This is a conference hotel - plain and simple.

As a Silver status Marriott traveler, I was unimpressed with the room that was given to me. I'm not sure it could have been any smaller. When I asked if there was a larger room, I was told that "they're all the same." I don't buy that answer.

The bathroom was so small that the curved shower curtain rod actually made the tub smaller as it had to be positioned in a way that the door could open.

The fitness center had plenty of machines and weights (separate rooms separated by the pool - and while they were in good shape, it's apparent that they've been purchased at different times.

Overall, this is a cookie-cutter hotel (with a good lobby bar) that I would never consider outside of having a conference there.

I recently stayed for 2 nights with my mother and my 2 children. We were on the 37th floor and could see Lake Michigan and had a view of Michigan Avenue. The kids loved it! We had absolutely zero problems with service from check in to check out. My only complaint is the price of parking which is not unique to the Marriott it is all over Chicago at $49.00/day it was almost as much as the room given I got a super rate of $87.00/night thru the Marriott site.
It has a great location very close to everything that we were interested in doing for this trip. I would definitely stay again ~ if I could get such a great rate.

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.