For the overall experience, better can be had in the city
I have stayed in a great many hotels in Chicago, but the first time near the Merchandise Mart. On a nice day it is an ok walk into the area where things are at, but if it is a little rainy or cold, this little peninsula is outside of the area you want to be. After a long trip, and walking up and down on the Brown Line, then having to get around inside the Merchandise Mart to get around to the hotel, I had hoped for something special upon arrival.
The rooms are ok, but in a very commercial building- not at all like entering into a hotel. I must say that the check-in and check out was very well done, even to the point of correcting my bill as necessary for reimbursement by my company, so this made me feel good.
Nothing special about the rooms. In my room the wall paper was coming off near the edges, but, the room looked like it was clean, and the bed was up to the holiday inn's new standards, so I got a good sleep.
The concierge was no where to be found on two occasions when I needed one, for maps of the city, etc. I looked for a safe, which I love to have when visiting the area, but there was not one available in my room. As a gold member they do give you the paper bag with a snack and water, but otherwise, nothing else special.
I love to use mass transit in Chicago, but here, only taxis to get you in the city and, no one comes this far out (even though it is not far from a distance perspective, it is off the beaten path, so the taxis stay closer in downtown) when it rains. Happened on this trip and I almost missed my appointment. It was only on the other side of Michigan Ave., but this is a little adventure when considering the location of other comparable hotels in the area. 
Sorry to speak so much about location, but, for me, easy to get around is of importance. Normally I would have expected a good price for an ordinary hotel and in a less than ideal location in relation to Michigan Avenue. But this was not the case. I found the price/quality ratio too much on the high side. For the same price or lesser price, I could have gotten the same or better quality even closer to the most interesting parts of downtown.