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Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
4.5
#1 of 26 hotels in Champaign
Location
4.6
Rooms
4.7
Value
4.6
Cleanliness
4.9
Service
4.8
Sleep Quality
4.8
I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center, a contemporarily designed four-star property in Champaign, is ranked within the top 10 of the 2014 Insiders' Select list. The I Hotel, constructed to AAA Four Diamond standards, features 125 luxurious hotel rooms with an adjoining 70,500-square-foot conference center. The I Hotel guest rooms invite you to settle in and enjoy the upscale amenities; spa-quality personal care products, pillow-top mattresses with fine linens, 42" flat screen HD televisions, in-room refrigerators, in-room safes, and Starbucks Coffee served both in-room, and served at the ICafe. Additional services include access to a fitness center, complimentary shuttle service, and spa services by appointment. We also offer varieties of local attractions tour packages during your stay here, please contact our concierge for arrangements! The adjoining state-of-the-art Illinois Conference Center features 12 conference rooms; two large ballrooms and meeting rooms that accommodate groups of various sizes for both personal and business use. Whether planning a business luncheon, casual meeting, or social occasion, The University of Illinois Culinary team offers a variety of distinctive options to meet guests' needs and creates events with lasting impressions. Houlihan's Restaurant + Bar, located on the property, features a design-forward finish with architectural elements and a patio designed for social lounging. An American restaurant and bar serving quality food and drinks, Houlihan's feature dishes such as center-cut steaks, wood-grilled flatbreads, artisan salads, and sandwiches, along with interesting, everyday wine and cocktail selections.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Family
Languages Spoken
English
Location
1900 South First Street, Champaign, Champaign-Urbana, IL 61820-7450
I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center
472 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This was my third stay. It's a beautiful hotel. The location is perfect: on the edge of the campus and in a very quiet area. The beds are very comfortable. The hotel was quiet at night. Staff was efficient and pleasant. I stayed twice during the pandemic and prices were very reasonable.
My main criticism was that the staff did not inform me that housekeeping does not service the rooms unless the guest requests it. The card on the bed states that rooms are serviced daily.
Other criticisms are minor: coffee at the I-Cafe (part of the complimentary breakfast) had little flavor. Blueberry scones were good but lemon scones were dry and seemed old. The room needs better black out curtains. The on-site restaurant is closed two days a week which seems odd for a restaurant attached to a hotel.
I wouldn't stay anywhere else in Urbana- Champaign
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Date of stay: May 2021
Value
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had an unfortunate incident occur on our drive north back to Wisconsin on our way to this hotel. It added at least three hours to our travel time and caused us to arrive at 2 AM. I called the hotel ahead of time to let them know that we were going to have a late arrival and asked if there would be someone there. They were very polite and told us not to worry, they will have a room for us and there is somebody at the desk 24 hours. We rolled in extremely tired. When my husband went to the desk, they were so apologetic. We had ordered a deluxe king room through Expedia. I’m not exactly sure what happened, but they must not have had any more king rooms, or any rooms available for that matter. However, they gave us the suite portion of a king suite that wasn’t being used, which only had a pullout sofa for a bed. They were very polite and very apologetic and offered to comp the room. We were tired and exhausted and still had another day of travel ahead of us to get home, so we were just happy to have a place to stay.
I had to mark off one star for the fact that we slept on a rickety sofa bed, however, I believe it probably wasn’t the hotel’s fault. They were very accommodating, professional, yet personable. So had this not occurred, I would’ve given them a five star review. I feel bad knocking off a star.
Our little adjoining suite portion, was very clean. The pedestal bathroom sink was sufficient, considering that it was really intended for handwashing rather than overnight staying. The shower was nice. The room would’ve been great as a suite portion connected to a king suite. It was decorated nicely. It had a beverage refrigerator stocked with water. The pull out bed was not so comfortable, but I was able to sleep. We have begun to laugh about the experience now, after all we went through that night.
The continental breakfast was held in the attached Houlihan’s restaurant. They had hot oatmeal and nice yogurt options. There were wonderful tiny mini little cinnamon rolls. They also had egg sandwich wraps, fruit, juice, etc.
The lobby was huge and spacious. There was original artwork on the walls. There was a refrigerator that was stocked with complementary water bottles. I wouldn’t mind staying there again if I could get a regular room.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Be wary of booking through a third-party. We used Super.com and the hotel said it was booked...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I stayed for a recent night during a visit to friends and family in Dekalb. The property was inviting, modern and well maintained. The staff was friendly, well-trained and helpful. The patio spaces were inviting and the breakfast, though limited- selection, was was high quality & very good! The Peloton in the gym was a plus. Nice room, well furnished, and quiet. Will Return!
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Date of stay: October 2021
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Use the Peloton. Relax on the patio.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sam Santhanam, General Manager at I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center
Responded Dec 6, 2022
On behalf of the I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center, thank you for this amazing review. We are glad to know you have enjoyed the stay and the experience at the hotel. We really hope to have the possibility to welcome you again soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
It always depends on what is important to a guest. This wasn't what we were hoping for. On the positive. Our bed and pillows were comfy. The person checking us in was very courteous. Plenty of parking. Quiet area of town. On the not so great for us: Pets are allowed which I didn't get clarified when making the reservation. It appears that specific rooms aren't held for pet owners. We had quite a barker just a few doors down from us. And with a family member who is highly allergic to dander -- rather a deal breaker for us to get a room where a pet has been allowed. Since it was Christmas we were hoping that the breakfast would be good as the rest of our highway journey would likely not offer food along the way. Pretty awful in our opinion. What I was told would be served and what was offered didn't resemble each other. Ended up at Starbucks and got a breakfast sandwich and latte. We typically stay at the Drury Inn when we are in town. It is currently under renovation so we decided to try this place. We prefer the room layout and colors, pet policy and food options. Drury Inn wins for us.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is an 'easy' hotel to stay at. There is plenty of parking and it is free, front desk staff are friendly and always helpful, standard King rooms have K-cup coffee, fridge, a small safe and are quiet (although I haven't stayed here on a football weekend).
Houlihan's is the attached restaurant and the complimentary breakfast is very good - breakfast burritos, oatmeal, yogurt, fresh fruit, fruit cups, coffee, juices and I know I'm forgetting some.
I would not hesitate to stay here again.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sam Santhanam, General Manager at I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center
Responded Jul 11, 2024
Thank you for the review. We are glad you enjoy your stay and hope to see you again.
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We stayed at I Hotel for the first time Sunday, June 10 for our daughter’s freshman registration. The room was very clean and the hotel was quiet. Breakfast the next morning was self serve in the Houlihan’s, but it was tasty and staff around the buffet were actively checking and refilling. Free parking too. Overall a good stay. We had a small problem which I mentioned on their survey and I was impressed that the manager of the hotel called us that next day to discuss and resolve. Given that kind of responsiveness to an issue, I will definitely give this hotel another stay.
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sam Santhanam, Owner at I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center
Responded Jul 7, 2023
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience at our hotel! We truly appreciate your kind words and are thrilled to hear that you had such a positive stay with us. Your feedback means a lot to our team, as we strive to provide exceptional service and create memorable experiences for all our guests. We are delighted to know that our efforts resonated with you. We will be sure to pass along your compliments to our staff members who contributed to making your stay enjoyable. Your recognition will serve as a great motivation for them to continue delivering outstanding service. Once again, thank you for choosing our hotel, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the near future. If there is anything we can assist you with, please feel free to reach out to us.
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Once more we had the opportunity to stay at the beautiful I-Hotel in Champaign last night. It is one of the most beautiful places we have been fortunate to stay at and we have traveled extensively. The attention to every detail, ranging from the beautiful landscaping, the wonderful coffee in the room as well as at the breakfast bar, the elegant toiletries to the bookshelves stocked with well chosen books in every room make this our most favorite hotel in the world! The cities of Champaign and Urbana as well as the University of Illinois are fortunate to have this wonderful place where families can spend some time surrounded by peace, beauty and comfort. We are grateful to have this place to stay when visiting our student at the University and grateful to all those who have worked to make it what it is- a true jewel.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Called 3 times prior to cancellation time. No one answered the phone. Called 2 hours past for last time, finally reached someone and they are charging me. Good luck cancelling, we have covid and offered proof.
We have stayed here in the past, it's fine. Hyatt Place nicer and they actually answer the phone. I would stay at Hyatt Place or Mariott Town Place when in town. Restaurant closed on Sundays/Mondays and nothing within walking distance.
I'm being penalized over $200 because they don't staff properly. When assisting to speak with a manager, I was refused.
Plenty of nicer (better location) places in town who actually answer their phone.
P.S. I'm fully aware that many people just tend to leave negative reviews and are never happy-this is the first negative review I've ever left in my life.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sam Santhanam, Owner at I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center
Responded Aug 29, 2023
We value all feedback, whether positive or negative, as it helps us improve our offerings and provide a better experience for our guests. However, after carefully reviewing your comments, we noticed some inaccuracies that we would like to address: Our booking system shows that you made two reservations, 8/18-8/20 and 8/22-8/23, but both of these reservations are no-shows. Our General Manager also left a message on your phone regarding your cancellation and the charge of $200 was not implemented. We would like to connect with you personally to discuss your concerns in more detail and explore ways in which we can make amends. Please call us at 217.819.5000 at your earliest convenience and we're eager to work towards a resolution that leaves you with a more favorable impression of our hotel.
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Family and friends luncheon at the I-Hotel's Conference Center was a wonderful and delicious gathering. Attention to detail with grace, professional expertise and patience was appreciated by our guests. Thanks to everyone from the planning team to the staff working our event. Best wishes for continued success.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sam Santhanam, General Manager at I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center
Responded Dec 6, 2022
On behalf of the I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center, thank you for this amazing review. We are glad to know you have enjoyed the stay and the experience at the hotel. We really hope to have the possibility to welcome you again soon.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Don’t even know where to start. The front desk employees looked more confused than me when I arrived. Had to figure everything out on my own since they would not tell me basic things like when is breakfast, how do I get to my room, etc. And when I asked “complicated” questions they deflected them hard, and simply didn’t know. They didn’t know how to get to the Amtrak station, which is one of the more common ways people arrive at the hotel. They then didn’t ask if I needed a shuttle ride there, not realizing they offer it complimentary as I was about to book an Uber. Oh, and my ticket also said free dinner, which turned out to be a farce, and instead of writing it down and escalating it they decided to blame the 3rd party I booked through. Like, it’s YOUR relationship with the 3rd party, not mine. Final straw was when the front desk staff suggested I have subway for breakfast since I missed theirs. Absolutely disgusting experience
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sam Santhanam, General Manager at I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center
Responded Dec 6, 2022
I appreciate you taking the time to make us aware of your experience in our hotel. On behalf of the I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center, I am deeply sorry to read that your expectations were not reached for your stay with us. Our guest's feedback is highly valued as is the only tool we have to continue to improve our service. I am disappointed to know that this was not accomplished with you and I would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused. If you do have the time please contact us as we would genuinely like to speak to you and make amends for this experience.
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Every room has a refrigerator, coffee maker, at least one sink, ice-bucket, space to put out drinks. However, I wouldn't call it a wet-bar. My experience is with the conference rooms. Suggest you call the hotel directly for more information.
I don't know when the rooms were last updated, but they are in very good condition. The bed was very comfortable this time and last time I stayed here.
Los Angeles, California126 contributions43 helpful votes
No there is not...there is a small fitness center, however you can receive complimentary day passes to the ARC which is the Universities full service rec center with everything from pools, running track (indoor) and too many weights and cardio equipment...various "courts" as well. Within walking distance weather permitting!!
Thank you for your inquiry about the I Hotel and Conference Center. We do currently offer room service with our adjoining restaurant, Houlihan's Restaurant + Bar. The service hours are as follows; 7:00 am – 9:30 pm Monday – Thursday
7:00 am – 10:30 pm Friday – Saturday.
Please let us know if we can answer any additional questions.
There are more places to choose from in the Champaign area.
PRICE RANGE
$98 - $152 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
i hotel and conference center, i hotel champaign
LOCATION
United StatesIllinoisChampaign-UrbanaChampaign
NUMBER OF ROOMS
125
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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