The historic Hilton Milwaukee, the Wisconsin city’s largest hotel, completed its $42 million renovation in mid-December, the most extensive in the history of Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of Milwaukee-based Marcus Corp., which owns and operates the hotel. The project reimagines the hotel’s ornate 1920s architecture and design into a new era of style and sophistication, unveiling a revitalized lobby and bar, transformed meeting and event spaces, and 554 fully restyled guest rooms.
“Hilton Milwaukee has been a treasured icon in the city for nearly a century,” says Michael Evans, president of Marcus Hotels & Resorts, in a prepared statement. “With this renovation, we are proud to preserve this property’s legacy while warmly welcoming the next generation of visitors, whether they are coming to Milwaukee for leisure, business, or the latest conference at the expanded Baird Center.
Hilton Milwaukee’s grand two-story lobby remains the heart of the hotel, welcoming guests with its original crystal chandeliers, marble pillars and floors, geometric motifs, and intricate woodwork. The refreshed design has a warm, neutral color palette that highlights these historic details. In the hotel’s lobby bar, The Monarch Lounge, soft cream tones and custom blue-and-brown carpeting complement the bar’s timeless features. Anchored by its stone-and-metal fireplace and crystal chandeliers, The Monarch Lounge offers attendees a refined, yet relaxing place to gather, unwind, and connect.
Hilton Milwaukee Upgrades Meeting Space/Guest Rooms
Hilton Milwaukee’s more than 34,000 square feet of versatile meeting space also was revamped. The hotel’s three ballrooms, several prefunction spaces, and multiple other meeting rooms were renovated to maintain the now-refurbished crystal chandeliers, antique mirrors, gold-leafed adornments, and bright silver accents, along with new carpeting, draperies, and wall coverings. The renovation meets the needs of today’s event attendees with updated lighting controls and new digital signage throughout the meeting space.
In addition, the hotel’s 554 guest rooms were completely refreshed, balancing the building’s treasured aesthetic with amenities that today’s attendees expect. The updated interiors bring a warm palette of soft woods and gold accents, complemented by custom-designed carpeting, draperies, and vibrant artwork. Attendees can relax amid new furnishings and lighting inspired by the symmetry and glamour of the art deco era while appreciating motion-sensor lighting, in-room steamers, and newly installed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
Guest room bathrooms were also fully redesigned with new marble countertops, built-in lighted mirrors, and premium fixtures from Wisconsin-based Kohler Co., delivering an elevated, luxurious experience.
Opening its doors in 1928 as the Schroeder Hotel, Hilton Milwaukee stands as a masterpiece, and one of the city’s most distinguished landmarks. The building’s original owner, Walter Schroeder, spared no expense in creating the hotel that would bear his name and become a lasting fixture in Milwaukee’s skyline. Designed by renowned architects Holabird and Roche, best known for designing Chicago’s famous Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel, the Hilton Milwaukee remains a testament to classic elegance and fine craftsmanship.
Over the years, the hotel changed ownership before Marcus Hotels & Resorts purchased the property in 1972 and renamed it the Marc Plaza Hotel. Following the purchase, the hotel underwent an $8 million renovation that reconfigured its original 850 rooms into 550 deluxe units and added a parking structure and swimming pool. In 1995, the hotel was renamed the Hilton Milwaukee City Center and inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2011. With this just-completed sweeping renovation, the hotel was rebranded as Hilton Milwaukee.
Its ample event spaces and 554 guest rooms allow it to host groups of nearly any size. Centrally located just steps away from the newly renovated and expanded Baird Center, Milwaukee’s convention center, the Hilton Milwaukee also places attendees within easy reach of the Milwaukee Theater District, the lakefront and Summerfest grounds, Fiserv Forum, and the Historic Third Ward. The hotel offers multiple on-site dining options, including Milwaukee ChopHouse, Miller Time Pub & Grill, The Monarch Lounge, Starbucks, and The Café.
