From the Great Lakes to the Mason Dixon Line, the Midwest is a vast and immensely diverse slice of America with a rural-urban mashup of small-town charm and big-city excitement.
Not to mention the country’s largest convention center and and one of the nation’s largest air hub (both Chicago) as well as a growing landscape of meetings-friendly hotels (everywhere). Here’s a quick look at the state of hotels in the Midwest:
Chicago
Making its debut last summer was Chicago’s first Riu Plaza hotel, whose rooftop outdoor bar showcases the spectacular city skyline while featuring a glass balcony that all but demands a group selfie. The boutique-style property offers 390 rooms and a 24-hour gym.
Also new on the scene, L7 Chicago by Lotte offers 169 rooms and 22 suites, dedicated event planners, and three private meeting spaces. A 2,700-sf ballroom accommodates 300 guests, the 960-sf Athens Room has room for 80, and the 487-sf Seoul Boardroom is perfect for 20.
In fall 2026, look for a new Bally’s casino and 500-room hotel tower to replace Bally’s Chicago Casino, which opened a temporary location in 2023 in the former Medinah Temple.
Ohio’s 3 C’s
Cincinnati recently welcomed Hotel Celare, the city’s first Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel, offering 171 rooms, all with Nespresso Coffee machines, and more than 6,000 sf of meeting and event space.
In Ohio’s capital, the historic Westin Great Southern Columbus, which has hosted five U.S. presidents, is undergoing a transformative renovation to refresh public spaces, guestrooms and the hotel’s extensive range of meeting spaces.
Heading north, downtown Cleveland recently welcomed the Fidelity Hotel, a 97-room boutique hotel located within walking distance of the Huntington Convention Center. An adaptive reuse of the 103-year-old Baker Building, the hotel blends old-world glamour and modern style with a state-of-the-art gym, full-service restaurant, bar and lounge and versatile event spaces.
Also in Cleveland 210-room W Hotel project is also moving forward, with work set to begin in the Erieview Tower and an anticipated opening in 2027. The new hotel will feature a 15,000-sf ballroom and event center, full-service spa and gym, rooftop deck and restaurant with skyline views.
Detroit
A recent spate of new hotels in Detroit includes the newly opened 154-room AC Hotel Detroit, the 158-room Cambria Hotel Detroit Downtown—with 23,000-sf of event space—and the Roost Apartment Hotel in the restored Book Tower. Still in the planning stages are a hotel attached to the Little Caesars Arena and a hotel on the top floors of Michigan Central Station.
Indianapolis
The 1913 Omni Severin recently underwent a $24 million renovation and boasts a historic location next to the Indianapolis Union Railroad Station in the heart of downtown. The hotel added two new dining concepts (8th Notch Café & Market and Bar Cardinale) and event space for groups.
Last month, Indy welcomed its most luxurious hotel yet—the InterContinental Indianapolis, set within a 1926 office building three blocks from the city’s convention center. The historic 170-room luxury hotel features a 1,545-sf penthouse suite on a private floor and 5,000 sf of event space.
Coming in fall 2026 will be the 800-room Signia by Hilton, connected to the Indiana Convention Center. Also on the hotel horizon in Indy, look for the Shinola Hotel (2027), Kimpton Hotel (2027) and the 21c Museum Hotel (2028).
Kansas City x 2
In Kansas City, MO, the Origin Hotel Kansas City recently opened its doors as the first-ever hotel located on the Missouri River’s Berkley Riverfront. The 118-room property offers complimentary bike rentals, in-room yoga and 4,800 sf of meeting and event space.
Across the state line from Missouri, Kansas City, KS has a host of developments on the western horizon including the coming Margaritaville Hotel Kansas City, with 200 coastal-inspired rooms, a resort-style pool, meeting space, entertainment, and classic Margaritaville dining.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee is also expected to welcome a 9-story, 162-room Moxy hotel on State Street, on the former Bradley Center site. It will be adjacent to the Deer District’s upcoming FPC Live concert venue, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open in fall 2025.
A Hilton Tempo hotel is in the works, featuring 158 rooms, a ground-floor restaurant, and a rooftop bar. Originally slated for a 2024, opening, the Tempo Milwaukee Downtown is tentatively scheduled to open late summer 2025.
Minneapolis
Part of Minnesota’s Twin Cities metropolitan area, Minneapolis just welcomed the 322-room Sheraton Minneapolis Downtown, boasting 23,335 sf of event space and set steps from the 1.6 million-sf Minneapolis Convention Center.
But the city has set its sights on the future. Launched by Meet Minneapolis in February, a new long-range plan calls for multiple developments including a convention center district, expanded mixed-use riverfront development and an initiative to position the city as a national leader in equity and reconciliation.
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