St. Charles, Hoffman Estates look to get on board early for 2016 Olympics

By James Fuller

Hotels and sports facilities in fringe suburban Chicago are finding out not only how they can get a piece of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games business bonanza, but also how they can help ensure Chicago becomes the host.

Representatives from the Chicago 2016 Committee are organizing meetings with convention and visitors bureaus throughout the suburbs to get them to legally commit to help make Chicago's Olympic dreams come true.

Early reaction from communities like St. Charles and Hoffman Estates may touch off a suburban frenzy of interest as communities vie to host various delegations.

Committee officials appeared in St. Charles this week and will soon head to Hoffman Estates with contracts for hotels and resorts. Businesses that sign the contracts commit to reserving 85 percent of their rooms for the 17-day period of the games at a structured, annual rate increase. The structured rates are designed to keep hotels from inflating room prices through the roof with the increased demand. But the profit from those guests is a small nugget in the potential gold mine for area hotels and related businesses.

"The meeting had nothing to do with athletes or the spectators," said Amy Bull, executive director of the St. Charles Convention & Visitors bureau. "It was about accommodating the people that do the things that orchestrate the games. Those people could be here as long as six months out."

Area hotels typically see an average of up to 70 percent of rooms booked at any given time. So 85 percent for an extended period will do more than make hotel owners and a managers smile.

"Oh, hello! Yes, it absolutely will be a big deal for them," Bull said. "For those six months the hospitality industry will be glowing."

An 85 percent commitment can also be a strain on hotels who also have high demand from business travelers and conventions. Hotels also aren't guaranteed a full 85 percent of the rooms will be used, nor do they sign the contract knowing who their guests will be.

Those unknowns haven't kept hotels away. St. Charles' Hotel Baker is one of more than 80 establishments to already sign the contract. In fact, the hotel's general manager, Ginger LoGalbo-Irps, said the Olympic committee specifically approached her hotel back in May.

"They haven't guaranteed anything, but I think we'd be a perfect fit for some of the European delegations," LoGalbo-Irps said. "We signed on for more than just the business. We want to be part of the excitement. We want to be included in the history."

St. Charles isn't alone in that sentiment. Lou Mengsol is already setting up a meeting with the Olympic committee and Hoffman Estates officials, including Sears Centre staff.

Mengsol is the executive director of the Northwest Suburban Chicago Sports Council. He is fresh off bringing a successful World Volleyball League engagement to the Sears Centre that showed the facility's potential to draw international crowds. He's looking to duplicate that in Olympic fashion in 2016.

"This is an opportunity that is really unprecedented," Mengsol said.

He believes the first step will be getting hotels committed. He doesn't foresee too many problems with managers embracing the 85 percent commitment, even if hotel ownership changes.

"When the Olympics rolls into town, it's pretty much going to be the only show around," Mengsol said. "When something that big is going on, you don't really mind dedicating that much of your business."

Mengsol said he believes the Sears Centre has a shot at becoming a practice facility for athletes during the games, or hosting concerts, plays and other shows as an entertainment hub.

"The committee is looking for communities that are embracing the Olympics and having community fairs, festivals and entertainment," Mengsol said. "When the athletes aren't competing, they, and everyone associated with the games, will want to get away and experience the area. That will create some really unique opportunities."