June 2027. The additional rooms will bring the hotel’s total room count to 203. To accommodate the expansion, select shops at Woodlake will be removed.
In addition to the room expansion, the renovation will debut an immersive social hub, Bucks and Birdies Entertainment Center. The entertainment center is accompanied by a bar and restaurant. The center features golf and F1 racing simulators, duck pin bowling, darts and outdoor activities such as an expanded green and live music. The entertainment center is located on the main level and the guest rooms are located three floors above.
Kohler, Wisconsin offers 13 different venues for meetings and events. The largest space, The Grand Hall of the Great Lakes, is 7,519 square feet. The room can be divided into five breakout rooms with capacity for 850 guests.
Where Sports and Meetings Meet
The University of Kansas opened a conference center inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. The traditional game-day-only environment is now a hub for year-round business. The University of Kansas Conference Center unites athletics, academics and business collaboration. Fit for 300 guests, the conference center and its prefunction space are located just beyond the stadium’s north end zone. The Jayhawk branding combined with the crimson and blue colors highlight a new era of collegiate hospitality.
Opened in November, the conference center follows patterns that can be seen across higher-education institutions: Universities are transforming their athletic venues into multiuse spaces that drive both university and regional economic impact. The space is used outside of game days but an operable glass wall connects guests to the stadium, creating a game-day atmosphere anytime.
