The Forester, a Hyatt Place Hotel launches in Illinois

by Lauren Jade Hill
April 20, 2021
Projects

Developed by Janko Group and operated by Janko Hospitality, The Forester in Lake Forest is the world’s first boutique-inspired Hyatt Place hotel.

Developed by Janko Group and operated by Janko Hospitality, The Forester in Lake Forest is the world’s first boutique-inspired Hyatt Place hotel.

This newly opened hotel, located in Conway Business Park, is already turning plenty of heads.

A milestone hotel opening

As the first hotel to open in the North Shore suburb since 1929, The Forester, a Hyatt Place Hotel takes inspiration from Lake Forest’s motto, ‘Naturae et Scientiae Amor,’ which roughly translates as ‘love of science and nature’. Accordingly, nods to science and nature are woven throughout the design. Artwork is inspired by natural fractals, for example, while the front desk is made from a single white oak tree trunk and meeting rooms are named after native plants and flowers.

Interestingly, The Forester, a Hyatt Place Hotel combines the characteristic features of the Hyatt Place brand with new concepts such as upscale dining experience Oaken Bistro + Bar, and over 4,500 sq ft of event space.

“As the picturesque city of Lake Forest continues to grow and thrive economically, we are honoured to open the newest hotel in the city in nearly 100 years,” said Marlena Karwowski, general manager of The Forester, a Hyatt Place Hotel. “With our smartly designed social spaces and guestrooms with separate work and sleep areas, our multitasking guests can easily accomplish what they need to do while on the road.

“Lake Forest has long been at a unique crossroads of preservation and progress by way of open lands backing up to modern office parks and the cobblestone streets of historic Market Square offering coffee shops and retail stores, and this hotel was conceptualised at a similar juncture.”

Nature-inspired design and abundant facilities

The new hotel houses 156 guestrooms, including ten suites, with facilities ranging from complimentary wifi and flat-screen smart HDTVs to individually controlled heating and blackout curtains.

Guests benefit from complimentary breakfast, a necessities programme for forgotten items and complimentary parking. The hotel’s also home to The Market, serving freshly prepared meals at any time of day, and a fitness centre featuring cardio equipment with LCD touchscreens.

The hotel’s chef-driven restaurant, Oaken Bistro + Bar, offers dinner, brunch and cocktails with a bar and lounge area that’s distinguished by its earth-toned features and foliage-inspired light fixtures. It’s led by executive chef Kristen Burman who has come up with a menu rooted in bold flavours, complemented by an eclectic range of wines and spirits, plus signature cocktails infused with local flowers and herbs.

The Forester, a Hyatt Place Hotel also caters for events both large and small with three event rooms and a pre-function space boasting the latest technology. The Lupine Room has 1,676 sq ft of space plus an outdoor patio accommodating up to 186 guests, while The Aster Room hosts up to 200 across 2,232 sq ft, and The Blue Stem Room spans 378 sq ft and has a capacity of 45 people.

The new hotel is under the leadership of general manager Marlena Karwowski and director of sales Bill Tingle.