Chicago Athletic Association Hotel

Data aggregated from FlyerTalk and various blogs, tallied to give a rough idea of your chances at an upgrade.

8 stays reported, newest first

• Globalist · Jun 2025Blog

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  Junior suite, offered without asking

  Room

  Room (type not specified in review, booked through a convention portal) → Madison View Junior Suite

  Welcome amenity

  Given

  Travelling for a conference and booking through the convention portal, a Globalist was proactively upgraded at check-in to a Madison View Junior Suite and given a voucher for a complimentary glass of prosecco as a Globalist welcome amenity, though his room was not ready when he arrived at 2 p.m. and the hotel stored his bags while he headed to the convention centre. The junior suite had a king bed with a pommel horse at its foot, a sitting area and a large double-sink bathroom, but the wall-mounted TV next to the bed had no comfortable viewing angle and the corner room looked out at other buildings, limiting privacy with shades open. He loved the historic character, service, elite recognition and food, and noted the Category 5 hotel costs 17,000 to 23,000 points per night while cash rates for a standard room commonly exceed $400.

  Read the post on Blog ↗
• Globalist · Apr 2025Blog

  Status

  Globalist

  Room

  Room (type not specified in review, cash about $250/night on a conference rate) → Corner Junior Suite, 4th floor

  A Globalist paid about $250 plus tax on a conference rate for a two-night stay when the member rate was about $200 higher, at a Category 5 hotel where cash rates can push over $500. Check-in was so quick that breakfast benefits and the $30 founders fee, covering a drink coupon, Topgolf bay, bike use and a 10 percent coffee-shop discount, were never mentioned, though late checkout was proactively offered and declined by the guest. He stayed in a fourth-floor corner junior suite with park light, noting the hotel is reportedly good about upgrading guests to Deluxe King park-view rooms and junior suites but is a suite-award-ineligible property, so suites cannot be confirmed in advance. Globalist breakfast was taken via room service, available from 5 a.m., Shake Shack room service was also offered, and $71 valet parking is free for Globalists only on award stays. He praised the historic hotel as what an Unbound Collection property should be. Status and the junior-suite outcome are clear from the Globalist breakfast section and room description, though the booked room type and whether the suite was an upgrade are not stated, so the upgrade outcome is recorded as unknown.

  Read the post on Blog ↗
• Globalist · Sep 2022FlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  Junior suite, offered without asking

  Room

  standard room → Millennium Park view Junior Suite

  Breakfast

  Full: buffet and à la carte

  Welcome amenity

  Given

  Upgraded in the app. Founders Suites were in use for a photo shoot, but a longtime staffer showed off the architectural details.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗
• Globalist · May 2019FlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  Specialty suite, offered without asking

  Room

  standard room → Founders Suite overlooking Millennium Park

  Breakfast

  Full: buffet and à la carte

  One of only three Founders Suites, with a big gas fireplace. Great recognition at check-in, awesome breakfast, excellent bars and restaurants.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗
• GlobalistFlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  None

  Room

  King corner Madison

  Breakfast

  Full: buffet and à la carte

  Three nights in two rooms, both small and gloomy, with very bad WiFi. Superb location, but won't book again because of the dark rooms.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗
• GlobalistFlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  Higher room category, after asking

  Room

  King → King Deluxe

  Breakfast

  Full: buffet and à la carte

  Late checkout

  Honoured

  Welcome amenity

  Given

  Turned down for a corner view room with suites still selling. The Founders Fee waiver took a reminder, and the welcome drink was embarrassingly tiny.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗
• GlobalistFlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  None, though asked

  Room

  standard room → standard room (brick wall/fire escape view)

  Breakfast

  Full: buffet and à la carte

  No recognition at check-in, El noise, and folio errors on tips and parking. Only the Cherry Circle Room breakfast was outstanding.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗
• GlobalistFlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  Junior suite, offered without asking

  Room

  standard King / Deluxe King (back-to-back: Amex THC + Cat 1-7 cert + Amex THC) → Millennium Park view Junior Suite

  Breakfast

  Full: buffet and à la carte

  Late checkout

  Honoured

  Welcome amenity

  Given

  Suite upgrade awards can't be used here. Destination fees waived, and while the suite was more a big room, loved the furniture and tub.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗