Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center Chicago-North Shore Celebrates Grand Re-Opening after Multimillion-Dollar Transformation.

Doubletree Replants its Roots in Chicago's North Shore With Refreshed Hotel and Conference Center Offering

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. & SKOKIE, Ill. -- The upscale Doubletree([R]) (NYSE:HLT) brand returns to replant its roots in Chicago's North Shore, as a multimillion-dollar transformation is completed at the Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center in Skokie. Now celebrating its grand reopening, the 369-room full-service property located just minutes from downtown Chicago is now pleasantly filled with sophisticated design and services that discriminating business and leisure guests will welcome.

"Returning guests have all been thrilled with the absolute transformation of the Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center - Chicago-North Shore. Our team members are just as excited to complement that look with superior service that brings this hotel back to its former status as the premier hotel and conference center on Chicago's North Shore," said Joe Dadiego, general manager. "Our affiliation with Doubletree and the Hilton Family of Hotels will only further enhance the benefits we provide our guess and reinforce our hotel's current culture of delivering an innovative, personalized experience that caters to today's traveler."

For more than 30 years, the property has been host to countless social and business occasions. Formerly the North Shore Hotel & Executive Conference Center, the Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center is now operated by Chicago-based Oxford OBG Hospitality Management Company - Skokie, LLC under a franchise license agreement with Doubletree Hotel Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilton Hotels Corporation. Sub-management services are provided by Oxford Capital Group, LLC and The Bricton Group, Inc.

Captivating interior design elements can be found throughout the property, including unique pendant lights that flank the distinctive lobby seating areas, and individual guest registration stations that welcome hotel guests with the signature Doubletree chocolate chip cookie at check-in.

Each guest room features a color palette that emphasizes varying tones of calming neutrals highlighted by touches of classic robin's egg blue. The sleek furnishings style references the more modernist interiors found in downtown Chicago's upscale hotels, including updated bathroom fixtures and curved shower rods in the lavish baths reinforce the simplistic lines found in guest room furnishings. The Sweet Dreams[R] By Doubletree Sleep Experience, complimentary wired and wireless internet access, a large working desk and hi-tech lighting for reading, and 32" flat screen televisions are all standard, while a fully equipped fitness facility and indoor-outdoor swimming pool provide exercise and recreation.

"The overall design concept balances rejuvenation and invigoration," said Julius Van Heek, vice president, Gettys. "This contrast is expressed best through the use of unexpected stripes on the floor, to soft textures on seating as well as top-of-the bed program including a white duvet and decorative throw," he added.

Large and small events are successfully accommodated within the 22,000 square feet of redesigned meeting and event space. The penthouse-level Monaco Ballroom can entertain up to 600 people with stunning views of downtown Chicago and the surrounding communities. Whether for a training program, sales meeting or professional development session, the hotel's state-of-the-art Executive Conference Center provides a convenient, easy-to-book selection of all-inclusive meeting packages. These packages, which are set at a per-person daily rate, save meeting planners valuable time by taking out the guesswork of budgeting to ensure they see all of the costs up front.

Executive Conference Center meeting rooms have been designed with eye-pleasing neutral hues and textures; eight-hour ergonomic seating and wide mahogany conference tables with built-in data and electrical ports. An array of today's most advanced multimedia presentation technology is available in every meeting room and includes flat-screen monitors, built-in audiovisual connections, high-speed wired and wireless Internet access and video and teleconferencing capabilities. Large, built-in whiteboards and tackable walls present the perfect venue for group brainstorms and training sessions. A 24-hour, on-site business center is available and a dedicated Executive Conference Center liaison round out the offerings to attend to the smallest of details.

"Our new Executive Conference Center provides businesses and associations throughout the Chicago's North Shore business communities with a refreshing new retreat to the typical meeting room associated with a full-service hotel," said Diana Schutz, hotel director of sales. "Designed by and for meeting professionals, the environment of our Executive Meeting Center has been purpose-built to reduce fatigue, increase productivity and motivate our guests to conduct the most successful meetings possible."

The property's extensive meeting and catering facilities are further complemented with a kosher kitchen overseen by the Chicago Rabbinical Council. While the signature Doubletree complimentary Express Start breakfast is a bright start to the next morning, guests can also enjoy classic American cuisine in the hotel's bistro-style restaurant.

Members of the Hilton HHonors[R] guest reward program may earn Points & Miles[R] for every qualifying stay at the Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center Chicago North Shore. Hilton HHonors is the only hotel program that allows any of its members to reap Double Dip[R] earnings by simultaneously accumulating both airline miles and hotel points with each qualifying stay at more than 2,800 hotels worldwide.

For years, the property was known as the Hilton North Shore & Executive Conference Center before being re-flagged a Doubletree Hotel. It was an independent hotel known as the North Shore Hotel & Executive Conference Center before being acquired in March 2006 by Oxford. The investment group's intent was to dramatically transform the entire property and work began almost immediately to achieve that goal. Doubletree Hotels & Resorts once again raises its flag on the North Shore with the redevelopment completed.

"Doubletree is incredibly proud to welcome back this extraordinary hotel to complement our collection of eight upscale, full-service Doubletree hotels in the Chicagoland area," said Dave Horton, senior vice president - brand management of Doubletree Hotels. "The multi-million-dollar makeover in the Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center Chicago-North Shore shows the continued exemplary commitment and pride by our hotel owners, as well as our brand team, to strive in bringing a contemporary and comfortable hotel experience to today's business and leisure travelers in the Skokie community and 180 additional communities across North America."

The Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center Chicago-North Shore is located just minutes from Interstate 94 at 9599 Skokie Boulevard in Skokie, Illinois, adjacent to the North Shore Center for Performing Arts and across the street from the Westfield([R]) Old Orchard Shopping Center. For more information or reservations, call 847-679-7000 or visit www.chicagonorthshore.doubletree.com.

Hilton HHonors membership, earning of Points & Miles[R] and redemption of points are subject to HHonors Terms and Conditions.

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