The best business hotels in Chicago

Fresh off a $60 million renovation, the Fairmont’s meeting spaces aren't messing around. The hotel offers a whopping 63,000 square feet of event space, with 15 meetings rooms that can hold anywhere from 20 to 2,000 people. Even if you’re not holding your meetings on-site, the Fairmount and its 687 guest rooms still check a lot of boxes. The hotel’s Millennium Park locale places guests in the epicenter of the Loop and, in turn, close to public transit options galore. There’s also a 24-hour fitness studio, a spa, in-room dining options and a FedEx print and ship center on the premises.

If your business trip involves a convention at McCormick Place, this Hyatt Regency location is for you (it’s connected to the convention center, after all). The hotel has a FedEx business center and a Hertz Rent-a-Car location, as well as speedy check-in and convenient public transportation options for both the CTA and Metra. And once your workday is over, you’ll find yourself blocks away from the city’s top restaurants, bars and cultural experiences.

With only 297 rooms, The James is considered a boutique hotel—but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in style. Located at Rush and Ontario Streets, The James is perfectly situated for downtown business meetings and post-work shenanigans in River North. Plus, it’s the ideal place to pull an all-nighter, sporting a 24-hour business lounge (complete with iMacs and printing services) and in-room dining from Primehouse. But perhaps the best part is the leisurely 2pm checkout time, which gives you plenty of time to enjoy breakfast before skipping town.

There are plenty of buildings in Chicago that are inspired by the work of architect Daniel Burnham, but the JW Marriott in the Loop was actually designed by him. (Around here, Burnham is kind of a big deal.) The hotel boasts 610 rooms—including 29 suites—and over 44,000 square feet of event space plus a business center that’s open 24/7. And if you’re thinking of hosting your Chicago-based clientele for a meeting at the hotel, the event services staff will make sure you have everything you need—from catering to AV equipment to a notary public.

The Palmer House is more than 100 years old, but it still has all the modern conveniences a business traveler could ask for—especially if you’re looking to host an event. The hotel features 130,000 square feet of meeting space with full audio-visual support, a business center with UPS-supported shipping and mail, and Destination Services that can help you plan outings, tours and special events.

Located in the Gold Coast, the Park Hyatt Chicago is the kind of luxury hotel that will make your stay a memorable one. Need a new wardrobe? Stop by the onsite locations of Armani, Marlowe and Bottega Veneta. Are your shoes looking a little scuffed? Get a complimentary shoeshine. Need some privacy to get work done? Make use of the private office spaces for guests and a full-service business center. But the best way to spend your time at the Park Hyatt will come after your work is done. Stay an extra day and take advantage of the world-class NoMI Spa.

If you’re visiting Chicago for the first time, you’re going to want a room with a view of the skyline. Situated atop Water Tower Place, the Ritz-Carlton has plenty of those. The hotel also offers great amenities including an in-house restaurant (Torali) and rooftop bar, gorgeous suites, a comprehensive business center and 25,000 square feet of meeting space. You don’t even have to leave the building if you don’t want to. After all, you’re staying at the Ritz-Carlton—enjoy it for all it’s worth.

The radical prism-shaped design of this 32-story building by French architect Jean-Paul Viguier is a striking addition to the Chicago skyline. It also offers an array of services for business travelers, including a self-service business center, dry cleaning and over 10,000 square feet of space for meetings and events. And as a part of the hotel's Magnifique Meetings program, the concierge staff work closely with business guests to create a tailor-fit meeting experiences.

Beyond the state-of-the-art business center and in-room computers that are available upon request, the Trump International also provides a Personal Attache service. Instead of just relying on the concierge, you can have a dedicated staff member that handles just about everything—transportation, shopping, reservations, tickets and amenities—so that you can focus on work. Additionally, the hotel has over 26,000 square feet of available meeting space, from boardrooms to ballrooms, and the staff is there to ensure your event goes off without a hitch. And if you find the time, you won’t regret visiting the spa.