8-May-15 – A $27 million renovation shown off Thursday at Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel is going to help the Marriott brand compete in an increasingly crowded hotel market in downtown Chicago.

The hotel’s 520 guestrooms and 40 suites were upgraded but much of the renovation was to the hotel’s public space on the ground floor.

“We think the public space is important. Other brands might not think the same way,” says Hassan El Neklawy, general manager of the hotel since January 2014. “We believe the new trend is really activating the public space, creating energy, creating an atmosphere where people want to be…and that will make a big difference.”

(Above) The front desk at the Renaissance. The doors at left lead to a retail concourse.

Renaissance is one of 19 brands owned by Marriott International. There are 11 hotels in River North and Streeterville that are operated as Marriott brands. A Marriott “Autograph Collection” hotel is directly across the Chicago River from the Renaissance on Wacker Drive. But El Neklawy does not see the other Marriott-branded hotels as competition to Renaissance, which he says is one of four “lifestyle” brands.

“The customer has a choice with all these different brands. Some customers prefer the Marriott brand. Some prefer luxury. Some customers prefer lifestyle brands, so they’ll come to us. But they can all enjoy the Marriott loyalty program. If the hotel is full, they can always stay at another Marriott hotel.”

(Above) Chef’s display kitchen in the lobby.

A grand opening is tentatively scheduled for June 11. El Neklawy says he would like to close Wacker Drive and have a block party to launch the hotel.

A second phase of renovation will start later this year and cover the third floor, adding a 5,500 square foot Chicago-themed indoor/outdoor bar and 4,000 square feet of new meeting space.

2016, when the second phase is complete, should be a good year for the hotel, says El Neklawy, even if convention travel softens.

“We believe we can make it up with [group hotel reservations]. And then the trends will continue to be strong in the market for the next few years. As long as the economy can hold, definitely, the demand will be [there]. Part of the strategy for a hotel like ours is to do this kind of renovation so we can be unique and different than other brands and continue to be successful.”

(Above) Guestroom renovation included marble accents and new bathroom floors. Photo by Vito Palmisano.

(Above) The new bar near the main entrance. (Below) The old bar, Bar Novo, is now a coffee bar and library. The south half will eventually be a VIP Club Lounge.