Hotel Review: Marriott Marquis Chicago
I had a quick overnight stay in Chicago last year around my birthday and wanted to stay near the city but not in the middle of it. I stumbled upon Marriott Marquis Chicago, located near South downtown Chicago. The Marriott Marquis brand was something I hadn't experienced yet, but I knew the brand focused on conventions and large groups of people. Hence, the hotel was connected to McCormick Place - America's largest convention center. I wasn't attending a conference, but I figured I could try a new brand since I arrived in Chicago late at night. For some reason, I was attracted to the modern and clean look of the hotel. I was thoroughly impressed with the service from the staff and was pleased that I tried the Marriott Marquis brand. Here is my review of Marriott Marquis Chicago:
I enjoyed seeing the skyline of downtown Chicago from my suite. Marriott Marquis Chicago is located at 2121 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
I earn tons of Marriott Bonvoy points by using my American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card. It is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $3,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. It earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on dining and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X on all other purchases. Paired with Marriott’s promotions and AMEX offers, it opens doors to endless points-earning opportunities.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card comes with great benefits that can substantially offset its annual fee.
The Bonvoy Brilliant Card does come with a hefty $450 annual fee but offers tons of perks to significantly offset its costs. The card features the following benefits:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, the mid-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
$300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit that can be applied towards your room rate
$100 property credit when booked directly with Marriott and staying a minimum of two nights at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
Access to Priority Pass lounges
15 Elite Night Credits that can prove helpful for chasing Bonvoy status
Even if you don’t stay at Marriott properties often, this card is still a must-have in my opinion. It’s a true example of a keeper card that offers benefits that outweigh the annual fee.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Bonvoy Brilliant Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSMaWs?xl=cp01
I have another Marriott Bonvoy credit card: the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business Card. It is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $3,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. In addition, new cardmembers can earn up to $150 back in statement credits on eligible purchases made on their new cards within the first three months of card membership. Considering that the annual membership costs $125, you get paid to have the card! The card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 4X points on dining, U.S. shipping purchases, U.S. wireless telephone services, and at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases earn 2X points.
The Bonvoy Business Card’s annual fee is $125 and offers decent benefits to justify the cost:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, the low-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
15 Elite Night Credits that will help you achieve a higher Bonvoy status
The AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business card is the only Marriott business card on the market.
As you can see the card’s benefits are less substantial than the ones from the Bonvoy Brilliant Card, but it is a great long-term keeper card due to its annual free night certificate perk. Furthermore, it is absolutely necessary if you want to chase a higher Marriott Bonvoy status because it is the only Marriott business card that is on the market and will grant you an additional 15 Elite Night Credits. Lastly, even though it is a business credit card, it is very likely that you could get it approved. Check out my article on how to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Bonvoy Business Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSasEu?xl=cp01
Lobby & Check-In Review
The lobby was absolutely massive and spotless. With the glossy finish of the floor and the ample ambient lighting, the hotel effortlessly highlighted the upscale element of the Marriott Marquis brand.
Because the hotel was connected to McCormick Place, the lobby was massive enough to host large groups at once.
Various forms of lounge chairs and couches were scattered throughout the lobby, and they all appeared to be brand new.
The contemporary aesthetics of the lobby was spotlighted by accent lights.
I arrived at the hotel late, but I was upgraded to a corner executive suite upon digitally checking in earlier, even though I originally booked a standard guest room with a king bed. I was thrilled because the corner executive suite was enormous compared to the standard room. Since I was a Titanium Elite member, the front desk representative gave me a quick rundown of the property and two breakfast coupons.
Modern art pieces in the lobby matched perfectely with the overall atmosphere of the hotel.
After checking in and exploring the lobby, I went to the 11th floor, where my suite was located.
Living Room Review
The living room was undoubtedly gigantic and had floor-to-ceiling windows all around the room. A modern work desk was positioned facing the city by the entrance, and I could see the Sears Tower even though the weather wasn't at its best.
The work desk faced the beautiful skyline of Chicago, and I could see the Sears Tower from it.
A wide sectional surrounded a beautiful white marble coffee table. The clean and contemporary silhouette of the furniture and their neutral colorway harmonized well with the overall aesthetics of the living room.
I loved how deep the sectional was, and when combined with a Smart TV, it made a great movie night.
A Smart TV was built into the wooden accent wall, and Tto the left of it, there was a mysterious, artistic tile installation. I'm not sure if there was any meaning to the artwork, but I wish there were a physical plaque or a piece of paper explaining the inspiration behind the work.
The art installation left me confused because there was no explanation for its meaning or inspiration.
It was such a prime branding opportunity where the hotel could showcase the connection with local artists or neighborhoods, and I felt the opportunity was not utilized appropriately.
You could find a hidden bookshelf under the end table.
Then, I looked for a mini-fridge to store some bottled water and realized that the hotel had prepared charcuterie, cheese, and dessert plates for my birthday.
What an absolutely wonderful way to be welcomed by the hotel. Everything was delicious.
I was really grateful that the property manager recognized my special birthday weekend in Chicago and went out of the way to deliver delicious food and beverages to my room. Every item was flavorsome, and then I saw a note saying, "There is something else in your fridge."
An even bigger surprise was waiting for me in the mini-fridge.
I opened the mini-fridge, and I found a mini-keg, which had a double IPA from Spiteful Brewery called "Working For The Weekend."
I never imagined I would get a mini-keg from the hotel, and it was a creative and fun way to introduce a local brewery to guests!
The keg had about 72 oz of beer, which was more than enough for two people. I've received champagne and wine from hotels before, but a mini-keg from a local brewery was certainly new to me, and it was such a memorable experience for me. The in-room coffee machine was a bit disappointing though; I wish it was at least a Keurig machine.
For a suite, the hotel should provide a higher quality coffee machine.
On the whole, I must say I was blown away by the level of hospitality from the hotel. The mini-keg was such a creative way to introduce a local brewery, and the quality and quantity of food were remarkable. A welcome experience like this is why I keep coming back to Marriott hotels because most properties genuinely celebrate Marriott loyalists.
Bedroom Review
As expected, the bedroom was also enormous. The floating wooden bedframe was warm and welcoming, and each nightstand had creatively designed USB ports and electric outlets for any charging needs.
The seamless consolidation of a headboard, a bed frame, and nightstands made the room feel more organized and unified.
I liked the abstract art above the headboard, though I wasn't sure why the art prints were all on the right side.
The digital alarm clock had a lightning cable and a USB-C cable built into it.
Across from the bed, the same wooden accent wall from the living room was also available and had another Smart TV and a closet built into it seamlessly.
The bedroom also had a Smart TV, expanding choices if you were to stay with family.
Next to the floor-to-ceiling windows, a modern lounge chair with a tiny end table filled the remaining space.
The minimalistic approach didn’t work on me, as I felt the room was somewaht void.
While I was a fan of the room's modern aesthetics, there was so much square footage in the bedroom. It's pretty rare for me to complain about how big my hotel room was, but I couldn't help thinking how naked the space felt. It wasn't necessarily a negative constituent of the experience, rather mismanaged expectations from my end.
Bathroom Review
The bathroom was roomier than most NYC hotel rooms, and it featured a double sink vanity. The chrome legs of the vanity matched the mirror well. With ample lighting from the ceiling and the mirror, the bathroom was bright and inviting.
The lighting from the mirror made the bathroom even brighter.
The toiletries were by thisworks, and I was excited to find their product since I am a religious user of their sleep spray. The shampoo and conditioner bottles were smaller, but the soap didn't strip away all the moisture from my skin after I showered.
I am a huge fan of thisworks, and if you hadn’t already, I highly recommend giving their sleep spray a try.
The bathroom had a walk-in shower with a rainfall showerhead, which had good water pressure, making the shower experience refreshing and enjoyable.
The glass shower walls were clean, and I liked how bright the shower booth was.
Don’t get me wrong; I am not complaining about the amount of space I had in the suite. While I’m not suggesting that the hotel should’ve placed meaningless fixtures or furnishings, I wish the bathroom had more than the basics. For instance, the bathroom had enough square footage to place a freestanding tub. I understand that the Marriott Marquis brand should embody strong corporate and functional values. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but think that the hotel didn’t take advantage of everything in the room.
Breakfast Review
The breakfast was served on the fourth floor at the M Club lounge from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM. Before COVID-19, if you didn't have Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador Elite status with Marriott, you could still enter the lounge by paying $75 per person.
The M Club lounge was enormous, and various seating options meant you could use the lounge as a place to work after grabbing breakfast.
However, since the emergence of the Coronavirus, the hotel removed the perk and limited admission to only Marriott members with Platinum Elite status or higher. Thanks to my Titanium Elite status, the breakfast was complimentary for my companion and me. It was a typical buffet-style breakfast, and the food and beverage choices were slightly better than budget hotels.
The quality of the food was far too low when compared to the $75 admission price.
Beverage options ranged from espresso drinks to canned soda, and food options included cereals, breakfast sausage, eggs, and potatoes.
Everything on display could be found at budget hotels, and I firmly believe the admission price should be significantly lowered.
The breakfast bar also had mini burritos and chia seed pudding cups, arguably the best available items.
Would you pay $75 for this breakfast?
The M Club lounge was spacious and was furnished with work-friendly tables. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the atmosphere felt airy, and I could see myself treating the lounge as a co-working space during the day.
If you need to check emails or print a document, the M Club lounge has it covered for you.
If the hotel were to revert to its pre-pandemic admission rate, I firmly believe the $75 price tag is unreasonably high for food quality. There are fabulous cafés in downtown Chicago, so check them out if you can leave the hotel.
Gym Review
The gym was also located on the hotel's fourth floor, and it was straightforward. Rows of treadmills and ellipticals were facing the city, neatly positioned.
You would always be able to find an unoccupied cardio machine here.
On the other end of the floor, free weights and various strength machines occupied the space. The gym practically had every piece of equipment you needed for a complete workout. From curl bars to a Smith machine, you will be satisfied with the types of strength equipment the gym offered.
The gym didn’t skimp on strength equipment, and serious gym-goers would be happy to find heavy weights.
There was a cycling room full of cycling bikes and a multi-purpose room with medicine balls and space for bodyweight exercises.
There was an exclusive area for bodyweight and HIIT exercises.
The overall ambiance of the gym felt as if I was at a commercial gym, which wasn't necessarily a negative factor, given how the Marriott Marquis brand is tailored for large groups.
You won’t find Pelaton bikes here, but the fitness center had a dedicated cycling room.
Summary
My first experience with the Marriott Marquis brand was a pleasant surprise. Marriott Marquis Chicago certainly had an atmosphere catered to business travel and large conventions. The breakfast was slightly disappointing since the food quality was quite substandard. However, the upgrade from a standard room to an executive suite was fantastic. The mini beer keg and delicious charcuterie boards I received from the hotel were unforgettable experiences. My corner suite was enormous, and floor-to-ceiling windows made the room feel even airier. I had no complaints about the lodging experience, as everything was polished and contemporary. Nonetheless, I felt somewhat detached from the overall lodging experience. The hotel was not accountable because I genuinely believe that the property successfully captured the identity of the Marriott Marquis brand. Marriott Marquis Chicago is a solid choice if you want to stay near South downtown Chicago, especially if you attend an event at McCormick Place.
