Location: Chicago, IL

Dates of Visit: February 21-15, 2024

Disclaimer: I received no compensation for writing this review from the hotel.

The Fugitive. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Road to Perdition. What do these movies have in common? Believe it or not, these movies had scenes filmed inside the Hilton Chicago, the venue for this year’s IDEA/ACSM Health and Fitness Summit. Settled across from Grant Park and overlooking Lake Michigan, the Hilton Chicago has welcomed visitors for almost a hundred years. Opened in 1927, it was initially the Stevens Hotel until Conrad Hilton purchased the property 19 years later. Today, it is a Historic Hotel of America hosting world leaders and celebrities.

Back in February, it hosted fitness professionals worldwide for this newly combined conference from IDEA and ACSM. I had the pleasure of staying there, as well as experiencing one of the best hotel fitness centers I have worked out in. As a notable hotel, I will review its offerings and dive deeper into its amenities and rooms.

Click Here to read my post highlighting the conference!

The Hotel

Upon entering, I felt the same thing Tommy Lee Jones felt walking in and headed toward the ballroom to arrest Harrison Ford in The Fugitive. A doorman opens the door of your Lyft and leads you to the entrance. The hotel's elegance showed through gold-plated molding and hand-painted fresco art covering the ceiling. It did not seem like a place where hundreds of fitness professionals wearing compressions and tank tops would be walking around, but I was not complaining.

I booked my stay using the conference’s link and paid a special rate of $139 a night. I thought it was a bargain for downtown Chicago and the hotel’s prestige. As a Diamond Hilton Honors member, I received an upgrade to a junior suite, further increasing the value of my stay. My only feedback is that the front desk receptionist forgot to give me my two complimentary water bottles as a perk of my membership. However, the $18 per day food and beverage credit included with my status more than made up for it! (Pro Tip: have a separate career that involves plenty of travel to rack up your points and miles!).

In-hotel restaurants included Kitty O’Shea’s, Herb N’ Kitchen, and 720 South Bar and Grill. In the previous blog, I mentioned that Friday and Saturday included Lunch and Learn sessions that rewarded attendees who stayed throughout a one-hour lecture with a $15 lunch voucher to use at the first two restaurants mentioned. I can happily say that it was worth saving $30 in two days with how overpriced Kitty O’Shea’s was. Also, with my $18 daily food and beverage credit, I enjoyed the breakfast buffet at 720 South, which had plenty of options, including an omelet station, fresh fruit, and a nice pastry spread.

On to my room for the weekend. I had limited views of the lake since part of the building obstructed it, but I could see Navy Pier from a distance. Their entertainment system was more advanced than other Hilton-owned properties and included a tablet containing all the hotel’s amenities and information. Having a couch in the room was great for visitors or getting work done. However, a large stain covered most of the left side. It’s safe to say that I avoided sitting there. The bed felt comfortable to sleep on. No objections. Besides the couch stain, my other concern was the lack of air conditioning, but it was cold enough Friday and Saturday that it did not bother me as much.

If you want more details about the hotel’s conference setup, read my last blog post!

The Fitness Experience

Now, for the good stuff. The gym is on the eighth floor and opens daily from 6:00 am until 9:00 pm. It was part of the hotel’s parking garage until 1984. If you have seen my previous blog or social media posts, you will know that Hilton’s fitness centers seemed above average. They had enough equipment, but the space was small for the guests they served. 

May I present to you the Hilton Chicago Athletic Club.

That’s right. It’s a facility where non-hotel guests can purchase memberships and is owned and operated by Hilton. In most hotels, fitness brands like Life Fitness and Precor sponsor their facilities and provide equipment. I had a great conversation with the club’s manager, Amy Nelson, about the facility. You are probably wondering why a hotel fitness facility needs a manager. Again, this is open to hotel guests AND local members. Someone has to deal with member relations and equipment upkeep!

Enough waiting. Let’s get to the review!

The Review

Cardio - 1/1

(11 LifeFitness Discover 95TE treadmills, 8 LifeFitness Discover 95XE cross-trainers, 4 LifeFitness 95RE recumbent bikes, 2 Peloton Bikes (have since expanded to 5), 2 LifeFitness 95CE upright bikes, 4 LifeFitness GX spinning bikes, 2 Nautilus stair climbers, 4 Precor AMT elliptical trainers, one Concept 2 rowing ergometer, and a 1/18th-of-a-mile track surrounding the workout area)

There is enough cardio equipment for everyone! All fitness centers in the Hilton collection have one bike that Peloton provides. Amy’s team decided to buy four more because of their popularity and constant use. I would say that was a good call. Most LifeFtiness machines are touchscreen and include TV, Netflix, and YouTube capabilities. You can even play solitaire while you walk! I walked in at the club’s peak time of 6:15 am and obtained a spot on one of their treadmills without waiting.

A unique cardio feature is the 1/18th-of-a-mile cushioned track surrounding the workout area. If your favorite cardio machines are in use, you can warm up on the track while scouting the rest of the facility. A sign indicating the direction of traffic each day welcomes you to the room. You would be surprised to see how many people walk or run in the opposite direction, though!

Weights - 1/1

(LifeFitness machines and Synergy360, Smith machine, Olympic bench, three separate benches, 5 to 100 lb dumbbell pairs, kettlebells, Hammer Strength powerlifting platform with Olympic plates, pre-weighted barbells)

Whether you are a powerlifter or a novice wanting to build strength, you have options. Similar to the cardio machines, single-station machines are of the LifeFitness brand. On the sides of the weightlifting area were Hammer Strength-branded dumbbells, plates, and powerlifting equipment. I did not see or feel any wear and tear while lifting, which is always a good sign. Cable machines were also options on the Synergy360. I wish more handle options were included, though.

Space - 1/1

The Hilton Chicago’s meetings website recorded the facility’s space at 16,450 square feet. They did a great job utilizing every square inch with enough space to move around and perform bodyweight and core exercises. You can do walking lunges on the track if you want to and stretch at one of the corners. If you look at the photos, you will see the mirrors are a standard in a Hilton fitness center. A standard fitness center would include only one of those mirrors, so imagine the size comparison between this and a typical Hilton gym.

Amenities - 1/1

(Towels, dry sauna, locker rooms, earbuds, water cooler, water fountain, and energy, sports, and protein drinks for purchase)

Operating like any other gym in the country, the Hilton Chicago Athletic Club provides guests with clean towels, disposable earbuds, and clean locker rooms. Out of respect for others, no photos of the locker rooms are provided. These lockers did not feel or look cheap. Vinyl wood doors adorn the walls compared to the metal ones you will see in high school. It almost felt like country club quality. Pre- and post-workout drinks are available for purchase, as well. I did not have time to test the sauna, but it was functioning during my visit.

I also want to add that the pool re-opened a week after my visit, but Amy mentioned the competition-style lanes it would have. Seasonal sundeck and whirlpool spas are also part of the renovation. The construction did not affect the score and probably would enhance it if it was open.

Other Equipment - 1/1

(TRX, Swiss balls, BOSU balls, medicine balls, slam balls, battle rope)

You will have various options for functional and bodyweight fitness. The TRX suspension trainer is always a solid option for your bodyweight workout. A TRX app is available to instruct you on how to position yourself and the band for each exercise. For core stability, my go-to is the Swiss ball for crunches and planks.

Final Grade: 5 ⭐

Conclusion

I had no doubt I would give the Hilton Chicago Athletic Club anything other than five stars. Along with the Four Seasons in Anguilla and select Vegas hotels, this was one of the best hotel facilities for a workout. The care Amy has for both the equipment and guest experience shows. I understand most hotels do not have as much flexibility and say in what equipment is used or how much space they can utilize, but this should be the standard for high-end properties. 

Have you stayed at the Hilton Chicago and visited the Athletic Club? Are you a current member of the Club? How is your membership experience compared to hotel guests? Leave your comments and answers below!

To experience other Hotel Fitness Center Reviews, follow my Instagram @cp.personaltraining216 and read my previous blogs about staying fit on the road by clicking here.

References

Hilton Chicago Meetings. (2023, November 3). Chicago Hotel with indoor pool - Hilton Chicago Athletic Club. https://www.hiltonchicagomeetings.com/hotel-information/hotel-amenities/athletic-club/