I stayed at the hotel in the heart of McDonald's campus and it was nothing like I expected

Publish date: 2024-10-13

 

When I visited McDonald's headquarters earlier in March, I had one goal: stay at the infamous McDonald's hotel. 

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The fast-food headquarters are located on a 75-acre campus. And, on that campus is a Hyatt Lodge. 

Thousands of McDonald's workers stay at the hotel every year while attending training at "Hamburger University," which is connected to the Hyatt by a bridge. And, while the hotel sold itself as "one of the best family resorts near Chicago," I suspected there may be more fast-food magic afoot. 

So, I booked a night at the hotel. Here's what it is like to stay at perhaps the most fast-food-obsessed hotel in the world. 

The hotel looks like a pretty standard old-school Hyatt from the outside.

Kate Taylor

A statue called "The Strongest Bond," celebrating the work of the charity Ronald McDonald House, stands outside the Hyatt.

Entering the hotel, it's easy to be lulled into the feeling that you aren't, in fact, on McDonald's campus.

Kate Taylor

It's a lovely location and has been the site of weddings and other retreats beyond McDonald's employee events.

Kate Taylor

However, hints of McDonald's lurk around every corner.

Kate Taylor

Specifically, Ronald McDonald himself is lurking in every hallway.

Kate Taylor

The hotel is absolutely stuffed with McDonald's-themed art.

Kate Taylor

The variety is, quite frankly, staggering.

Kate Taylor

There are McDonald's-themed parodies of well-known classical pieces of art.

Kate Taylor

There are paintings that seem to be inspired by both pop art and hamburgers.

Kate Taylor

Ronald McDonald is a frequent star.

Again, let me reiterate — the rest of the hotel is perfectly normal.

Kate Taylor

There isn't fast food available via room service.

Kate Taylor

Instead, there are perfectly normal hotel restaurants.

Kate Taylor

There is even a lovely fitness center and spa.

Kate Taylor

The sole difference is the art that hangs on the walls in the hallway.

Kate Taylor

McDonald's is moving its headquarters from the suburbs to Chicago proper later this year.

Kate Taylor

It remains to be seen what will happen to the Hyatt's art — whether it will also make the move, or whether the dozens of fast-food-inspired art pieces will be forced to remain in Oak Brook forever.

Kate Taylor

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