I was flown out to stay with one of my favorite hotel brands
From the window seat to the welcome gift, it felt like a love letter to everything I care about in travel
Ed. note: While this stay was hosted by Park Hyatt, this post wasn’t paid or required. I’m sharing simply because it was so meaningful. If you’ve been reading for a while, you know how much I love this brand, and this trip felt like a milestone worth documenting.
Guys!! Big news (and a milestone moment in my travel writing career): last week, I was invited on my very first press trip, and I can’t imagine a better one to start with than this.
I spent three days in Chicago with Park Hyatt, the brand I credit with turning me into a hotel obsessive. (Longtime readers will know I’ve made it a personal mission to stay at every property across the globe.) Park Hyatt does design-forward luxury in a way that’s deeply personal, and this trip—hosted at their flagship property on Michigan Avenue—only deepened my love for the brand.
Read on for:
Why I skipped the city to stay in my room (and didn’t regret it for a second)
The most brilliant guest offering I’ve seen from any hotel
What real luxury means to me (hint: it’s not about extravagance)
A preview of the hotel’s latest addition, opening next month
Day 1: First impressions
I arrived in the afternoon and was greeted by so many thoughtful surprises: a monogrammed pillowcase and Eberjey robe (the hotel has a partnership with the brand), champagne on ice, and a gift set curated by the hotel. You know I love a branded souvenir, and these actually felt unique and useful. Among them: a travel perfume atomizer and a purse hook.
The room itself genuinely blew me away. I stayed in the Chicago Avenue Suite, which features two bathrooms, a full dressing room, and—to my delight—window seats in both the bedroom and living room (extremely on brand for a certain newsletter). As I moved through the space, I kept stumbling upon new delights: heated seat warmers, Lutron light controls, pillows in every firmness you could imagine, a coat in the closet for braving the windy city to name a few. That, to me, is what defines a true luxury experience—not just design or amenities, but a sense of anticipation. Every detail thought through before you even think to ask.
Here’s a room tour video showing you every corner of the suite:
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I had grand plans to explore Chicago in my downtime, but the room had other ideas. It truly was too good to leave, so instead, I sank into the comfort and stayed in. Naturally, I ordered room service, and among everything I sampled, the nigiri stood out most. The sushi at Park Hyatt Chicago is flown in fresh from Japan daily, and I’m not exaggerating when I say the scallops were the best I’ve ever had. Plump, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth perfection.
That evening, we sat down for a multi-course Masters of Food & Wine experience at NoMI Kitchen, a Park Hyatt series that brings together chefs and artisans for intimate, thoughtfully paced meals. This edition, hosted in partnership with Knob Creek, included a pour of their 21-year-old bourbon and a sea bass dish with uni butter and yuzu dressing that was so good, it took everything in me not to lick the plate.
Day 2: Getting to know the flagship
We started the day with a tour of the property, which was renovated in 2022. The hotel first opened in 1980 as the original Park Hyatt—the flagship that set the tone for the brand—and many of the staff have been there for 25 years or more. Their aim is to create a “home away from home,” and being welcomed by familiar faces only deepens that feeling. It also says a lot about the brand’s integrity and how it treats its people.
Of all the hotel’s partnerships and offerings, the most clever might be its Coat Concierge: a partnership with Canada Goose that lets guests rent a warm, ultra-comfy parka to wear while exploring the city. I think it’s brilliant. So many out-of-towners probably underestimate just how cold Chicago can get, so this feels both thoughtful and genuinely useful. I’d never really tried Canada Goose before, and now I’m seriously considering saving up for one of my own—they’re that good.
That, to me, is what defines a true luxury experience—not just design or amenities, but a sense of anticipation. Every detail thought through before you even think to ask.
That afternoon, we each enjoyed a spa treatment of our choice (I opted for a facial, which left me glowing and blissed out) before gathering for cocktails with Park Hyatt GMs from around the world and a few of Hyatt’s top executives. I even got to chat with the GMs who made my stays at Park Hyatt Tokyo and Kyoto so memorable, which was incredibly special.
We ended the evening with a fabulous dinner at Cindy’s Rooftop, located inside the historic Chicago Athletic Association—another Hyatt property, with sweeping views over Millennium Park. Highly recommend!
Day 3: a peaceful sendoff (plus a PITT stop)
We closed the trip with a sunrise yoga and sound bath session (as peaceful as it sounds), followed by one last group breakfast. I’m not sure how most press trips usually go, but I genuinely loved spending time with the other writers and the team who brought it all to life. The energy of the group just felt really well-matched.
I was originally scheduled to fly home right after yoga, but I ended up pushing my flight so I could linger a little longer and have a few more hours to enjoy the suite and spend time with everyone before we all departed.
It’s a short flight from Chicago to New York—just a couple of hours—but something happened on this one that’s never happened to me before (besides not getting a window in my window seat, which… we’re not discussing): my flight got diverted to Pittsburgh?! Air traffic control staffing shortages caused major delays at LaGuardia, keeping us in a holding pattern until we ran out of fuel. A not-so-gentle reminder of the ripple effects of the ongoing government shutdown, which still looms large over aviation.
The Park Hyatt difference
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Park Hyatt is the brand that made me fall in love with hotels. The attention to detail, the sense of place…all of it adds up to something that feels both deeply personal and impossibly polished. Every time I check in, it feels like coming home, just somewhere new.
More press trips to come, I hope…but this one will be hard to beat.
Park Hyatt Chicago Takeaways:
Park Hyatt Chicago was the very first Park Hyatt property, opening in 1980.
Guests can flash their room key at the Le Labo boutique across the street to receive a free discovery set.
NoMI (short for “North Michigan”) has been a staple of Chicago fine dining since 2000. Its wine collection includes 10,000 bottles, and the views from the seventh-floor terrace are among the best in the city.
The property offers a “Guilt Free Getaway” package that comes with welcome bubbly for two, a spa experience, a Bento box of sushi, two Le Labo candles, and two Eberjey robes. Just book by Jan 1st!
The hotel is opening a Champagne bar in the library lounge this November.
Inside NoMI Lounge, classically trained chefs serve fresh fish flown in daily from Japan. It’s as transportive as it is unexpected—and yes, you can order it straight to your room!
Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.
This sounds like so much fun! The Canada Goose partnership is genius! I can only imagine how many people take advantage of it after realizing how cold Chicago can be.
Love a great experience of unreasonable hospitality!