Latest news with #HyattHotels
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Daywatch: From political neophyte to governor — and potential presidential candidate
Good morning, Chicago. Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker this week set out to make history, launching his bid to become the first Illinois governor since the 1980s to be elected to more than two terms in office. A win next year also would make Pritzker, 60, the first Democrat ever in Illinois to win three terms. Republican James R. Thompson was Illinois' longest-serving governor, winning election four times straight and holding the office from 1977 to 1991. A century earlier, when the Grand Old Party was a new force in politics, Republican Richard Oglesby won three nonconsecutive elections, in 1864, '72 and '84, although he resigned 10 days after being sworn in for his second term to join the U.S. Senate. Two other Republicans, Dwight Green in 1948 and William Stratton in 1960, made unsuccessful third-term attempts, losing to Democrats Adlai Stevenson II and Otto Kerner, respectively. Pritzker is not expected to have significant competition for the Democratic primary in March and it remains to be seen whether any high-profile Republicans will mount a campaign to challenge him in November 2026. He's also publicly flirted with the idea of running for president in 2028. So as Pritzker embarks on another campaign, here's a look back at how the Hyatt Hotels heir went from political neophyte to 43rd governor of Illinois and potential Democratic presidential contender. And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including why transportation workers needed to lay new pavement along the NASCAR Chicago Street Race course, the latest dispatch from our reporting pair traveling Route 66 and what to do in Chicago this weekend. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History The Senate parliamentarian has advised that a Medicaid provider tax overhaul central to President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending bill does not adhere to the chamber's procedural rules, delivering a crucial blow as Republicans rush to finish the package this week. After Juan Luna graduated from Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School in early June, he stood in the lobby and cried. Juan came to Chicago alone from Mexico for his senior year, and the end of school meant the end of the community that had acted as his family. He decided to move in with his godfather, who lives in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, to finish high school and pursue a college degree in architecture. But since arriving in the United States, Juan has become disillusioned with the opportunities that are actually available to him. He's watched as President Donald Trump has threatened programs that could have helped him. Newly-appointed interim schools chief Macquline King addressed her first Chicago Board of Education meeting yesterday, affirming that the passage of the district's budget for the upcoming school year remains her top priority. Chicago Public Schools faces a $730 million shortfall for fiscal year 2026, King told board members — $201 million more than the district had previously stated. Though the budget is typically released in June, district officials have yet to finalize a spending plan — or say how they plan to address the deficit. Weeks after President Donald Trump commuted the federal life sentence of Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover, a letter arrived at the offices of Gov. JB Pritzker that purported to be Hoover's final push for freedom: asking for clemency in his state murder case. At first glance, the petition might seem to be a legitimate plea from Hoover himself, using similar language about atonement and redemption that the imprisoned gang leader has used in numerous previous requests for parole and clemency from the courts. But a closer inspection revealed some telltale signs that the document, first obtained by the Tribune through a public records request, is likely a fake. Two of the Chicago region's largest independent real estate firms announced yesterday that they will merge operations, forming what company leaders say will be the second largest brokerage in Chicagoland, based on 2024 sales volume. The NASCAR Chicago Street Race is still more than a week away, but Mother Nature is already burning up the track. The heat dome that descended on Chicago last weekend with unrelenting temperatures caused buckling pavement on a stretch of the pop-up race course, forcing the city to close some streets ahead of schedule to repair the damage. The Bulls made a swap Thursday morning with the Los Angeles Lakers, trading the No. 45 pick for the 55th pick and cash considerations. A native of Adelaide, Lachlan Olbrich started his professional career in the Australian National Basketball League in 2021 at age 17. He came to the U.S. and played one year of college basketball at UC Riverside, where he was named Big West Freshman of the Year after averaging 11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras told St. Louis reporters he knows Chicago Cubs closer Daniel Palencia wasn't trying to throw a fastball at his face, but it wasn't long ago he broke a finger when hit by a pitch that ended his 2024 season. You're a kid. You catch a few seconds of something strange on TV. Those few seconds have a way, sometimes, of paying a call decades later, writes Tribune film critic Michael Phillips. It happened to author, critic and film curator Michael Koresky. His absorbing new book is 'Sick and Dirty: Hollywood's Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness,' and just as he was writing its final chapter, he dredged up a fuzzy memory of seeing something on his grandmother Bertha's TV set when he was around 10. Our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend, including Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, Volleyball Nations League and Jeff Goldblum in concert. There was no warning siren, only the sudden sound of what seemed at first like a locomotive speeding through her neighborhood a mile off Route 66. Lea Davis heard trees snapping. Glass shattering. The front door to her 122-year-old two-flat slammed open and shut. Open and shut. She thought to grab her partner, Reginald, who is blind, and run to the basement, but figured they might not make it in time. They could take shelter in the closet, she thought, or the bathtub. 'You didn't have much time to think,' Davis, 55 remembered of that May 16 afternoon. 'The only thing I could say was: Jesus, please save us. Please help us.' Read the series:
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
JB Pritzker: From political neophyte to 43rd governor of Illinois — and potential US presidential candidate
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker this week set out to make history, launching his bid to become the first Illinois governor since the 1980s to be elected to more than two terms in office. A win next year also would make Pritzker, 60, the first Democrat ever in Illinois to win three terms. Republican James R. Thompson was Illinois' longest-serving governor, winning election four times straight and holding the office from 1977 to 1991. A century earlier, when the Grand Old Party was a new force in politics, Republican Richard Oglesby won three nonconsecutive elections, in 1864, '72 and '84, although he resigned 10 days after being sworn in for his second term to join the U.S. Senate. Two other Republicans, Dwight Green in 1948 and William Stratton in 1960, made unsuccessful third-term attempts, losing to Democrats Adlai Stevenson II and Otto Kerner, respectively. Pritzker is not expected to have significant competition for the Democratic primary in March and it remains to be seen whether any high-profile Republicans will mount a campaign to challenge him in November 2026. He's also publicly flirted with the idea of running for president in 2028. So as Pritzker embarks on another campaign, here's a look back at how the Hyatt Hotels heir went from political neophyte to 43rd governor of Illinois and potential Democratic presidential contender. Pritzker's story begins when his great-grandfather Nicholas J. Pritzker came to Chicago from Kyiv in 1881 to escape the anti-Jewish Russian pogroms in present-day Ukraine. Nicholas Pritzker eventually founded a law firm, but the family's business empire got going in the next generation, when one of Nicholas' sons and JB's grandfather, A.N. Pritzker, and great-uncle began investing in real estate and other ventures. The family is best known for Hyatt, but other high-profile investments have included Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ticketmaster and credit bureau TransUnion. Today, the extended Pritzker clan is the sixth-richest family in America, with an estimated fortune of $41.6 billion, according to Forbes. (JB's share is estimated at $3.7 billion.) Born into affluence in California in 1965, Jay Robert Pritzker — named after his two uncles and called JB for short — didn't have an idyllic childhood. Both of his parents died before he turned 18. His father, Donald, died of a heart attack in 1972 at age 39, and his mother, Sue, struggled with alcoholism. She died a decade later, almost to the day, when she leaped out of a tow truck that was pulling her car, and she was run over. Despite her struggles, Sue Pritzker's philanthropy and involvement in the Democratic Party inspired JB's interest in politics and activism, particularly in the area of reproductive rights. While he was only first elected to public office in 2018, Pritzker has long nursed political ambitions. After graduating from Duke University in the 1980s, he worked on Capitol Hill as an aide to Democratic U.S. Sens. Terry Sanford of North Carolina and Alan Dixon of Illinois. Returning to the Chicago area to attend law school at Northwestern University in the early 1990s, he formed Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century. The group sought to bring more young voices into the party and helped spur the careers of several prominent Illinois officials and Democratic operatives, including Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat. In 1998, Pritzker made his first run for public office, finishing in a disappointing third place in a Democratic primary to replace 24-term U.S. Rep. Sidney Yates. The winner was Jan Schakowsky. She went on to win the general election and has held the seat since, although Schakowsky recently announced she isn't running for another term. 'Could I live a happy life without ever running for public office again?' Pritzker said in a Tribune profile after losing the race. 'I suppose that I can imagine not running, but I feel I have something important that I can do. And my skin is far thicker now.' It would be two decades before he'd put his name on the ballot again. But ambitions lingered. In a 2008 phone call secretly recorded by federal investigators, Pritzker spoke with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose campaigns he'd contributed to, as the Chicago Democratic governor schemed over who to appoint to the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by then-President-elect Barack Obama. On the call, first revealed by the Tribune during the 2018 governor's race, Pritzker expressed disinterest in the Senate appointment but suggested Blagojevich might make him state treasurer if the position became vacant. Blagojevich and Pritzker also were recorded discussing various Black officials who were potential Senate appointees in language that caused a stir during the 2018 campaign. Aside from his own aspirations, Pritzker was a major backer of Hillary Clinton in both her presidential bids, even as his older sister Penny served as finance chair for Illinois' favorite son, Obama, in 2008. Ahead of the 2016 election, JB Pritzker and his wife, MK, gave $15.6 million to pro-Clinton political action committee Priorities USA Action. Out of the political spotlight, Pritzker built up his resume as an investor and philanthropist. While his name and fortune are closely associated with Hyatt, Pritzker only worked for the family hotel business as a teenager. He made his mark in the business realm through New World Ventures, a tech-focused investment fund founded with his older brother, Anthony, and later renamed Pritzker Group Venture Capital. The brothers also started Pritzker Group, which, in addition to the venture fund, includes private equity and asset management components. In 2012, Pritzker founded the nonprofit tech incubator 1871 to help spur Chicago's tech sector, later collaborating closely with then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel. In a 2014 profile highlighting the project, Chicago magazine dubbed Pritzker 'The Other Mayor of Chicago.' In the philanthropic world, Pritzker helped found and fund the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie, and he, along with MK, launched the Pritzker Family Foundation in 2001, which funds initiatives in early childhood education and other areas. Spurred by Clinton's loss to Republican Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election and the bruising budget battles in Springfield between then-Gov. and GOP multimillionaire Bruce Rauner and the Democratic-controlled legislature, Pritzker entered the 2018 campaign for Illinois governor. Defeating political scion Chris Kennedy and then-state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston in the Democratic primary, Pritzker ultimately poured more than $170 million of his own money into the campaign. Combined with $79 million for Rauner, including $50 million from the incumbent himself and $22.5 million from billionaire Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, it resulted in what's believed to be the most expensive governor's race in U.S. history, which Pritzker won by nearly 16 points. Four years later, Pritzker spent another $167 million to beat back a challenge from conservative southern Illinois state Sen. Darren Bailey, who got backing from billionaire ultraconservative Richard Uihlein, founder of the Uline packaging supplies firm. Pritzker's 2022 spending total included $27 million he gave to the Democratic Governors Association, which aired ads during the GOP primary labeling Bailey as too conservative. The move was a thinly veiled attempt to set up what Pritzker's team saw as an easier general election matchup, boosting Bailey among Republican primary voters over then-Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, backed by $50 million from Pritzker nemesis Griffin. Pritzker beat Bailey by 13 points that fall. Through the end of 2022, Pritzker spent nearly $350 million on the two campaigns. Over the past two years, he's deposited another $25 million in his campaign account and had $3.4 million remaining at the end of April, state records show. A hallmark of Pritzker's two terms in office has been his handling of the state's chronically shaky finances. While he failed to convince voters in 2020 to amend the state constitution to create a graduated-rate income tax, an effort into which he sunk $58 million, Pritzker has received high marks from ratings agencies and other observers for his handling of the budget. After years of downgrades, the state has seen its credit rating raised by all the major agencies, though it still ranks near the bottom compared to the other 49 states. Spending has increased by nearly a third during his time in office, without adjusting for inflation. But the state largely has avoided using gimmicks to balance the budget on Pritzker's watch and received its first credit upgrades in decades. Tighter financial times have returned, however, with the state budget that takes effect July 1 cutting funding for health insurance for noncitizen immigrants younger than 65 and pausing Pritzker's proposed expansion of state-funded preschool programs, among other trims. Rather than trying again to fix a state tax system he once described as 'unfair' and 'inadequate,' Pritzker has instead blamed Trump and his economic policies for the state's latest budget woes. Aided by overwhelming Democratic majorities in the state legislature, which he helped secure through his political largesse, Pritzker has built a resume almost any governor in the party would be happy to claim. His accomplishments in the legislature include raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, enshrining abortion rights in state law, legalizing recreational marijuana while expunging prior convictions, and enacting a $45 billion infrastructure program, the largest in state history. And that was just his first year. He has also enacted an ambitious energy policy that aims to make Illinois' energy generation carbon-free by 2050, as well as an overhaul of the criminal justice system that has eliminated cash bail. In one of the first acts of his second term, Pritzker in early 2023 signed a sweeping gun ban that prohibits the sale or possession of a long list of high-powered semiautomatic firearms and high-capacity ammunition magazines, a response to the mass shooting at Highland Park's Fourth of July parade months earlier. While facing ongoing legal challenges, the law has remained in force. More recently, he's taken on what he describes as the predatory practices of health insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers. He's also made moves, with mixed results, to position Illinois as a leader in emerging industries such as electric vehicles and quantum technology. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 tested Pritzker's leadership and, in some ways, ended a brief honeymoon period he had with some members of the legislature's Republican minority. Decisions to shut schools and issue a stay-at-home order brought the state government into people's lives in unprecedented ways. Aside from conservative criticism over Pritzker's use of executive power, the pandemic exposed problems at state agencies under his control, including an outbreak at a state-run veterans home in LaSalle that led to 36 deaths and an overwhelmed unemployment system that elicited some bipartisan criticism. His administration also has come under fire for continued problems at the beleaguered Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the handling of resident mistreatment at homes for the developmentally disabled. And a state inspector general has found rampant fraud among state employees who abused the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program, a pandemic-era lifeline for businesses. Pritzker's administration also was forced to respond when Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas in 2022 began sending busloads of migrants from the southern border to Chicago, creating a crisis for the city and state and inflaming tensions with Mayors Lori Lightfoot and Brandon Johnson. The governor has also faced criticism for working with legislative Democrats to exclude Republicans from the process of allocating funds for local infrastructure projects and for not taking significant enough steps to strengthen government ethics laws, despite a sprawling federal corruption probe involving state lawmakers and local officials and a series of high-profile convictions during his tenure. A vociferous Trump critic, Pritzker has long been believed to harbor presidential ambitions, speculation he's done little to quell even as he has professed his dedication to Illinois. The governor lobbied hard to bring last year's Democratic National Convention to Chicago, serving as de facto host for an event widely seen as a success, at least until Trump emerged victorious in November. Pritzker, at least publicly, stood behind President Joe Biden until he dropped out, declining to mount a primary challenge to a sitting president or to enter the fray when Vice President Kamala Harris became the consensus pick of party leaders. He was vetted to join Harris on the ticket but was passed over in favor of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. In 2023, he launched Think Big America, a dark money group that has backed abortion rights ballot measures and pro-abortion rights candidates across the country. He's also poured money into two recent Wisconsin Supreme Court races, backing candidates that reclaimed and then maintained a liberal majority in the pivotal swing state. In addition to running his campaign for reelection next year, Pritzker is putting his force behind Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, his two-time running mate, in her Democratic primary bid for U.S. Senate. Heading into 2026, a big question is whether and how quickly Pritzker will pivot to a 2028 presidential bid if he wins a third term as governor.
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Gov. JB Pritzker makes it official: He's running for a third term to be Illinois' chief executive
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker made it official Thursday that he is running for reelection to a third term as Illinois' chief executive. In a nearly two-minute video released on Thursday morning — in conjunction with the governor's planned two-day statewide tour that kicks off at 10 a.m. this morning in Chicago — Pritzker vowed to 'keep Illinois moving forward' while presenting himself as a bulwark against President Donald Trump's efforts to reshape America.'These days, Illinois is standing at the center of the fight: The fight to make life more affordable, the fight to protect our freedoms, the fight for common sense,' Pritzker said in the video, which focuses on Trump before pivoting to what Pritzker describes as his successes as governor since he first took office in 2019, including balanced budgets, state credit upgrades and hiking the minimum wage. 'We don't just talk about problems. In Illinois, we solve them,' Pritzker continued. 'Because we know government ought to stand up for working families and be a force for good, not a weapon of revenge. Donald Trump's made clear, he'll stop at nothing to get his way. I'm not about to stand by and let him tear down all we're building in Illinois.' Pritzker's focus on Trump in the video will likely spur speculation about whether the governor will vow to serve out a full third term or run for president in 2028. Should he run for president and win the presidency, the lieutenant governor would take over for the final two years and Pritzker has yet to announce who his running mate will be. Current Lieutenant Gov. Julianna Stratton is running next year for U.S. Senate to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Still, Pritzker's announcement put him in a position to be in rarefied air in the world of Illinois politics. If Pritzker wins a third term, he'd become the first Democratic governor in state history to be elected to more than two terms in office and the first governor since Republican James R. Thompson served 14 years from 1977 to 1991. Illinois has no term limits on its constitutional offices. First elected in 2018, Pritzker, a 60-year-old entrepreneur and heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, is one of the nation's wealthiest politicians, with a net worth of $3.7 billion, according to Forbes. President Donald Trump is estimated by Forbes to be worth $5.5 billion. In addition to balanced budgets and credit upgrades, Pritzker — who has repeatedly described himself as a 'pragmatic progressive' — also highlighted in the video that he's increased protections for abortion access for women, signed bans on assault weapons and added jobs to the state's economy. 'I'm running for reelection to protect our progress and continue solving the problems we face,' Pritzke said in the video. 'I'm ready for the fight ahead.'
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
ADD Properties, Hyatt to expand hotel, residential investments in Egypt
Arab Finance: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between ADD Properties, a subsidiary of Sami Saad Holding Group, and Hyatt Hotels Group to expand branded hotel and residential investments across Egypt, as per a statement. The agreement aims to boost the country's accommodation capacity in anticipation of a growing influx of tourists. Madbouly welcomed the cooperation as a step forward in reinforcing Egypt's position as a global destination for investment and tourism. He highlighted the importance of such partnerships between local and international private sector players in supporting comprehensive development in the hospitality and real estate sectors. Backed by an international financial institution, the investment plan involves approximately $265 million to develop and expand hotel room capacity and branded residential units. The collaboration supports both the hospitality sector and broader economic growth through sustainable real estate and tourism projects. ADD Properties reintroduced the Hyatt brand to Egypt in 2022 with the opening of Hyatt Regency Cairo West, offering 250 rooms and suites and earning global recognition for excellence. Building on that success, the company launched the Hyatt Centric Cairo West, a 304-room art hotel, the first of its kind in Egypt and Africa, featuring work by 11 prominent Egyptian artists, showcasing a blend of modern hospitality and authentic Egyptian artistic expression. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Hospitality Net
11-06-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Hyatt's Inclusive Collection Expands to Aruba with Secrets Baby Beach Aruba
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced the opening of the adults-only, all-inclusive Secrets Baby Beach Aruba. The opening of this resort marks the first Inclusive Collection branded property on the island of Aruba, further strengthening Hyatt's brand presence in the destination alongside Hyatt Place Aruba Airport and Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa and Casino. Situated near the peaceful shores of Baby Beach Bay on the island's southeastern coast, Secrets Baby Beach Aruba offers a scenic and serene retreat in one of Aruba's most beautiful coastal towns, with white coral sands and vibrant turquoise waters. With proximity to the charming town of San Nicolas, one of Aruba's most breathtaking locales, guests can visit the vibrant San Nicolas Street Murals, an outdoor art gallery created by local and international artists that reflect the rich culture and history of the country, as well as Boca Grandi, a beach paradise for advanced kite surfers and enthusiastic spectators. Elevated Accommodations Guests can unwind in the stylist comfort across 304 thoughtfully appointed suites, each featuring private, furnished balconies or terraces and daily refreshed minibars, with nature-inspired décor that include elements of water and earth, with cactus, lush palm tree flora, and stunning views of the Caribbean Sea, creating an authentic and serene ambiance. The resort's architecture emphasizes open, airy spaces, highlighting majestic ocean views, and a desert-like landscape where guests can relax and recharge. For those seeking elevated accommodations, the Preferred Club offers select room categories with private pools, providing a more intimate and secluded escape. Additional amenities are available for Preferred Club guests including private soaking tubs on terraces, butler service, a dedicated Preferred Club Lounge with concierge service, daily continental breakfast service, afternoon hors d'oeuvres, decadent desserts, a dedicated bar, pool and more. Culinary Offerings Secrets Baby Beach Aruba highlights both regional and international cuisine at four à la carte gourmet restaurants such as Pan-Asian and South American fusion options, an elevated, thoughtfully curated buffet, a café and a grill, along with 24-hour in-room dining options. At Secrets Baby Beach Aruba's six bars and lounges, including a swim-up bar, music lounge and lobby bar, guests can relax and unwind with top-shelf spirits and premium brand domestic and international beverages. Guests can further indulge with a variety of culinary adventures, including local rum tasting and local theme nights. Vibrant Inclusions Secrets Baby Beach Aruba seamlessly blends relaxation and adventure to create a unique vacation experience. Renowned for its blend of adventure and relaxation, guests can participate in bike tours, cocktail and cooking classes, dance lessons, macrame, mixology lessons, and more. The three pools on-site complement the expansive beach and include two infinity pools, a more active pool and two outdoor whirlpools. For those seeking a more calming atmosphere, the 3,200 square foot Secrets Spa welcomes guests to pamper themselves with rejuvenating treatments, a reflecting pool, hydrotherapy circuit, sauna and steam room, and an indoor lounge area. Weddings, Meetings, and Events Secrets Baby Beach Aruba offers 2,569 square feet of flexible meeting room space with state-of-the art technology. Dedicated group event planners work with groups to provide immaculate care and personalized attention, creating a memorable group function from creative theme parties to team building activities and elegant gala dinners. The opening of Secrets Baby Beach Aruba complements Hyatt's growing brand footprint in the Latin America and Caribbean region following the recently opened Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa. Hyatt's thoughtful brand expansion throughout the region is expected to continue in 2025 with multiple planned openings including Secrets Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa, Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa, Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana, Cas En Bas Beach Resort St. Lucia, and Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman Hotels & Residences. World of Hyatt members can earn 500 Bonus Points for qualifying nights at Secrets Baby Beach Aruba with the New Hotels Bonus Offer. For more information or to join World of Hyatt and book your stay, visit here. To learn more about Secrets Baby Beach Aruba, visit the resort's website or follow along on Instagram. The term "Hyatt" is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates. Hotel website
