InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile by IHG — Hotel in Chicago

It’s such a shame that you call yourself a brand hotel There is not a single thing that I could appreciate about your hotel although I stayed with you 3 times in the last 3 years.

Your staff both at the reception and at the restaurant lack manner and very indecent. The Breakfast menu especially the buffet is awful and it's a pain to go there 2nd time.

One of your restaurant staff, Mr. E(not mentioning his full name as you have indicated) served us a leftover glass of orange juice of another person. We noticed that immediately as there was a lipstick mark and the glass was already half. When we noticed that and questioned him he suddenly took that glass away and just casually said sorry and for the next 7 days we went for breakfast and he didn’t come to us reflecting his crime. Yes it’s a crime and unfortunately I spared you all by not reporting to police or making a news of it although I have full picture proof of that incident. How could he do that looking at whatever reputation you have. I don’t think you can train your staff to that low and I am sure that person is not worth to work in a local roadside restaurant.

The other incident that is worth reporting out of many worse experience is your reception staff Fredy. From the date of checkin he continued to send me messages asking how is everything and all that and I felt little touched to know at least someone does care. When I met him at the reception thanking him for the messages he was sending me, his reply was shocking. He said exact these words: Did I send you any message? Really? I don’t remember. May be? And all that. I was ashamed to hear because his voice was too careless and disrespectful. Then I realized it was some sort instant messages and no-one there really bother.

What is there in your hotel that I can appreciate from any account.

The food during breakfast especially the buffet is just awful and its a pain to have that on the 2nd day as same cheap stuff continued for 10 days.

I had to change the room 3 times as couple of those rooms the AC was out of order and the one I finally decided to settle was way too noisy. The AC sounds scare us at midnight and they are probably the oldest AC I have come across.

The room windows are so dirty and dusty it is hard to get a clear view of outside.

The staff more or less carefree and in general have no decency of talk. Just speaking English loud and clear don’t make someone well-mannered. The only time your staff feel they should say thank you is when they expect a tips and when they don’t get what they expect their behavior become uglier than ever.

It is almost threatening the guests for tips. Why you have to do that. Don’t they get any salary. Tips is something when you provide good service and the customers is happy to give anything. Your provide worse of service and on the top threaten the customers to give certain percentage of tips. That’s a shameful act.

I would recommend to each your staff retain manners first to be adjudged as one of an international brand hotel. Just by name and just by your location you cannot survive your business. I am a Diamond Elite member of IHG and have stayed at IGH hotels at many places of the world and this is the worse experience I have. I must say your staff needs to be trained in India at least in terms of manner and quality of restaurants as I feel you are worse than that.

Last but not the least I need to be answered why I am charged same amount of room charges as for the other nights during RSNA days. It was much less from the days after the RSNA for the nights of 5th-6th and 7th but the charges remained the same. If you have deliberately done so I need an explanation and refund.

I know this review may be not reported or may not highlight what I want to stay but at least not to scare your future guests at least for God's sake take some actions and teach your staff how to behave.

I had booked your hotel for the next year too but with utter disappointment I had to cancel that and of course I won’t stop here. I will send my above review to wherever I can and of course will discourage anyone staying there.

I know you take too much pride in whatever way you are and I also know you take no action to amend yourself and I don’t care either and I will do my part avoiding your hotel.

If you can do so I need a public apology for your misbehavior especially the breakfast incident and just in future if I choose your hotel I will be horrified to see Emerson at your restaurant.

None of your staff give a head to any IHG member , forget about Diamond member as I am sure none knows or understand...

We booked InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile for Feb 14-17, 2025 as a trip with my husband and 12yo daughter & niece. This was booked with a cyber Monday deal sent to my IHG Rewards account email.

We had conjoining rooms: Room 1550 - King Classic City View, Grand Tower. Bath had a standup only shower with half glass wall, so it’s an open shower. Room 1552 - Double Classic Grand Tower. Bath was a tub/shower combo with a shower curtain. No table at all to set things on or eat.

Classic city view wasn’t much of a city view. It was more looking into the windows of the condos next door. Maybe because we had to find a room that had doubles conjoined, but it would have been nice to know before so we could have changed the room type for a better view (and maybe a bigger room).

Pros: ▪️Location in general & great for Uber stops ▫️Pool (6-8p Movie nights Fri & Sat at the pool with free popcorn & lemoade). Our girls didn’t stay for the pool movie, but it was a cute experience for the smaller kids. ▪️Starbucks (pre order on app, it’s a busy spot!) ▫️Micheal Jordan Restaurant & Bar - cocktails & bartenders are impeccable. We sat for an hour at the bar Saturday night. Had dinner there Sunday night with just hubs as date night. ▪️In Room meal service- nice when you’re out all day. ▫️Bell boy & front desk & room service was great ▪️beautifully decorated in Asian decoration on a for the month ▫️there is apparently a parking garage at the hotel, but we weren’t offered or even mentioned that we can park there. We parked a few blocks down at the parking garage under Whole Foods (we Uber’d everywhere). ▪️Chik-Fil-A across the street for the kids

Cons: ▪️Complimentary coffee in the room is … an acquired taste, to put it nicely. If there were more sugar & creamer options, maybe it could have been doctored up a bit. I’ve recently stayed a a few other IHG hotels and even they had coffee mate liquid as an option. ▫️Pool & hotel was packed with little kids all weekend. Clearly, I brought mine too, but WAS NOT expecting it to be as annoyingly packed as it was. ▪️Requested foam pillows are just as bad as the regular down pillows, go flat overnight as it’s (we guess) broken pieces of foam ▫️ Room 1552: doubles, the bath water was yellow for awhile until it ran clear. It took A LOT of convincing the girls that it was ok to shower and it wasn’t urine, but old pipes. ▪️ Room 1550: king, the stand up shower was beautiful, but it has a half glass wall and the other half is open, leaving the shower to be cold & breezy the whole time. It also took about 10 mins for the water to get hot each day- that’s fine we were 15 floors up, it’s got a long way to travel. ▫️ We got in room meal service for the girls to experience the first night. I was blown away that we were spending $165 to eat, only for the burgers and fries to be so salty that they were non consumable. The girls pizza and Mac n cheese was good. I realized later it was from the Michael Jordan Bar, so when we had dinner there on Sunday night for just a date night with my hubs, we stayed away from the burgers & fries. ▪️1552: double, no table in the room for the kids to eat, maybe a 8 inch ledge and that’s it ▫️and the ABSOLUTE worst is the automatic light sensor that turns the light on in the bathroom on when you go in overnight- Geesh. Glad we figured out how to combat the motion sensor to stop it night 2 & 3, but that should be an option you can turn off. The only thing that could make it better is blasting “blinded by the light” the moment you walk in at 1am to pee to at least remind you that your complaint is valid.

All in all, we would not return at the price we paid, even at the Cyber Monday Deal price. The hotel itself is gorgeous and beautifully restored- a huge piece of Chicago history. We travel often, so for us, there is a lot to be desired for a hotel of its...

Our recent stay at the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile was a delightful mix of historic charm, modern luxury, and family-friendly fun, although not without a few minor setbacks. Located right in the heart of Chicago’s bustling Magnificent Mile, this IHG hotel offered a memorable experience as we celebrated a special occasion, despite some hiccups.

Historic Elegance & Modern Comfort:

The hotel's blend of historic elegance and contemporary design is truly captivating. The grand lobby's elegant decor and timeless ambiance set a wonderful first impression. Our room was stylish and comfortable, offering a pleasant retreat after exploring the city. However, I did experience some allergies, likely due to the room, and there was a peculiar smell in the hallway that detracted slightly from the otherwise luxurious atmosphere. Additionally, the beds were quite uncomfortable, which affected our overall rest and comfort during the stay.

Celebration Surprise:

We were in town to celebrate our daughter’s birthday and had arranged a special surprise with the hotel in advance. The staff promised to deliver a birthday cake to our room, which added to our excitement. Unfortunately, the cake never arrived, which was a bit disappointing on an otherwise joyous occasion. Despite this, the overall experience remained largely positive.

Location:

The location of the InterContinental is simply unbeatable. Situated right on the Magnificent Mile, we were within walking distance of Chicago’s top attractions, including the Chicago Riverwalk and Navy Pier. Having world-class shopping, dining, and cultural landmarks just steps away made our stay exceptionally convenient and enjoyable.

Amenities & Family Fun:

The hotel’s amenities are standout features that significantly enhance the overall experience. The historic indoor pool, with its "Junior Olympic size" and beautiful mosaic tiles, was a favorite for the entire family. Our daughter especially loved the family-friendly movie night at the pool, offered on Friday and Saturday evenings. This unique feature added a special touch to our celebration and kept her thoroughly entertained. For adults, the dry sauna in the gym/pool locker room provided a relaxing escape after a day of sightseeing.

Service:

The service at the InterContinental was mostly excellent. From check-in to check-out, the staff was welcoming and eager to ensure we had a pleasant stay. The concierge team was notably helpful, providing great recommendations and assisting with reservations. While the missed birthday cake was a disappointment, the overall attentiveness and hospitality of the staff helped mitigate this oversight.

Overall Experience:

Despite the issues with the uncomfortable beds, allergies, the odd smell in the hallway, and the missed birthday cake, our stay at the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile was largely positive. The hotel’s prime location, luxurious amenities, and family-friendly activities make it an excellent choice for visitors to Chicago.

We look forward to returning and are hopeful that these minor issues will be addressed. If you’re seeking a hotel that offers a unique blend of historic charm, modern comforts, and fun for the whole family in the heart of Chicago, this is an excellent option....