Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago

Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago is a full-service hotel located on Chicago's Michigan Avenue in Illinois, within the city's central commercial and hospitality district. The property began as the Continental Plaza, a 15-story hotel with 400 rooms operated by Western International Hotels. Its scheduled opening on November 22, 1963, was postponed because of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy that day, and a separate grand-opening celebration planned for November 29 was cancelled. The hotel therefore entered service during a period of unusual national mourning rather than through the ceremonial launch originally planned. The property was materially expanded in August 1974, when a 27-story addition was completed. This expansion substantially increased the scale of the hotel and changed it from a 15-story, 400-room operation into a much larger urban lodging complex. The property remained associated with Western International Hotels until the company adopted the Westin Hotels name in 1981. It was subsequently rebranded as The Westin, connecting the Chicago property to the broader Westin hotel identity. During the 1990s the hotel adopted the name The Westin Michigan Avenue, emphasizing its location on one of Chicago's best-known retail and cultural corridors. A renovation was completed in 2008, supporting the property's continued use as an upscale, full-service hotel. Its offering is centered on guest rooms and suites, food and beverage services, meeting and event facilities, and the location advantages of Michigan Avenue and downtown Chicago. The hotel serves leisure travelers, business guests, group visitors, and convention-related demand, although detailed current room counts, operating metrics, and service specifications are not established in the supplied reference material. The property also includes approximately 5,860 square feet of ground-floor retail space. That retail component was purchased by Blatteis & Schnur in March 2023, separating ownership of the commercial space from the hotel property itself, at least for the portion identified in the reference material. In December 2025, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust announced that it had completed the sale of the hotel for $72 million to an unidentified investor. The supplied material does not identify the buyer or provide a subsequent operating structure. The hotel remains an active Westin-branded hospitality property, but current ownership, management arrangements, leadership, website, and detailed financial performance are not confirmed here.

Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago originated as the Continental Plaza, a hotel operated by Western International Hotels in downtown Chicago. The property was planned as a 15-story building containing 400 rooms. Its formal launch was scheduled for November 22, 1963, but the opening was postponed because President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on that date. A grand-opening celebration planned for November 29 was cancelled, meaning the hotel's public debut did not follow the ceremonial schedule originally intended. The first major physical change came in August 1974, when a 27-story extension was completed. The addition nearly doubled the property's size and transformed the original mid-rise hotel into a substantially larger urban lodging operation. The expansion reflected the demand for centrally located Chicago accommodation and gave the property a more prominent presence in the Michigan Avenue area. Western International Hotels changed its corporate name to Westin Hotels in 1981. The Chicago property was renamed The Westin soon afterward, bringing it into the Westin hotel portfolio and replacing its original Continental Plaza identity. In the 1990s, the hotel adopted the more geographically specific name The Westin Michigan Avenue, highlighting its position on Michigan Avenue, a major retail, tourism, and business corridor. A renovation was completed in 2008. The supplied reference does not specify the precise scope, cost, room count affected, or design program, but the work formed part of the hotel's continued operation as an upscale, full-service property. Its principal business consists of lodging, dining and other food-and-beverage services, and meetings or events. The location supports both leisure and business demand in central Chicago. The hotel has also contained a commercial component beyond guest accommodation. Its ground floor included approximately 5,860 square feet of retail space, which Blatteis & Schnur purchased in March 2023. The reference does not establish whether this transaction altered the hotel's operations or branding, and it identifies the purchased area as retail space rather than the hotel business as a whole. On December 3, 2025, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust announced that it had completed the sale of the hotel for $72 million to an unidentified investor. The supplied material does not name the purchaser, state whether the hotel management agreement changed, or provide current ownership and operating details after the transaction. Accordingly, the documented history establishes the property's opening-era identity, expansion, Westin rebranding, renovation, retail-space transaction, and 2025 sale, while leaving several current corporate details unconfirmed.

• 2025

  Hotel sold by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

  [1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  Pebblebrook Hotel Trust announced completion of a $72 million sale to an unidentified investor on December 3.

• 2023

  Ground-floor retail space changes ownership

  [1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  Blatteis & Schnur purchased approximately 5,860 square feet of retail space on the hotel's ground floor.

• 2008

  Renovation completed

  [1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel completed a renovation supporting its continued operation as an upscale Westin property.

• 1990

  Property adopts Michigan Avenue name

  [1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel was renamed The Westin Michigan Avenue during the 1990s. The exact year is not specified in the reference.

• 1981

  Western International Hotels becomes Westin Hotels

  [1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  The operating company changed its name to Westin Hotels, and the Chicago property was renamed The Westin soon afterward.

• 1974

  27-story expansion completed

  [1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  A major extension completed in August substantially increased the size of the hotel beyond its original 15-story, 400-room configuration.

• 1963

  Continental Plaza scheduled to open

  [1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  The original Continental Plaza was scheduled to open on November 22, but the opening was postponed following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. A November 29 grand-opening celebration was later cancelled.

Upscale, full-service urban hotel focused on business, leisure, group, and event travelers seeking a central Chicago location.

• Hotel accommodation · 1963

  Guest rooms and suites

  The core offering is overnight accommodation in a centrally located Chicago hotel operating under the Westin name. The original property opened with 400 rooms, but the current room count and precise room categories are not confirmed in the supplied reference. The lodging product serves leisure travelers, business guests, and visitors attending downtown events.

• Hotel dining · 1963

  Food and beverage services

  The hotel provides food-and-beverage services as part of its full-service hospitality model. The supplied material does not identify current restaurant names, bars, menus, or operating partners, so the offering is described at the general property level rather than through individual venues.

• Business and group hospitality · 1963

  Meetings and events

  Meeting and event hospitality is a typical component of the property's upscale, full-service positioning. The hotel can serve group and business demand associated with downtown Chicago, although the supplied sources do not provide current venue capacities, room configurations, or event-space specifications.

• Commercial real estate

  Ground-floor retail space

  The property includes approximately 5,860 square feet of ground-floor retail space. This component was purchased by Blatteis & Schnur in March 2023. It is a real-estate component associated with the hotel rather than a Westin guest service.

• 2025

  Sell the hotel for $72 millionM&A

  Background

  Pebblebrook Hotel Trust held the hotel before announcing the transaction.

  Action taken

  Pebblebrook Hotel Trust announced on December 3 that it had completed the sale to an unidentified investor.

  Aftermath

  The buyer was not identified in the supplied reference, and subsequent ownership or management arrangements are not confirmed.

  Sale price. $72 million (December 3, 2025)

  Source

• 2023

  Sell the ground-floor retail componentM&A

  Background

  The hotel property included approximately 5,860 square feet of retail space on its ground floor.

  Action taken

  Blatteis & Schnur purchased the retail space in March 2023.

  Aftermath

  The retail component had a separate identified owner. The source does not describe any effect on hotel operations.

  Source

• 2008

  Renovate the hotelOther

  Background

  The property required continued investment as an upscale, full-service hotel in a competitive downtown market.

  Action taken

  A renovation was completed in 2008.

  Aftermath

  The hotel continued operating under the Westin brand. The supplied source does not detail the renovation's scope or financial results.

  Source

• 1981

  Rebrand the property under the Westin identityStrategy

  Background

  Western International Hotels changed its corporate name to Westin Hotels, creating a new brand identity for properties in its hotel portfolio.

  Action taken

  The Chicago hotel was renamed The Westin soon after the corporate name change.

  Aftermath

  The property continued under the Westin identity and later adopted the location-specific name The Westin Michigan Avenue.

  Source

• 1974

  Expand the hotel with a 27-story additionStrategy

  Background

  The original Continental Plaza consisted of 15 floors and 400 rooms. The property pursued a major physical expansion to increase its scale in downtown Chicago.

  Action taken

  A 27-story extension was completed in August 1974, substantially enlarging the hotel.

  Aftermath

  The expansion nearly doubled the property's size and established it as a much larger urban lodging operation.

  Source

• 2025

  Pebblebrook Hotel Trust announces sale of the hotel[1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Pebblebrook Hotel Trust announced on December 3 that it had completed the sale of the hotel for $72 million to an unidentified investor.

• 2023

  Ground-floor retail space purchased by Blatteis & Schnur[1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Blatteis & Schnur purchased approximately 5,860 square feet of retail space on the hotel's ground floor.

• 2008

  Westin Michigan Avenue renovation[1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The hotel underwent a renovation as part of its continuing operation as an upscale Westin property in downtown Chicago.

• 1981

  Western International Hotels adopts the Westin name[1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The hotel's operating company, Western International Hotels, was renamed Westin Hotels, after which the property was rebranded as The Westin.

• 1974

  Major expansion completed at the Continental Plaza[1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A 27-story extension was completed in August, substantially increasing the scale of the original 15-story, 400-room hotel.

• 1963

  Continental Plaza opening postponed following the assassination of John F. Kennedy[1]Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The hotel's scheduled November 22 opening was postponed after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated that day. A grand-opening event planned for November 29 was subsequently cancelled.

1. 1Westin Michigan Avenue Chicagoen.wikipedia.org