AC Hotel Chicago Downtown Opens Doors to the Public

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The AC Hotel Chicago Downtown, owned and managed by Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, opened its doors to guests in the heart of Chicago’s thriving River North neighbourhood on May 29. Beverage and Food Programming
At AC Hotels, premium touches are balanced with comfortable service. A signature element of the hotel includes an innovative beverage and food program within its AC Lounge. A twist on the traditional hotel bar, the experience includes local craft beers, speciality wines on tap, expertly made signature cocktails and a selection of tapas-style small bites.

Located adjacent to the AC Lounge, the AC Kitchen serves a European-inspired Continental breakfast selection of flaky croissants, freshly-sliced artisanal LaQuercia Prosciutto, savory egg tarts, and Nespresso coffee.

Signature Design
With its sleek, minimalist room design, the AC Hotels by Marriott brand is tailored to specifically appeal to millennials and those who want a stylish, but unfussy alternative to the one-size-fits-all hotel. Taking influence from its European roots, the AC Hotel Chicago Downtown uses muted colours and a monochromatic scheme throughout, showcasing a timeless design that is modern and sleek. Guest rooms incorporate warm grays and charcoal tones, with clean lines and hardwood floors; furniture is lifted to create a sense of space, and crisp white linens are used to create a look that’s both refined and elegant.

Designed by the award-winning, international hospitality consultancy headquartered in Chicago, The Gettys Group, AC Hotel Chicago provides an energetic vibe in the hotel while still encouraging exploration of the city beyond the hotel walls. Décor and furnishings are designed to inspire and add a splash of colour to the soothing palette of the hotel.

Additional Amenities
The eight story hotel also offers outdoor terraces with views of the city, a fifth floor outdoor patio and indoor pool, along with a state of the art fitness centre. The AC Library is a central work area for guests to use and be both connected and inspired. Additional amenities include secure on-site parking, 3,000 square-feet of meeting space and complimentary Wi-Fi.

The new lifestyle hotel is AC Hotels by Marriott’s fourth property in North America (second in the Midwest) following the brand’s debut in New Orleans, Kansas City, and Washington D.C, and is part of a growing portfolio of over 50 hotels expected to open in the next few years in the U.S. and Latin America

Daniel Fountain / 06.06.2015

Editor, Hotel Designs

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Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.