Le Méridien Essex Chicago
Chicago, United States
Built 1961 · Last completed renovation 2019
Le Méridien Essex Chicago in Chicago was last renovated in 2019, and originally built in 1961. Its HotelChrono freshness score is 7.6/10 — every date linked to a cited source.
Renovation forecast · estimate
Next renovation expected around 2027
In about 1 year (≈8-year cycle). A model estimate, not a sourced fact.
Location
Satellite view · Chicago, United States
Timeline
1961
Hotel originally built as Essex Inn
2019
Renovated and reopened as Hotel Essex
2021
Rebranded from Hotel Essex to Le Méridien Essex Chicago
How this score is computed
Every figure here traces back to the sourced renovation year above — no hidden weighting, no black box. Recompute it yourself. See the full methodology →
What changed in the 2019 renovation
“The landmark hotel re-opened in 2019 after undergoing a multi-million-dollar transformation from Essex Inn into Hotel Essex, giving new life to the iconic Michigan Avenue building.”— source · retrieved 2026-10-22
Scope is quoted verbatim from the cited source — we never guess what a renovation covered.
Facts
Built
Sourced1961
Last completed renovation
Sourced2019
Ownership & operator
Who runs and owns this hotel, at the company level — from public sources. The decision layer behind every renovation.
Ownership data depth
1/3 · 33%
- ✓ Operating brand
- ○ Management / operator
- ○ Ownership
FF&E supplier or contractor? The Renovation Radar package adds the ownership group, operator and a sourced public business contact for hotels approaching their renovation cycle.
See the Renovation Radar →Sources
Our iron rule: no quote, no data. Every date links back to the exact sentence it came from.
“Oxford Capital Group And Quadrum Global Announce The Rebranding Of Iconic Michigan Avenue Landmark Into Le Meridien Essex Chicago... CHICAGO, April 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxford Hotels & Resorts, LLC, the Chicago-based hotel management affiliate of Oxford Capital Group, LLC, today announces the rebranding of Hotel Essex”
“The landmark hotel re-opened in 2019 after undergoing a multi-million-dollar transformation from Essex Inn into Hotel Essex, giving new life to the iconic Michigan Avenue building.”
“from the Gecht family who built the hotel in 1961”
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<a href="https://hotelchrono.com/hotel/le-meridien-essex-chicago-chicago" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <img src="https://hotelchrono.com/api/badge/le-meridien-essex-chicago-chicago.svg" alt="Le Méridien Essex Chicago — Chrono Score, verified by HotelChrono" width="360" height="112"> </a>
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Frequently asked
When was Le Méridien Essex Chicago built?+
Le Méridien Essex Chicago (Chicago, United States) was built in 1961.
How old is Le Méridien Essex Chicago?+
Le Méridien Essex Chicago is 65 years old — it was built in 1961 and last renovated in 2019. Age measures the building; the Chrono Score measures how fresh it feels today.
When was Le Méridien Essex Chicago last renovated?+
Its most recent completed renovation was in 2019.
What is the Chrono Score of Le Méridien Essex Chicago?+
Its Chrono Score is 7.6/10 (Ageing) — a pure freshness metric.