Doubletree, Marriott Hotels: Giving back to the community
Hospitality is the cornerstone of success within the hotel business. Unique and memorable service leads to happy guests. Vinayaka Hospitality owns and operates the 428-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago – Oak Brook and 350-room Chicago Marriott Oak Brook, the two largest hotels in the community. For years, both of these hotels have been pillars of the community and served as hosts to many guests and important corporate/social events. As the owner/operator for numerous years, Vinayaka Hospitality has been and is committed to continuing to give back to the community through capital improvements to each hotel as well as involvement with the public school system.
Opened in 1973, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago – Oak Brook features 428 rooms and over 21,000 square feet of meeting space, making it one of the largest hotels in DuPage County. In February 2025, the hotel began a multi-million dollar renovation of all guestrooms and corridors. The renovation, expected to be completed by summer 2026, will involve stripping each guest room down to the bare walls and replacing everything, including furniture, fixtures, wallpaper, flooring, and technology.
Eric Wahrman, the General Manager since August 2024, is enthusiastic about the future impact of the renovations on the local area. He stated, “The multi-million dollar renovation of our guestrooms will significantly increase hotel occupancy, creating more job opportunities and economic benefits for the residents of Oak Brook and the surrounding communities. We look forward to hosting more events and creating cherished memories for years to come in the Village of Oak Brook.”
Located across the street from Oakbrook Center, the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook opened in 1981 and features 350 guest rooms along with over 18,000 square feet of event space, including one of the largest ballrooms in DuPage County. A multi-million dollar renovation, which began in 2023, is currently underway for all guest rooms and corridors, with completion expected by the end of March 2025. As the project approaches its final stages, General Manager Erik Millan eagerly anticipates the installation of flooring and wallpaper in the last of the 350 guest rooms. “The renovation has been a long process, but as we near the end, the positive feedback and enthusiasm from our guests have made it all worthwhile. The hotel has a bright future for the remainder of 2025 and beyond,” he stated.
Giving back to the community can take many forms. In December, both hotels had the opportunity to partner with Brook Forest Elementary School through the first annual Holiday Greeting Card Contest. Over 200 students submitted their holiday drawings, and two winners were chosen to have their artwork featured on each hotel’s annual greeting card.
During a formal school assembly in late December, both winners were presented with professionally framed pictures of their cards, along with a $50 gift card. The following week, each hotel sent its respective card via electronic mail to over 3,000 clients, guests, and community members, including corporate staff from both Marriott and Hilton Worldwide.
Both hotels plan to collaborate with the faculty and students of Brook Forest Elementary before the end of the current school year and look forward to the second annual Holiday Greeting Card Contest later this year.
Renovations to the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook should be completed by the end of March.
