This past Sunday, Grant Park was filled love, laughter, warmth, remembrance and hope today, as more than 30,000 runners and walkers, friends, family and co-workers came together to help Y-ME provide breast cancer support 24/7 for anyone who needs it. It was a great time for all who attended or participated.

This was Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown first time as a team walking in the event. Our team “The Boobettes “would like to thank all supporters, survivors and participants for being a part of the cause.  We were awed by the love, warmth, and hope that surrounded this event.

“The Boobettes” started fundraising on the first day of March with hopes of getting staff, guest, friends and family involved and excited about the cause. With your help we surpassed our $1,000 goal by raising a whopping $1,454.00. In the process of our two months of fundraising we ended up with a total of 12 participants for the 3 mile walk. The Homewood Suites Teamraised money by donations from guests, pot luck lunches, and raffles for gift baskets. We were humbled by the generosity of all our supporters whether they be guests or employees.

Y-ME is on a mission to assure no one faces breast cancer alone. Your support makes that possible. Thank you for making the Homewood Suites donation to the Y-ME Race a Suite Success.

The Homewood Suites is pleased to announce that since we began selling the wine in our Suite Shop on April 1^st we have already sold 110 bottles of wine. We are keeping a running tally both behind the front desk and in the Suite Shop. Our goal is help plant 1,000 trees by the end of summer. If you are at looking to unwind at the end of the day with a glass of wine make sure to check out the Homewood Suites selection.

 Annually, Center on Halsted hosts an Oscar Watch Party and Fundraiser. This year it is bigger and better than ever. This is a wonderful event for the diehard movie buff or the fashionista!

 This year Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown is supporting Center on Halsted’s fundraising efforts with donations as well as our in house fundraising. Our in-house fundraiser is an Oscar Nominee Wall where guest can donate any amount to the event and they will be automatically entered to win a complimentary night stay at the hotel!

 We are also doing OSCAR Bingo during our dinner service on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the month of February to raise money for the event. OSCARBingo will take place in our Lodge and more information is available at the front desk.

 On The Red Carpet Oscar Watch Party and Fundraiser is Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 6:00 pm at the Park West Theatre. There will be 7ft Oscar statues, an actual red carpet, food, drinks, great raffle prizes and not to mention over 30,000 dollars worth of auction items. Be a celebrity for a night and purchase a ticket to television’s most watched award show. Raffle tickets are $5.00 or 5 for $20.00 and you can win 1 of 3 prizes valued at over $3,000.00. Ticket prices vary from $30.00 to $125.00 and include everything from food, drinks, private seating and a night of great memories.

Center on Halsted is theMidwest’s most comprehensive community center dedicated to building and strengthening the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

 If you are interested in donating to the cause, buying a raffle ticket or attending the event contact Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Sales Coordinator Melah Miller at (312) 644-8751 for details. If you are already attending the event and would like to stay the night in a spacious suite please Melah can help you with this as well.

American Girl Placeis such a special place for girls and girls at heart, and we understand how important a trip to the store can be for everyone. With our American Girl Place Package we offer you the perfect way to combine your visit toAmerican Girl Placeand your time inChicago. Our American Girl Place Package is perfect because it celebrates being a girl—there’s time to explore the store, Cafe, Photo Studio, and Doll Hair Salon.

This package also includes a suite at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown. Each of our suites includes a separate bedroom and living rooms and a full kitchen. When you are arrive to check into the hotel, the special girl in your party will be greeted with her very own welcome letter at the front desk. When you arrive in your room, you will find cookies for not just your daughter but also her doll. The couch in the living room is the perfect place to curl up on the couch and read an engaging American Girl book to your special girl and her doll. Don’t forget to put the American Girl doll-sized travel bed next to your daughter’s bed so that they can dream sweet dreams of their shopping experience the next day.

Make sure that you have a big breakfast in the hotel Lodge the next morning. You are going to need it for all the energy you are going to need at the American Girl Place. Before you leave don’t forget to grab your Gift Certificate for theAmerican Girl Place, Doll Hair Salon. This is the perfect place for your daughter to showcase her doll’s unique style. Let her pick out the perfect style, and her doll is ready for a day on the town.

We hope that to see you in Chicagoand if you are thinking about visiting the American Girl Placemake sure to book our American Girl Place Package If you have any questions about this suite package please contact Vanessa at: 312-644-8645 or vkosloski@fhginc.com

Treat your doll to the very best!

Thank you!

The Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown would like to thank all of our generous guests for their donations to this year’s The Giving Tree Project. Due to your generosity we were able to provide winter accessories for a 1^st grade classroom at Arthur A. Libby Elementary School. There are 27 children that will now be able to walk to school, build a snowman, and enjoy winter because of their new hats, scarves, and mittens.

The Homewood Suites was lucky enough to be able to hand out your donations yesterday to the students. Each kid received a wrapped present with warm winter accessories. When we arrived at the school we were warmly welcomed by everyone. We were just in time for story time so we were able to   listen as Mr. Becker and his 1^st grade class learned the lessons of giving and being kind to each other. After story time each child received a gift from a member of the Homewood Suites Staff. Chaos ensued and wrapping paper and ribbons went flying everywhere! They were so excited to be able to receive their warm and stylish gifts that they were put on immediately.

After we took a few pictures everyone was able to take a picture with Lewis the Duck. Lewis is the Homewood Suites mascot and was able to fly in to make this very special trip to visit and help handout the gift. Lewis was a big favorite hit and everyone got to give him a hug or a handshake. When we left the school everyone was practicing their writing still wearing their hats, gloves, and scarves!

Please visit our Facebook page to see some pictures from the event. Thank you once again for your generous donations.

 Homewood Suites has the ultimate package for all shoppers. Suite Shopping ReLeaf is a win for everyone. When you purchase the package .70 cent from the $50 American Express Give Green gift card goes to American Forest. As your reward for doing your small part in saving the trees you also receive a complimentary lunch for two at Café Nordstrom.

 Return to your spacious suite at the Homewood Suites and relish in all your great buys of the day. Make sure you don’t take too long too long because you wouldn’t want to miss the complimentary dinner we offer until 7:00 pm. Take a glass of wine back to your suite and catch up on some of the latest trends of the season in the fashion magazine you received in your Homewood Suites reusable tote filled with suite surprises.

 By morning you will be ready to enjoy our wonderful complimentary breakfast and take on all the stores you missed. We hope you have a suite shopping day and enjoy your time at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown.

Includes:

1. 1.      $50.00 Give Green Gift Card to use at Shops at Northbridge
2. 2.      Lunch for 2 at Café Nordstrom (valued at $30.00) Menu will be in bag
3. 3.      One fashion magazine for ex: Vogue, Cosmo, Glamour etc.
4. 4.      Homewood Suites reusable tote filled with suite surprises such as coupons, 2 bottles of water and snack

If you are staying at the hotel tomorrow evening (Wednesday, December 14, 2011) please join us in the lobby for a wine tasting. The Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown in partnership with Southern Wine & Spirits will be hosting a complimentary wine tasting for our guests from 5pm – 7pm. This is your chance to taste everything from vintage champagne to an Argentinean Malbec. The full list of wines available is:

-Laurent Perrier Brut Non-Vintage Champagne

-Los Vascos Chardonnay Colchagua Valley Chile

-Rutz Cellars Pinot Noir Proprietor’s Reserve

-Garnet Pinot Noir Carneros

-El Portillo Merlot Uco Valley Mendoza Argentina

-Finca La Linda Malbec Mendoza Argentina

-Kennedy Shah Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake Hills Washington State

All of these wines will be available for purchase for our guests’ onsite and in our suite shop in the future. We hope that you enjoy this special event for our guests at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown. Make sure to check out our Facebook Page for some pictures from the event.

The Christmas Carolers will be dressed in traditional Victorian dress and will lend an air of elegance to the Christmas season. With such an amazing act you will think that you have traveled back in time. This is an event not to be missed by anyone young or old. So pour yourself a cup of hot chocolate and make sure to make it down to the lobby this evening to enjoy the amazing voices of the traditional Christmas Carolers this evening.

For those of our loyal guests who are unable to make it to the caroling this evening don’t despair. We will also be having the Christmas Carolers next Thursday evening, December 15^th at 5:30pm in the lobby as well. Make sure to check out our Facebook page for some videos.

We organized The Giving Tree to help outfit children from the Arthur A. Libby Elementary School in Englewood, Illinois. Englewood is one of the most underprivileged areas in the city of Chicago and many of the children in this first grade class do not have the necessary item to be warm during this time. We are collecting scarves, hats/earmuffs, and gloves/mittens for these children.

Last year we were able to successfully offer a hat, scarf, and gloves for each child in this 1^st grade classroom. We are hoping that with the generosity and holiday spirit that we are able to do this again. We have a special tree designated as our Giving Tree in our 6^th Floor Lobby. All you have to do is select an ornament for either a boy or girl and purchase and item from the list. You can then drop off the gifts at the front desk. We will wrap these items and make sure that each child has a present to keep them warm this winter. We hope you will join us and take an ornament for a well deserving child.

We will be collecting item until December 31^st and will be delivering the items on Wednesday, January 4^th. We would welcome any of our guests that would like to join us in handing out the gifts. Please make sure to check our Facebook Pagein order to see what your generosity is able to accomplish.

1st Grade Class

We know that Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family to get together and rejoice over the past years successes. We know that not everyone can make it to Grandma’s house for her famous pecan pie so we welcome all guests who will be staying the Thanksgiving Holiday with open arms. Whether you are staying with us to get a jump start on the amazing black Friday shopping deals or maybe this is a great middle meeting ground for family spread out across the country. We know that you will have a Suite Thanksgiving in Chicago this year.

This year the Homewood Suites will be hosting a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for all of our guests that will be staying with us this year. Our dinner will begin two hours earlier at 3pm and will run until 7pm. We promise that you won’t be missing any of your family favorites when you sit down at our dinner table. Our buffet this year will include:

Sliced Turkey & Giblet Gravy

Sliced Ham with Honey Glaze

Mashed Potatoes

French Cut Green Beans

Orange Glazed Carrots

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Cranberry Sauce

Salad Bar

Dinner Rolls

Apple Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Sweet Potato Pie

Dessert Bars and Sweet Treats

Beer, Wine, Iced Tea, Lemonade and Salty Treats

We know that Thanksgiving is all about family and friends but it is also all about football! We will be playing the Dolphins @ Dallas (3:15 PM Kick Off) Game in our Lodge during our Thanksgiving dinner. You will be able to kick back with a beer and our Thanksgiving Feast and watch the game.

We look forward to welcoming all our guests for Thanksgiving and hope that your holiday will be filled with a suite meal, suite shopping deals, and a suite football game.