So I saw a provider two months ago in Gurnee and I noticed a vehicle parked near the side exit with what looked to be a security camera with an infrared LED ring for night vision filming perched upon the rear of the roof.  I'm very familiar with the equipment, being that I have worked with it in the past. The camera itself was pointed right at the side exit which let out from the stairwell. I thought nothing of it and figured it was my paranoia. Then a few days ago I visited another provider in the same hotel, and guess what, the same large SUV with black tinted windows and an infrared camera was parked in the exact same spot. A quick google search showed that this is in fact an infrared camera used to capture license plates, and more than likely faces as hobbyists exit the side stairwell. Be aware and cautious in the Gurnee area, the hotel is the Extended Stay beside Great America. There may be other surveillance operations in the area as well, but as of yet this is the only suspicious activity I have seen thus far. Though I don't hobby that often.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Perhaps there have been a number of thefts at that property and this has nothing to do with other things?

I'm not sure why this type of surveillance would be worth the effort by LE.  Most of the faces and license plates they'd get would be legitimate guests of the hotel - if they harassed one of them they'd be in trouble themselves.  If they want to nab you for hobbying, they'll just get you to the room and you're basically done as soon as you walk in.  Just being at the hotel or in the parking lot is meaningless, unless they literally had every room occupied by an undercover girl.

To them. I have anonymous plates.

Thanks for the info. Always better to go with your gut then risk it.  

Could have to do with theft, could have to do with numerous other criminal activities.  The fact is, that for two months, YES there is a vehicle with a camera in the rear lot of the Extended Stay in Gurnee. Drive by and check it out if you like. Left rear of the building. Black SUV. Rear right corner of the vehicle. Looks something like the camera in the link below.

Extended Stays have been risky places for a long time as they're known to work with LE on stings. Having LPR cameras in a stationary vehicle for that long of a period means they're looking for some type of illegal activity. It makes no difference what or who they're looking for, going to an incall with LE present in the parking lot is scary. I've seen LE cars at hotels a number of times and in one case, a sting operation was being run right across the hall from the provider I saw. We were both on edge

hope you don't get stopped by LE

Not in the least.