In order to give you a comprehensive review of the Hyatt Regency Chicago O’Hare, I am going to weave three stays into one. Your satisfaction at this property may be heavily influenced by the type of room you are assigned.
Hyatt Regency Chicago O’Hare Review
After landing in Chicago from Krakow on LOT Polish, I hopped on a shuttle over to the Hyatt Regency Chicago O’Hare. But this review will include pictures from a previous and stay and subsequent stay.
Complimentary Airport Shuttle
Shuttle service runs around the clock, typically on the hour and on the half from the hotel (a bit more frequent during the morning and evening rush and on-demand overnight). You will be dropped off on the departures level of your terminal.
If you are boarding the shuttle at the airport, head down to the arrivals level and out toward the bus terminal, which is located directly across the street from the on-site Hilton hotel.
Do tip the driver…it’s just part of being in America.
Check-In
I checked in and was welcomed, thanked for my Globalist status, and assigned a standard room in the remodeled “Executive” wing of the hotel. My previous stays (and indeed my subsequent stay) featured older rooms.
I’ve never received a suite upgrade at this hotel. There are not many and often reserved by longer-term clients according to the front desk agent who checked me in.
Room Types – Old And New
As I mentioned, I was assigned room 2637 in the “Executive” wing of the hotel. Here, I must give the hotel credit for truly updating the room. The tired furniture is gone. In its place, at least in my room, was a very comfortable bed, nice (faux) wood floor with rug, a comfortable couch, and a very comfortable desk chair and a desk. The trend at new hotels is to get rid of desks, so I was happy to see it in the remodeled room.
I was also happy to see built-in USB-A and USB-C ports. My devices are mostly USB-C now and it is great to be able to plug them in without having to fish out the USB-A cables in my bag.
The bathroom was also modernized and yet unlike many contemporary hotels, a bathtub remained.
But don’t except a new room, even as a Globalist. My room looked like this for my previous visit:
And this for my next visit:
The old rooms are okay, but certainly aged and (maybe it is all in my head) but I thought the bed was much better in the refurbished room than the older room.
Cool Common Areas
I like the architecture of this building…it’s very dated by now, at least the structure of the hotel itself, but it’s back in style as far as I am concerned…I quite like it.
The lobby has been modernized and is as boring as any U.S. Hyatt Regency.
Regency Club
Just to the left of the check-in desk is the Regency Club, which was closed during the pandemic and has yet to re-open (at least as of a couple months ago), though appears to serve as a crew lounge these days.
Here are some pictures of what it looked like before the pandemic:
Fitness Room / Gym
Next to the Regency Club is the hotel gym, which is open 24/7 and has a great selection of cardiovascular and strength training equipment, most of which is new. I always enjoy a great workout here to help fight jet lag.
Food + Drink
Perks & Perks To-Go
Another nice feature (in theory) about this hotel is a 24/7 coffee and grab-and-go shop. I don’t drink Starbucks coffee if I can avoid it and was very disappointed by my lunch here (more below), but it’s nice to have something available on-site.
On my way out of my most recent visit, I had been speaking at a conference all day and was famished. I saw a sign for a “Chicago-style” hot dog and got excited (I love those). But when I opened it:
Wow, what a disappointment. That’s no Chicago-style dog…
Breakfast At O’H American Grill
You can enjoy a very respectable breakfast buffet at O’H American Grill. The fresh berries are gone (a victim of the pandemic, apparently) and the coffee is bad, but I always enjoy an omelet here as well as some watermelon, one of my favorite fruits no matter the time of year.
Red Bar & Lounge
You might be better off avoiding this place. One of the speakers at the conference I was at had a quesadilla here…and was far too sick the following afternoon to speak. Connection? I don’t know. But I’m not going to risk it…
This bar opens daily at 4:00pm until “late” (as the hotel says).
Food Delivery
Every time I am here, I’ve avoided the hotel food and ordered from GrubHub or Postmates.
Yes, after the horrible food on LOT Polish Airlines, I had some Taco Bell:
I’ve also ordered pizza:
> Read More: Duped Into “Italian” Deep Dish Pizza In Chicago…
It’s best to meet your driver outside the front door of the hotel.
Convention Center
If you are attending an event at the convention center, the hotel is connected by covered tunnel…though be prepared for a rather lengthy hike.
CONCLUSION
I greatly prefer this hotel to the nearby Hyatt Rosemont. Over the years, I’ve stayed here many times and look forward to more stays in the future.
I recently stayed here and was not disappointed by using 12k WoH points for the PANORAMA SUITE, featuring a spiral staircase, conference table, views of two active flight paths, and groovy custom curved door on the second level. I could imagine the epic sales meetings held in this property’s heyday when the rotating bar was operational. Now I want to experience the DELUXE SUITE, for the same amount of points and is apparently 2k square feet (!).
Like you I enjoy the architecture, which another guest described to me as “brutalist.” Unlike you, I find the gym crowded and cramped for such a huge property.
Thanks for your many informative and interesting reviews.
I have always loved the architecture of this hotel, and I would not call it dated. Yes the mirrored glass on the outside is not en vogue anymore, but I find it charming. This hotel has more style and is more unique then a lot of Hyatt’s or other hotels today. Modern hotels, like fast food restaurants, all look the same with little difference architecturally. I may be a bit biased as I have a degree in architecture, but I love it. I haven’t been in the inside since the late 90’s, but they did a good job making it a bit more modern. It’s too bad not everything is reopened and the food is subpar, but at least there are tons of food options close by.
I’ve got the Panorama Suite as an upgrade here in the past, and it makes for a great room!
As for tipping the driver… I think I disagree with the appropriateness of that. Shuttle drivers aren’t paid less than minimum wage, in fact many people who drive the shuttle do plenty of other things during their shift, and probably make somewhere in the $15-$20/hr range. Unless they provide some sort of assistance with baggage (asked for, not forced upon you) I don’t see what you’re tipping them for. I wouldn’t tip the intra-terminal shuttle driver taking me out to T5 at ORD, I wouldn’t tip they person driving me to a remote stand, nor would I tip a public bus driver. I really don’t see how the person driving me to my hotel (a service that is very much included in my room rate) is any different.
I’m with you in theory! You know how much I hate tipping! But these drivers always seem like the most miserable people on the planet. I would hate to have that job and just try to make their days a bit better.
My preference is the Hyatt Place ORD if you’re staying for a several nights. Not nearly as grand as the Regency but a room is a room as long as there’s free wifi etc. There’s a Target a short walk away to fill the fridge with OJ, berries and yogurt for the morning, although they do provide a basic hot breakfast. A fine dining place across the street if you need it.
Much of the hotel is definitely dated. I really like the exec wing, it’s very nicely updated up to the new regency standards.
I’ve had a whole bunch of op-up suites over the years. Unfortunately the really big suite and the bi level suite haven’t been updated. But it’s a ton of space and fun for the views.
I’ve stayed here probably 20 times, and they’re always good to work with, I always pick it when available because it’s close to ORD, a reliable shuttle and it’s reasonably priced. Plus a great deal on points.
MATTHEW! There is a Gibson’s Steakhouse on River Road on the same side of the highway. I understand your Taco Bell urges, but TB, Rosati’s and NOT Gibson’s. No. Just no. Even if the steak is out of your budget, the burger, my friend, the burger!
Hi Mathew, I just started a new World of Hyatt page on Facebook and I would like to invite you to join the page and post your blogs with Hyatt reviews like this one.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1393241827829462/
Hi Vicente, I joined. You are welcome to post links to my reviews, but please don’t post photos or actual text from them. Regards, Matthew