Customer response to the hotel has been strong so far, says general manager David Hall, with the hotel fully booked four nights of the first two weeks it was open."There hasn't been any meaningful supply to come on the marketplace in close to a decade, and there's never been luxury development outside of downtown," Hall tells GlobeSt.com. "Airport markets generally aren't viewed as the luxurious place to stay or to be, and it's more of a business or an unfortunate travel necessity. If you're stuck in an airport hotel, usually you're there because you have a conference or convention or your plane didn't take off, so there really were no destination hotels in the airport market."

Hall says the Intercontinental Chicago O'Hare bucks that trend, offering visitors a fully operational art gallery, Museo, which hosts complementary champagne tours daily and boasts art valued up to $60,000 by Salvador Dali among other artists. A live entertainment venue will also offer sketch comedy, improv and live music at night. The hotel also provides the option of four bars and three restaurants - McCormick & Schmick's, the Capital Grille and one yet to be determined. "One of the things people would always say about an O'Hare stay is that there is nothing to do, and we've really addressed that well," Hall says.

The hotel, managed by Oak Brook, IL-based Portfolio Hotels & Resorts, offers 70 executive and VIP suites, all of which offer soaking tubs and steam showers. Meeting space includes four ballrooms and nine private boardrooms. The hotel, developed by the Harp Group, also offers a lounge and flight center where travelers can monitor flight times and check-in via the internet.