Sheraton hotel goes dark

Cindy Archulita of Hoffman Estates was a server for 35 years at banquets held at the Sheraton Chicago Northwest hotel in Arlington Heights.

Over the years, she loved groups that would decorate the banquet rooms like winter wonderlands or cabarets or speak-easies.

Then there were celebrity visitors, like singer Ella Fitzgerald, comedian George Gobel and actor Bill Bixby, who performed at the old theater-in-the-round. And New Year's Eve parties brought more fun, and income.

But that's over now. The Sheraton will be dark this New Year's Eve. The hotel, which served the Northwest suburbs since 1969 under various names, closed on Monday.

“It's all very sad,” said Archulita, 59. “It was a nice property.”

A lack of business, a harsh recession and other nearby competing hotels were draining the Sheraton in its last years.

About 230 workers were notified last week that the Sheraton and its CoCo Key Water Resort would close.

The Sheraton is among at least three suburban hotels to announce closures in recent months. Another was the Wyndham O'Hare in Rosemont, also slated to close this week, and the Wyndham Drake in Oak Brook, which closed in October.

The Sheraton has undergone several changes since it opened in 1969 as the Arlington Park Towers. Hilton Hotels took over in 1974, and in 1985, the new owners renamed it the Woodfield Hilton.

In 1993, a recession eroded the hotel's ability to meet mortgage payments, and it was sold by the Cook County sheriff's office at a foreclosure auction with the mortgage holder buying it.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., parent of Sheraton, took over operations in 1996.

While the hotel had operated under the Sheraton brand name, it was recently owned by WPH Arlington LLC. The management is offering assistance through its human resources to relocate employees, said Wendi Howard. a spokeswoman for the hotel and water park.

The hotel's general manager did not immediately respond.

“(It's) pretty much business as usual with families enjoying the water park,” Howard said about Monday's last day. The water park closed around 3 p.m., about two hours before the hotel.

There just wasn't enough business to support the Sheraton, added Archulita.

“The area is inundated with hotels and banquet facilities, and there's only so much business to go around in this recession,” Archulita said.

Still, Archulita and co-worker Jim Santos, who also served in the banquet area for about 20 years, were sad to see the longtime hotel closing.

“Business really slowed down after 9/11,” said Santos, 60. “But I'm not ready to retire. It was my bread and butter and it's where I earned my mortgage payments.”

The Des Plaines resident was uncertain about his future.

“I don't know what I'll do yet,” Santos said. “But it's not the end of everything yet. It actually could be the start of a new day for me.”

The loss of jobs and services to the community likely will take its toll on the region, said Douglas Whitley, president and CEO of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce.

“Convention, tourism and hospitality businesses are an important part of the Illinois economy. It is disappointing to see any Illinois enterprise close when our goals should be to promote prosperity and encourage more employment for Illinois communities and residents.”