I stayed at this hotel notwithstanding the reviews about service because I got a good rate for a conference. That would be the only reason I would recommend anyone to stay there.

The best thing about the place is the location. It's in downturn Chicago and if you are high enough you get to see Lake Michigan. Yet walk out from the hotel and you are near shops and restaurants.

(Having said that, my friends told me that they were awakened by the sirens that seem to go off with greater regularity in the wee hours of the morning. I had a quieter facing and slept like a log.)

The hotel service is wanting at most levels. Check-in was fine. Breakfast was at the lounge which must rank as one of my poorest breakfast in a 5-star hotel. Hot food was oatmeal or scrambled eggs. There is no microwave to warm up the muffin. I had to tell them that the coffee was out.

One of the most irritating annoyances was the elevator. Everyone complained. Although there are supposedly 6 going to the rooms, I never saw more than 3 at one time--that is, if the elevator is crowded, wait and you will always see one of the 3 coming and going. The most extreme case I heard was a friend of mine who took 10 mins to get from his room to the lobby.

My negative experience with service was when my laundry arrived as I was waiting for the elevator. One of the guests waiting with me said--he's knocking at your door. I did not want to acknowledge that because I did not want to miss the elevator. That man refused to budge and shook his head to ask me to open the door for him. He was obviously expecting a tip. The elevator arrived, I left. That evening, there was no turning down of my bed.

The fact that the complaints remained the same suggests that management is not taking the service issue seriously enough. And the reason that management does not take the service issue seriously is that the hotel is aiming for the convention crowd. So there is no need to pander; that crowd will merely follow what their leader designates as the convention hotel.

So unless you have to be at this hotel, there are others nearby.

I was pleasantly surprised at my experience after all of the reviews. I just returned from a conference at this hotel and almost stayed somewhere else given what I was reading about the hotel. Fortunately, the 109. conference rate kept me there, and it turned out to be the perfect site. I will qualify what I say by starting with the ability to receive a room on the 40th floor with a view of the lake. Maybe this shaped my experience. First, the check-in staff was lovely and helped me change my assigned room to a room with a view even though I arrived late. The bed has a topper that makes the bed very comfortable. The floor to ceiling windows made you feel connected to the outdoors unlike token windows in some hotels. The room was spacious, included a nice robe, and lots of pillows. The bathroom may have seemed small if more than 1 person in there or if had to close the door a lot. But the vanity was marble and had plenty of space to spread your items out. The shampoo and conditioner were aromatherapy products. And I got turn down service with chocolates (at the end of my stay, there was a sign by elevators saying this was a club floor, so perhaps I got a great upgrade).
The starbucks in the lobby had many workers and was quick. They carried all the extra sandwiches and yogurts that starbucks now sells. The lobby downstairs is consumed with a huge bar section with multiple televisions. This adds a festive gathering place if you didn't come with a companion. Further, the hotel lobby has entrances off to 2 major roads in town and allows you to quickly stroll around town even if you are alone. If I was planning a conference, this would be my choice. Great layout of rooms with circles of couches and chairs everywhere for easy socializing. Escalators between conference floors in the center allowed you to look over onto another floor and locate colleagues. The entire place encouraged a highly interactive feel. Of course, the location is phenomenal. Easy to subway and paid only 5.00 getting to and from airports.

The Marriott outsources the valet parking to a company called InterPark. I gave a $5 tip both ways, and apparently it was not good enough. On returning my vehicle, my coin holder was depleted. I contacted the hotel management office and they are very polished in their response, but don't count on any help. The Marriott knows about the issue but they continue to use InterPark. Shame on them. There are other reviews with the same issue. So be advised that the Marriott will not take responsibility for valet theft or damage, and Interpark will not either because the valet stub says they are not responsible for damage or theft.

I stayed there 3 days for a conference. My company paid $209 a night. The hotel is clean, convienently located and the service from the staff is excellent. The rooms were okay, however the mattress was very soft. Other people I talked to at the conference mentioned the same thing.

Internet access was pricey, $14.95 per night in the room. Other people I was with had high speed internet cards on their pcs and they did not work in the large ballrooms.

One tip, if you are leaving to go to O'Hare in the afternoon, take the Red Line subway to the Blue Line subway. Its a lot faster and it only costs $2.25.

Would I stay here again, for business yes, for personal purposes, maybe, if the rate was a lot chaeaper.