01.07.25

Marcus Hotels & Resorts Names Kay Washington as General Manager of the AC Hotel Chicago Downtown

Marcus^® Hotels & Resorts, a nationally recognized owner and management company and division of The Marcus Corporation, today announced that Kay Washington has been named general manager of the AC Hotel Chicago Downtown. In her role, Washington will oversee all facets of the 226-room hotel located in Chicago’s River North area and just steps from the Magnificent Mile and the city’s newest casino, Bally’s Chicago.

“We are thrilled to have Kay join our team as General Manager of the AC Hotel Chicago Downtown,” said Michael Evans, president of Marcus Hotels & Resorts. “Kay’s extensive experience in operations, sales, and guest services make her a perfect fit to lead this bustling hotel. With deep knowledge of Chicago and the Marriott platform, we know that Kay and the AC Chicago team will provide all of our guests with a truly exceptional stay.”

With more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Washington brings a wealth of leadership expertise to the AC Hotel Chicago Downtown. Most recently, she served as general manager of the Ivy Hotel Chicago, where she oversaw operations, brand implementation, and sales strategy for the boutique downtown property. Prior to her time at the Ivy Hotel Chicago, Washington served in management and operations roles at several Marriott International properties including Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower, Seattle Marriott Waterfront, and Renaissance Seattle Hotel.

A native of the Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago, Washington studied business administration at Harold Washington College and Chicago State University. She also holds a certificate in hotel financial statements & labor productivity from the Hotel Accounting Institute, and taught Hospitality Management as an Adjunct Instructor for Kendall College, located in Downtown Chicago. Washington currently serves on the board of directors for the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association.

For more information about AC Hotel Chicago Downtown, click here.

For more information about Marcus Hotels & Resorts and its properties, please visit www.marcushotels.com.    

About AC Hotel Chicago Downtown

AC Hotel Chicago Downtown, located in the heart of Chicago’s vibrant River North neighborhood, offers a sleek and modern European-inspired experience for today’s savvy traveler. The hotel features 226 stylishly designed guest rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and flexible meeting spaces perfect for business and social events. Guests can unwind at the AC Lounge with signature cocktails and tapas-style small plates, or explore nearby attractions such as the Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, and Millennium Park.

About Marcus Hotels & Resorts 

Marcus Hotels & Resorts owns and/or manages 16 hotels, resorts and other properties in the U.S. The company’s distinctive portfolio includes city-center meeting hotels, upscale resorts, historic properties, and premium branded and independent first-class hotels. Marcus Hotels & Resorts is an approved operator for all major lodging brands. A leader in the hospitality industry since 1962, Marcus Hotels & Resorts creates asset value for hotel owners through its expertise in management, development and product repositioning. This includes unique food and beverage concepts, developed by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, such as Mason Street Grill, ARIA Restaurant, Milwaukee ChopHouse, Miller Time® Pub & Grill, and SafeHouse® Restaurant. For more information, please visit: http://media.marcushotels.com and follow the company on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About The Marcus Corporation

Headquartered in Milwaukee, The Marcus Corporation is a leader in the lodging and entertainment industries, with significant company-owned real estate assets. In addition to its lodging division, its theatre division, Marcus Theatres^®, is the fourth largest theatre circuit in the U.S. and currently owns or operates 993 screens at 79 locations in 17 states under the Marcus Theatres, Movie Tavern® by Marcus and BistroPlex® brands. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.marcuscorp.com.

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