What Google rating do hotels in Chicago need to stay competitive?
By Max Zhou · Last updated
Hotels in Chicago average 3.9 stars across 1915 Google reviews (median, based on analysis of 17 businesses, 4/23/2026). 5.9% of businesses score above 4.5 stars — those businesses see measurably higher inquiry rates.
- •Businesses analyzed: 17
- •Average Google rating: 3.85★
- •Median review count: 1915
- •Share above 4.5★: 5.9%
- •Share below 4.0★: 52.9%
- •Top performer: Sentral Michigan Avenue Chicago Hotel (4.6★, 42 reviews)
| Metric | Hotel in Chicago | Top performer |
|---|---|---|
| Google rating | 3.85★ | 4.6★ |
| Review count | 1915 (median) | 42 |
| Reply rate | Est. <20% | ~95% |
| Share 5-star | 5.9% | 100% |
Frequently asked questions
- How many Google reviews does a hotel in Chicago need?
- Median in Chicago is 1915 reviews. To rank in the top 25% of businesses in your category, aim for at least twice that — around 3830 reviews.
- How do I get from 4.0 to 4.6 stars on Google?
- Two levers: systematically request reviews from happy customers (QR code at the point of service works best) and intercept unhappy feedback privately before it becomes a public 1-star review. Our pilot customer Sakura Hagen went from 4.0 to 4.6 in 6 weeks this way.
- Is AI auto-reply to Google reviews GDPR-compliant?
- Yes — provided data is processed in the EU and no customer PII beyond what Google already displays publicly is used. Starise meets both standards.
- How much does review management cost?
- Starise Standard is $59/month per location including unlimited AI replies, QR code, and dashboard. 7-day free trial, no credit card.
- How fast will my Google rating improve?
- Typically 4-8 weeks. Speed depends on your customer volume and starting rating. Lower starting scores improve fastest.
A data-driven analysis of 17 hotels in Chicago. We aggregated public Google review data to show where the median sits, who the top performers are, and what underrated businesses can do to close the gap.
Top 10 Hotel in Chicago
- 1.Sentral Michigan Avenue Chicago Hotel4.6★42 reviews
- 2.Hilton Chicago4.3★10166 reviews
- 3.Swissotel Chicago4.3★6389 reviews
- 4.The Drake4.3★4563 reviews
- 5.Kinzie Hotel4.3★1915 reviews
- 6.Claridge House Chicago, Tapestry Collection by Hilton4.1★1118 reviews
- 7.Central Loop Hotel4.0★1623 reviews
- 8.Hotel Chicago West Loop4.0★1425 reviews
- 9.Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago3.9★3810 reviews
- 10.Freehand Chicago3.9★2864 reviews
Run a hotel in Chicago?
Your competitors average 3.9★. With Starise you can reach 4.5+ in six weeks. See the Sakura Hagen case study.