If you're a regular reader, you know that our hometown of Chicago holds a special place in your heart. Particularly this time of year, as the cold sets in, there's something special about the Windy City and the bright lights. And the Hyatt associates across the city, at our headquarters and our Chicagoland hotels, help extend our family and the sense of home.

Today, the Chicago Tribune confirmed our hunch that there's something special about Hyatt here. Hyatt's corporate headquarters and area hotels together have been named No. 2 in the publication's list of  "Top 100 Workplaces" large companies.

This year is special because while individual Chicago-area Hyatt hotels have been recognized in past years in the midsize and small categories for being a top employer, this is the first year that all Hyatt locations are being recognized together by the Chicago Tribune. In addition to Hyatt's corporate office, Hyatt hotels included in the honor this year include Hyatt Regency Chicago, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Park Hyatt Chicago, The Hyatt Lodge, Hyatt Place Chicago/Hoffman Estates, Hyatt Place Chicago/Itasca, and Hyatt Place Chicago/Lombard/Oak Brook.

There's no mistaking that we couldn't achieve this high praise without our loyal guests and the hard work and dedicated of our associates. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we extend a heart-felt thank you for helping us get here.

What a great way to head into the holidays! Thank you for staying with us and making Hyatt a great place to work every day.