5 Things To Know About the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago

The Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago is one of the largest airport hotels serving Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Just a short drive from the airport, the hotel is a mainstay for business travelers and one of Hyatt’s flagship properties.

I’ve stayed in this hotel dozens of times, and it’s one of my go-to properties when needing to overnight at O’Hare. For an airport hotel, it offers all you need for a relatively short stay.

There are a few things you should know about this hotel to make your stay better.

1. Walking Distance to Major Restaurants, Convention Center, and Mall

While the hotel is not within walking distance from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (the only hotel that is is the on-property Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport), the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago is actually very conveniently near some local attractions.

The hotel is attached to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center via covered indoor walkways, perfect if you’re attending a convention. I stayed at this Hyatt in January while needing to head to the convention center for a trade show, and it was so nice to be able to stay inside for the walk over, avoiding the bitter cold and snow.

Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse, a Chicago institution, is across the street from the hotel, and The Capital Grille and other restaurants are a short walk away. If you’re in the mood for shopping, Fashion Outlets of Chicago is across the street.

2. Access to Rosemont Blue Line

While the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago is not the best hotel for access to downtown Chicago, it is walkable to the Rosemont Blue Line L station, which is the same line serving the airport and downtown. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the hotel to the station and then about a 50-minute ride to the Loop.

This is incredibly convenient if you have an early flight the next morning but still want to head into the city the day before. You don’t have to worry about taking a ride-share or taxi into the city and can quickly hop on the L for a safe ride downtown.

It’s worth noting that the hotel has a dedicated airport shuttle serving all terminals, so it isn’t worth taking the Blue Line 1 stop to the airport. You can get there much more quickly by taking the complimentary hotel shuttle.

3. Free and Frequent Hotel Shuttle

Of all the airport hotels I’ve stayed at near O’Hare, the Hyatt Regency has one of the best shuttle systems. Shuttles leave the hotel every 15 minutes, starting on the hour, so it’s very, very easy to catch a ride to your appropriate terminal. The hotel uses large buses with plenty of seats on board and luggage storage in the back, but if you don’t make the bus for whatever reason, there’s always another one shortly behind.

When you leave for the airport, the shuttle drops you off at each terminal, so you can head right inside to check in.

However, when landing at O’Hare and catching the shuttle to the hotel, you need to head to the central hotel shuttle area to be picked up. Shuttles run very frequently from here, as well.

4. Renovated and Unrenovated Wings

The Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago has 2 buildings: the main, unrenovated one (where the front desk is) and a separate Premier Tower with renovated rooms, which you can access from the lobby level.

If you’re an elite member of the World of Hyatt, the hotel will try to place you in the renovated Premier Tower as often as possible. These rooms are modern and refreshed and include updated furnishings, flooring, and fixtures.

If you’re sent to the regular wing of the hotel, be aware that these rooms feel drab and dated, and there’s no current plan to renovate this area. Of the many times I’ve stayed at this hotel, I’ve noticed the hotel really tries to do its best to avoid putting me (and other Globalists) in the original tower.

5. No Regency Club

The Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago used to have a Regency Club right next to the front desk, but this closed during the COVID-19 lockdowns and never reopened. There are no plans to reopen this space, either, and it’s now just a place where you can sit while they ready your room. It doesn’t provide any amenities or services.

If you’re looking for breakfast at this hotel, there’s 1 restaurant opposite the front desk that serves food in the mornings and a grab-and-go cafe on the bottom level by the main entrance. If you’re a Hyatt Globalist, these are your only options for breakfast, since there is no Regency Club.

I have not found the breakfast buffet at this property to be of high quality, so that’s definitely an area where this hotel can improve.

When this hotel operated a lounge, it wasn’t anything exciting, and though the lounge removal is disappointing, this was not one of the better lounges in the U.S. by any means.

Reasons To Avoid Staying Here

While there are many pros to staying here, there are a few downsides:

• This hotel charges $40 a night for parking, which is steep. You shouldn’t use this hotel as a place to store your car while you leave on a trip.
• There is a breakfast area and a bar serving food, but there’s not really a full-service restaurant like you’d normally think of at an airport hotel.
• Though the hotel shuttle runs often and is convenient, there’s something to be said for being able to walk right to the terminal. Only the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport can provide this.

Final Thoughts

When I have an early flight out of Chicago O’Hare or need an airport stay here, the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago is one of my go-to properties thanks to its great shuttle system, modern rooms (in the Premier Tower), and accessibility. The hotel is near public transit, shopping, and dining, making a longer layover better than the average hotel.

As a Category 2, award nights start at 6,500 World of Hyatt points a night (off-peak), so it’s a great deal for an airport hotel!