I have heard from fellow alums active in the Alumni Association that a proposal was submitted recently to the President for an NIU hotel and conf center (Marriot??). Totally privately funded. Would be great if true as an upgrade in hotels is needed near campus. Let's hope.

This has been mentioned on here before. I think it is one more piece that needs to be put in place to be prepared for the future. If we were to move conferences, we need for some place for opposing teams to stay.

(12-04-2014 07:07 PM)RobertN Wrote:  This has been mentioned on here before. I think it is one more piece that needs to be put in place to be prepared for the future. If we were to move conferences, we need for some place for opposing teams to stay.

I really doubt they would stay at that hotel anyway. No teams are going to stay at a hotel that is on or near campus. They'd be better off staying in Sycamore or somewhere right off 88.

(12-04-2014 07:12 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(12-04-2014 07:07 PM)RobertN Wrote:  This has been mentioned on here before. I think it is one more piece that needs to be put in place to be prepared for the future. If we were to move conferences, we need for some place for opposing teams to stay.

I really doubt they would stay at that hotel anyway. No teams are going to stay at a hotel that is on or near campus. They'd be better off staying in Sycamore or somewhere right off 88.

Why would you think that? I am not talking about MAC teams.

Btw, if they do build it, do they make the student center hotel into dorms?

(12-04-2014 07:27 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(12-04-2014 07:12 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(12-04-2014 07:07 PM)RobertN Wrote:  This has been mentioned on here before. I think it is one more piece that needs to be put in place to be prepared for the future. If we were to move conferences, we need for some place for opposing teams to stay.

I really doubt they would stay at that hotel anyway. No teams are going to stay at a hotel that is on or near campus. They'd be better off staying in Sycamore or somewhere right off 88.

Why would you think that?

I think it depends on the location of the new hotel and of course price. NIU may offer a reduced rate to entice teams to stay there. The investors are trying to bring in Marriott as the operator according to the proposal. Plus good conference space is needed for one of IL's largest universities. It doesn't exist now.

God I pray it's Marriott, years of heavy travel and I am a life time platinum with Marriott! Always guaranteed a room! Woof!

(12-04-2014 07:27 PM)RobertN Wrote:  Why would you think that? I am not talking about MAC teams.

Generally speaking teams just don't even risk staying near campus. It would take two seconds for the NIU students to find out that the opposing team is staying there. Then you have students drive by and blare their car horn at 4am, call random room numbers at all hours of the night, or an NIU student working there food poisons the team. That last one is especially far fetched but who knows. I'm pretty sure it's not worth risking it over an extra 30 minutes of drive time. It would be a nice place for visiting teams of other sports to stay though

(12-04-2014 07:27 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(12-04-2014 07:12 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(12-04-2014 07:07 PM)RobertN Wrote:  This has been mentioned on here before. I think it is one more piece that needs to be put in place to be prepared for the future. If we were to move conferences, we need for some place for opposing teams to stay.

I really doubt they would stay at that hotel anyway. No teams are going to stay at a hotel that is on or near campus. They'd be better off staying in Sycamore or somewhere right off 88.

Why would you think that? I am not talking about MAC teams.

Btw, if they do build it, do they make the student center hotel into dorms?

No.

Marriott built a hotel and conference center directly across the street from the campus at ISU. It's the centerpiece of their "uptown Normal" shopping area that caters to the college kids. Would be great to have the same in DeKalb for NIU.

I'm a big time marriott fan, that's where I stay for work. Would love to see this happen, make it easier to visit campus form Dallas instead of having to stay at a nicer option in st charles or so.

Also, as Armour said, no school stays on campus for football. It's possible for a different sport like basketball but football teams generally stay about 20 miles or so away. They like to stay away from the campus town if at all possible.

(12-04-2014 08:47 PM)niu79 Wrote:  Marriott built a hotel and conference center directly across the street from the campus at ISU. It's the centerpiece of their "uptown Normal" shopping area that caters to the college kids. Would be great to have the same in DeKalb for NIU.

Visiting football and basketball teams stay there with no problem. Perfect with team conference rooms.

This may be a reason some teams stay away from the college towns. http://www.foxsports.com/ohio/story/ohio...tel-102514

(12-04-2014 08:47 PM)niu79 Wrote:  Marriott built a hotel and conference center directly across the street from the campus at ISU. It's the centerpiece of their "uptown Normal" shopping area that caters to the college kids. Would be great to have the same in DeKalb for NIU.

Is it called the ISU Hotel and Conference Center. This is supposed to be the NIU HCC if approved.

(12-04-2014 07:39 PM)MileHighHuskie Wrote:  God I pray it's Marriott, years of heavy travel and I am a life time platinum with Marriott! Always guaranteed a room! Woof!

Marriotts are mostly franchises. What the corp side does is a very good job of maintaining standards by strict inspections. Sounds like a great deal for NIU/DeKalb if you've got the right franchisee.

(12-05-2014 10:00 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(12-04-2014 07:39 PM)MileHighHuskie Wrote:  God I pray it's Marriott, years of heavy travel and I am a life time platinum with Marriott! Always guaranteed a room! Woof!

Marriotts are mostly franchises. What the corp side does is a very good job of maintaining standards by strict inspections. Sounds like a great deal for NIU/DeKalb if you've got the right franchisee.

I've stayed at the relatively new Hampton Inn on Annie Glidden and I have seen girls' volleyball teams staying there this year.

(12-05-2014 10:10 AM)HuskieTom51 Wrote:  

(12-05-2014 10:00 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(12-04-2014 07:39 PM)MileHighHuskie Wrote:  God I pray it's Marriott, years of heavy travel and I am a life time platinum with Marriott! Always guaranteed a room! Woof!

Marriotts are mostly franchises. What the corp side does is a very good job of maintaining standards by strict inspections. Sounds like a great deal for NIU/DeKalb if you've got the right franchisee.

I've stayed at the relatively new Hampton Inn on Annie Glidden and I have seen girls' volleyball teams staying there this year.

(12-05-2014 10:10 AM)HuskieTom51 Wrote:  

(12-05-2014 10:00 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(12-04-2014 07:39 PM)MileHighHuskie Wrote:  God I pray it's Marriott, years of heavy travel and I am a life time platinum with Marriott! Always guaranteed a room! Woof!

Marriotts are mostly franchises. What the corp side does is a very good job of maintaining standards by strict inspections. Sounds like a great deal for NIU/DeKalb if you've got the right franchisee.

I've stayed at the relatively new Hampton Inn on Annie Glidden and I have seen girls' volleyball teams staying there this year.

Seen any spotting?

(12-04-2014 08:50 PM)HuskieJWN Wrote:  I'm a big time marriott fan, that's where I stay for work. Would love to see this happen, make it easier to visit campus form Dallas instead of having to stay at a nicer option in st charles or so.

Also, as Armour said, no school stays on campus for football. It's possible for a different sport like basketball but football teams generally stay about 20 miles or so away. They like to stay away from the campus town if at all possible.

Hey we agree on something Marriott is excellent!!!

(12-04-2014 07:12 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(12-04-2014 07:07 PM)RobertN Wrote:  This has been mentioned on here before. I think it is one more piece that needs to be put in place to be prepared for the future. If we were to move conferences, we need for some place for opposing teams to stay.

I really doubt they would stay at that hotel anyway. No teams are going to stay at a hotel that is on or near campus. They'd be better off staying in Sycamore or somewhere right off 88.

I think this is a wonderful idea! Great thinking by the administration at NIU. The University of Toledo has a really nice hotel and conference center branded after UT on the Health Science Campus, where the medical and pharmacy schools are located. It has a restaurant, bar, conference areas, very nice. My wife and I stay there when we go for football games. The expedia reviews of the hotel are very good and a nice perk for a university such as UT or NIU to have on their campus. In fact the President stays there when he visits the auto plants, mainly Jeep, to promote the auto industry when he comes in town. Hopefully this gets done at NIU and will be a really nice place to stay for all kinds of visitors.

http://www.radisson.com/toledo-hotel-oh-43614/usautol
http://utmc.utoledo.edu/

(12-05-2014 03:14 PM)Stpetebeachrocketfan Wrote:  

(12-04-2014 07:12 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(12-04-2014 07:07 PM)RobertN Wrote:  This has been mentioned on here before. I think it is one more piece that needs to be put in place to be prepared for the future. If we were to move conferences, we need for some place for opposing teams to stay.

I really doubt they would stay at that hotel anyway. No teams are going to stay at a hotel that is on or near campus. They'd be better off staying in Sycamore or somewhere right off 88.

I think this is a wonderful idea! Great thinking by the administration at NIU. The University of Toledo has a really nice hotel and conference center branded after UT on the Health Science Campus, where the medical and pharmacy schools are located. It has a restaurant, bar, conference areas, very nice. My wife and I stay there when we go for football games. The expedia reviews of the hotel are very good and a nice perk for a university such as UT or NIU to have on their campus. In fact the President stays there when he visits the auto plants, mainly Jeep, to promote the auto industry when he comes in town. Hopefully this gets done at NIU and will be a really nice place to stay for all kinds of visitors.

http://www.radisson.com/toledo-hotel-oh-43614/usautol
http://utmc.utoledo.edu/

How long has it been in business. Does it seem to be doing well. NIU could really use a nice hotel/congregating space for everyone to enjoy.