The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking proposals from hotel operators interested in developing a hotel next to Terminal 5 at Chicago O’Hare International (ORD).
The winner also will be tasked with renovating the existing Hilton hotel at ORD.
The projects are part of an extensive plan to modernize the airport that includes the addition of a new runway, deicing pads, gates and other facility improvements.
“Today’s passengers and business travelers need and expect modern facilities for lodging, events and office space critical to their unique needs, like direct access to and from the airport and ground transportation options,” says Ginger Evans, the commissioner of the CDA. “We are building hotels at O’Hare to provide a significantly higher level of customer service and increased non-airline revenue.”
The request for proposals calls for an operator to develop the new hotel that will be expected to provide direct access to airport travelers to the terminals via the free, 24-hour Airport Transit System. The full-service hotel is envisioned to have 300 to 400 rooms, 25,000 to 65,000 square feet of conference space, banquet rooms, ballrooms and other amenities.
The RFP also requires the operator to renovate the existing hotel with goals including the accommodation of large-scale trade shows and events and the addition of amenities, such as spas, extended room service, concierge services, and quality restaurants and boutiques.
It requires the submission of a plan demonstrating commitment to conducting at least four job fairs in designated Socio-Economically Disadvantaged areas throughout the city of Chicago to recruit employees for the new hotels and related facilities. The RFP also set a 15 percent goal for participation of Airport Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program-certified companies.
Responses are due Jan. 18, 2017. The CDA expects to submit the awarded contract to the Chicago City Council for approval in the first half of 2017.
