Very good stay
We stayed at the Holiday Inn for 3 nights. The concierge was incredibly helpful setting up boat tours, providing restaurant evaluations, and answering questions. We paid a little extra for a room with river view and we had a great view of the river and the city skyline (Sears Tower) to the south and west. The location worked out well. A CTA stop is in the Merchandise Mart on the 2nd floor so you can walk to the train stop without going outside (except after hours and on Sunday). We took the train to the airport for a mere $2.25 each. As other reviews note there are nearby places for breakfast - Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, McDonalds, Subway - if you don't want to use the hotel restaurant. I thought the area north of the hotel had numerous options for lunch and dinner within walking distance. Our experience with this Holiday Inn was very positive and I would stay there again.