The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) on Nov. 9, issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a hotel operator to develop a new hotel adjacent to Terminal 5 and renovate an existing hotel at O'Hare International Airport.
"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," said Ginger S. Evans, commissioner, CDA. "We are building hotels at O'Hare to provide a significantly higher level of customer service and increased non-airline revenue. We are creating construction and service jobs for Chicago residents and enhancing O'Hare's status as one of the world's premier airports."
The RFP calls for an operator to develop a new hotel adjacent to Terminal 5 at O'Hare International Airport that will provide direct access to airport travelers to the terminals via the free, 24-hour Airport Transit System (ATS). The new, full-service hotel is envisioned to have 300-400 rooms, 25,000-65,000-square-feet of conference space, banquet rooms, ballrooms, and other amenities.
The RFP released today also solicits hotel operators to renovate and modernize the existing O'Hare Hilton with a goal to accommodate large-scale trade shows and events, as well as adding amenities such as spas, extended room service, concierge services, and quality restaurants and boutiques.
Each respondent to the RFP must submit a plan demonstrating a commitment to conduct at least four job fairs in designated Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas throughout the city to recruit employees for the new hotels and related facilities.
The Airport Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (ACDBE) participation goal of 15 percent for these airport projects represents one of the highest goals that have ever been solicited for an airport hotel project.
The Hotel Development RFP is available online at: http://flychicago.com/ORDHotelMgmtRFP
The RFP released Nov. 9, notifies potential respondents that they have until Jan. 18, to submit responses. The CDA anticipates to submit the awarded contract to City Council for approval in the first half of 2017.
