Virgin Brings Its Attitude To Chicago
The sort of edgy contemporary style established by Richard Branson’s Virgin brand is now available for enjoying at the new Virgin Hotel Chicago û the first in a planned Virgin portfolio of hotels, reports Press Today’s Ted Davis.
The Virgin Hotel Chicago comes with all the innovative design features that might be expected, suitably presented within the bones of a heritage building. This 27-story hotel is located within the old Dearborn Bank building, opened in 1928, in the lively Chicago Loop area.
It has been open for about seven months now, and features 250 rooms and suites, two restaurants, a rooftop bar/lounge, meeting rooms/pre-function spaces and the Virgin Hotels Commons Club. A new spa there opened in June, and offers on-the-go a la carte treatments, a manicure bar and champagne cart.
Guestrooms are “chambers” at the Virgin Hotel Chicago. The chamber design combines the hallway, closet and bathroom into one Dressing Room area, while privacy doors close to create a personal Sleeping Lounge, for working and recharging.
The hotel offers a high-tech app named “Lucy,” which serves as a concierge, room service, bell hop, thermostat controller and TV remote all-in-one. Another feature is a policy to eliminate surcharges and thereby maintain regular retail prices in guestroom minibars — a bottle of water at $2, for example.
