Three new hotels open in the Loop and Streeterville, wow-worthy experiences unveiled at Navy Pier, and major airlines add more international flights at Chicago O’Hare International Airport as Terminal 3 undergoes a $300 million upgrade.
- L7 Chicago by Lotte hotel debuts
- Hotel Riu Plaza Chicago opens in Streeterville
- Residence Inn by Marriott opens on The Magnificent Mile
- Flyover and Illuminarium wow at Navy Pier
- New international flights at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport
- Terminal 3 upgrades underway at O’Hare Airport
Hotel openings
L7 Chicago by Lotte hotel debuts
Book a stylish group stay at L7 Chicago by Lotte, the first U.S. location for South Korea’s Lotte Hotels and Resorts. The elegant 14-story, 191-room hotel resides in a renovated 1912 high-rise at Wabash and Wacker, overlooking the Chicago Riverwalk. The hotel’s soon-to-open PERILLA Korean American steakhouse is helmed by chef Andrew Lim.
Learn more about L7 Chicago by Lotte.
Hotel Riu Plaza Chicago opens in Streeterville
The 28-floor, contemporary Hotel Riu Plaza Chicago offers 390 guest rooms just off The Magnificent Mile. Toast the city from the hotel’s 26th-floor Sky Bar, which features a glass balcony and stunning views of the surrounding cityscape.
Learn more about Hotel Riu Plaza Chicago.
Residence Inn by Marriott opens on The Magnificent Mile
Groups can now opt to stay in the updated, all-suite Residence Inn Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile. A complimentary breakfast buffet is available in the first-floor 101 Room, and suites offer fully equipped kitchenettes. Or grab a bite at the all-day 101 Patio Bar & Grill. The seasonal 101 Sky Terrace rooftop bar features sweeping city and lake views.
Learn more about the Residence Inn Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile.
New attractions
Flyover and Illuminarium wow at Navy Pier
Navy Pier is home to two exciting new attractions — Flyover and Illuminarium. Flyover features a simulated flying journey and stunning aerial photography, taking visitors 13,000 feet above Chicago’s iconic skyline and landmarks. Illuminarium highlights one-of-a-kind experiences during two 360-degree shows that whisk viewers away on a Kenyan safari and through outer space. Group experiences can be customized.
Learn more about Navy Pier, Flyover, and Illuminarium.
Airport updates
New international flights at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport
Groups can now book a direct flight with ITA Airways between Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Rome, Italy. It’s the Italian airline’s first route to and from O’Hare. This summer, United Airlines offers nonstop flights from O’Hare to Athens, Greece, in addition to the Canadian destinations of Winnipeg, Quebec City, Toronto, and Montreal. American Airlines added Athens, Greece, to its summer schedule in addition to new (and newly resumed) nonstop flights to the Italian cities of Venice, Rome, and Milan.
Learn more about ITA Airways, United Airlines, and American Airlines.
Terminal 3 upgrades underway at O’Hare Airport
The ElevateT3 improvement project currently underway at Chicago O’Hare International Airport is part of a $300 million upgrade to Terminal 3. Highlights include improved security screening, expanded accessibility for passengers with disabilities, more shops and concessions, renovated restrooms, and a reconfigured baggage claim area. Terminal 3 will remain open during construction, with the project expected to be completed in 2027.
