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In anticipation of end-of-year parties and other events, the newly remodeled Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel & Conference Center (www.CrownePlazaOhare.com), 5440 N. River Rd., is offering 10% off the total bill for events booked through Oct. 15.

“Early-bird event planners can choose among our beautiful new ballrooms and meeting spaces, all with high-end décor and upscale finishes that mirror our recently renovated guest rooms and suites – all at a discount,” explained Patty Connolly, Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare general manager.

The hotel’s newest offering is the recently opened 2,200-square-foot Balmoral Ballroom. “It’s an intimate setting for receptions of up to 225 guests. The elegant gossamer fabric chandelier and adjacent pre-function space with natural lighting make it special,” said Connolly.

For larger groups, the hotel’s 23,500-square-foot O’Hare International Ballroom – one of the largest column-free rooms in the area – accommodates receptions for up to 3,800 guests, sit-down meals for up to 2,300, and theater-style seating for up to 3,000. It can be divided into as many as five smaller spaces, and it has more than 4,000 square feet of adjacent pre-function space for staging registrations, pre-meal receptions, or dessert buffets.

In tandem with the new spaces is a new holiday menu created by the hotel’s award-winning Executive Chef Michael Grove. “We’re featuring locally grown ingredients, lighter preparations, plus some other popular trends, such as themed, tapas-style food stations. People like having choices about their food, and they like the option of moving about and socializing with other party guests,” he explained.

For smaller events – including those in the 8-seat , Wii-equipped Visibility Bar VIP Lounge — guests can opt for menu items from the hotel’s recently opened Chicago Fire Oven (www.chicagofireoven.com) restaurant. As the name implies, the restaurant’s signature dishes (thin-crust pizzas, steaks, burgers, pork, chicken and fish) are prepared in a blazing stone hearth oven. The high-heat oven also is the secret ingredient in its house-roasted tomato-based pasta sauces, and the baguette parmesan “rings” served with salads.

For all events, the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare’s dedicated meeting managers are there to help, with services that include a two-hour response to RFP guarantee and daily meetings debriefs.

“Whether it’s a private dinner for 10 or a sit-down banquet for 1,400, we have the facilities, amenities, food and service to make any event a success,” said Connolly.

For more information, call 847-928-3717 or email sales(at)CrownePlazaOhare(dot)com.

Hampton Inn & Suites Aurora has teamed up with the new Chicago Premium Outlets to offer guests the best in affordable, comfortable accommodations along with superb shopping. The hotel welcomes guests to an award-winning hotel, proudly offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy an exciting shopping spree at the Chicago Premium Outlets with 120 premium outlet stores ideal for the entire family.

Book the Shopping Spree Package and enjoy “On the House” Breakfast, five meeting and event rooms, a relaxing pool and whirlpool, and elegantly-decorated accommodations to relax and unwind at the end of the day. Recipient of Choice Hotels Platinum Award, its highest award, the Hampton Inn & Suites hotel in Aurora is ideal for leisure vacations, group stays and business travel to Chicago’s Metro Area. Located just minutes from the new Chicago Premium Outlets, the hotel is just a short drive from the famous Hollywood Casino, fine restaurant choices, attractions and more.

The Hampton Inn & Suites makes shopping in Aurora an even better value with discounts on already affordable accommodations.

Shopping Spree Package Includes:

* One night’s lodging in a standard room (maximum occupancy five people).
* Use of indoor water facility including separate kiddie pool with water features and a 2,000-gallon hot tub.
* $25 Gas Card
* $50 Gift Certificate to Chicago Premium Outlets.
* Complimentary Chicago Premium Outlets VIP Coupon Book valued at hundreds of dollars of additional savings at participating stores.
* Shopping Kit for Mom filled with valuable coupons*, discounts, maps, snacks & water.
* Hampton Inn & Suites New “On the House” Breakfast with hot items.

*Chicago Premium Outlets VIP Coupon Book. Cash value $5, good for shopping discounts of over $100.

“The Shopping Spree Package offers a perfect end-of-summer getaway for our guests,” remarked Wilda Torgrim, General Manager. “Start the kids off with a new back-to-school wardrobe or simply treat yourself, all while enjoying the comfort of Hampton Inn & Suites Aurora.”

Learn more about the Shopping Spree Package at Hampton Inn & Suites Aurora.

Headed to the Windy City to see the Chicago Bears play on their home turf this fall? Make it a winning overnight getaway with the Get Your Game On Package at the South Loop’s luxurious Hotel Blake, one of the closest hotels to Soldier Field.

With Hotel Blake’s Get Your Game On Package, enjoy a specially discounted rate on luxurious accommodations and skip the usual traffic hassles of getting to a Bear’s Game. The package includes:

* Overnight accommodations in a luxurious guest room or suite
* 20% off our Best Available Rate
* Complimentary poster board & markers to create a sign to cheer on the team
* Two complimentary drink vouchers for Custom House Lounge to get the festivities started
* A complimentary Chicago hat to wear to your game
* Option to add on CTA passes for easy transport to Soldier Field
* Complimentary continental breakfast
* Option to park for $25 per night (usually $44)

Hotel Blake is a landmark of luxury in the vibrant South Loop neighborhood. Located in the charming, historic Morton and Duplicator building, Hotel Blake offers the personalized service you’d expect from an upscale, boutique hotel and features 162 charming rooms with contemporary designs, warm, jewel-toned hues and richly finished woods along with 12-foot vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase stunning views of downtown. The hotel’s many amenities include a 24-hour fitness facility, business center, concierge service, a wide selection of In-Room Spa Services, complementary Wi-Fi, i-Pod clock radios, oversized rain showerheads, Egyptian cotton linens and plush bathrobes.

Be sure to leave some pre- or post-game time to explore the city’s endless list of popular attractions, all just a short distance from Hotel Blake and easily accessible on foot or via public transportation or cab. Visit neighboring Grant Park, home to several world-class museums as well as Chicago’s lakefront festivals. Catch a show in the city’s nearby theater district or some comedy at Chicago’s famed Second City, or stroll over to State Street or the Magnificent Mile for some All-Star shopping. Dine at any number of nearby trendy restaurants, including the popular Custom House Tavern, located just off Hotel Blake’s lobby and featuring contemporary American cuisine.

For more information about Hotel Blake, or to learn more about the Get Your Game On Package, visit www.hotelblake.com or call (312) 986-1234. Use promotion code SPORTS when making reservations.

Hotel Blake is an upscale luxury boutique hotel located in Chicago’s vibrant South Loop neighborhood, providing elegant, chic, contemporary accommodations within the confines of a charming historic building. Hotel Blake is managed by the Hostmark Hospitality Group (www.hostmark.com), a leading hospitality management firm that operates upscale full service hotels, resorts, focused service hotels and restaurants worldwide. Hostmark Hospitality Group, which is headquartered in Schaumburg, IL, is an award-winning operator of Marriott, Hilton, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Starwood and Wyndham Hotels

Hotel Felix Chicago, 111 W. Huron St., has received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for commercial interiors from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making this the first hotel in Chicago to earn this prestigious environmental status.

The LEED Green Building Rating System is the preeminent internationally recognized building certification system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient and high performance buildings. Designed by Chicago-based Gettys, whose design and procurement team is largely staffed by LEED Accredited Professionals,
Hotel Felix Chicago meets LEED standards for its adaptive reuse of an existing urban structure, convenient access to public transportation, and the use of green materials throughout, such as recycled content in the corridor and guestroom carpet, bamboo and cork flooring in the public areas, low volatile organic compound paints and wall coverings and Forest Stewardship Council-certified millwork.

Hotel Felix Chicago‘s eco-friendly ideals extend beyond its design; with free parking for hybrid vehicles, no bleach use throughout the property and the serving of complimentary fair-trade coffee. Additionally, the hotel recently installed wind turbines on its roof to study the potential of further reducing its carbon footprint by generating its own renewable energy.

“Participating in this comprehensive certification process supports our core philosophy and commitment to lessen our environmental impact,” said George Jordan, area general manager for
Hotel Felix Chicago. “We’re honored to have achieved LEED Silver certification status and we will continue to extend our green values to our guests through our daily operations.”

Hotel Felix Chicago is an exceptional contemporary-style reinvention of a historic 1926 apartment hotel located in the heart of one of Chicago’s most thriving neighborhoods. The 225-room boutique property opened in April 2009 after its extensive redevelopment, which was executed to meet LEED certification standards. The hotel’s design boasts impressive energy savings in heating and air conditioning costs with its in-room motion sensor system and in electricity costs with the use of florescent lighting throughout the property. This year, over one million gallons of water will be saved through the property’s water reduction program.