Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Expands
The Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel & Conference Center has remodeled its 23,500-square-foot ballroom and added more than 4,000 square feet of meeting space, management says. The enlarged space—which can be divided into as many as five separate rooms—is suited for corporate events, trade shows, weddings and receptions. The ballroom—one of the largest column-free rooms in the O'Hare airport area—has new high-end decor and state-of-the-art LED chandeliers; it offers more than 4,000 square feet of adjacent pre-function space. Through June 1, planners who book an event at the hotel will receive 10 percent off the bill, according to management.

Renovated Shangri-La Debuts in Santa Monica
The landmark art deco Hotel Shangri-La in Santa Monica, Calif., has undergone a $30 million renovation that includes the re-branded rooftop bar and lounge, Suite 700. Offering sweeping views of the Pacific, the lounge's outdoor terraces offer plush seating, a glass enclosure and fire pits. Inside, the bar blends urban flair with beach chic, management says. The hotel's outdoor dining room—the Courtyard—is set against the hotel's new swimming pool, terraces and cabanas. The 71-room hotel is close to attractions including the Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Pier.

New Orleans Marriott Offers "Perfect Match" Program
With more than 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, the New Orleans Marriott announces its "Perfect Match" program, whereby the hotel will match competing RFPs from other properties. The program is valid for meetings booked by June 30, 2010, and held by Dec. 31, 2010. Planners must present the competing offer outlining meeting needs so that the function can be matched, management says. The hotel also announces its partnership with nonprofit volunteer agencies Bayou Rebirth and Contemplatives in Action in "Voluntour Gumbo," a program that matches volun-tourists with service projects in the region.

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