The closest hotel to Rivers Casino Des Plaines has changed hands for the second time within a year. The Courtyard by Marriott, located at 2950 S. River Road in Des Plaines, has been sold. The Texas-based real estate firm NewcrestImage, which acquired the 200-room hotel in October 2023 for $18 million, sold it to local real estate investor Parag Patel and his Wisconsin business partner Kevin Patel. The purchase price, as recorded in Cook County property records, was $21 million, equating to $105,000 per room.
The Patels plan to invest $5 million to refurbish the hotel, informally known as the Courtyard Chicago O’Hare. The transaction, executed on September 10, was facilitated by two loans totaling nearly $16 million from Missouri-based Midland States Bank. The hotel’s annual property tax for 2024 is estimated at nearly $900,000.
The Des Plaines Courtyard, aside from serving travelers bound for O’Hare International Airport, benefits significantly from its proximity to Rivers Casino. Opened in July 2011, Rivers Casino boasts the largest casino floor in Illinois, covering 78,500 square feet with over 1,500 slot machines, 70 live dealer table games, and a BetRivers Sportsbook. In August alone, Rivers generated $43.5 million in gross gaming revenue, dwarfing its nearest competitor, Caesars Entertainment’s Grand Victoria riverboat, which made $11.9 million.
Rivers Casino Des Plaines was originally developed and opened by Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming. Though in 2019, Rush sold a 62% controlling stake to Churchill Downs for $407 million, the firm continues to manage the casino’s operations.
Many gamblers flying out of O’Hare, the state’s largest airport and the fifth busiest in the United States, often extend their trips to visit Rivers. A considerable number of these patrons stay at the Courtyard hotel, which is adjacent to the casino. The hotel maintains a partnership with Rivers Casino, offering discounted rates to casino rewards members. A standard room that typically costs $159 can be availed by rewards members for $127, provided they present their Rush Rewards card at check-in.
Rivers Casino Des Plaines offers not only gaming but also a comprehensive experience with five full-service restaurants, a coffee bar, a casino bar, and a concert venue featuring touring acts. This strategy of partnering with neighboring hotels instead of building on-site accommodations is consistent with Rush Street Gaming’s approach. Among their five casinos nationwide, only two—Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, New York and Rivers Casino Pittsburgh—include on-site hotels. Their establishments in Philadelphia and Portsmouth, Virginia have similarly chosen to collaborate with local hotels, enhancing the overall experience without the need for on-site lodging facilities.
