Hotel check: The Peninsula Chicago
Originally published on www.businesstraveller.asia 31/05/2007 - Filed under: Tried & Tested » Hotels » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Hotels » United States »
WHAT’S IT LIKE? I walked in off the street from the nearby subway station into the Peninsula Chicago without anyone rushing to take my trolley. I guess the staff were all over the place – this was the weekend after Thanksgiving and a peak period. The lone concierge at the counter was suitably horrified at my lack of a proper welcome, divested me of my belongings and escorted me to the fifth-floor registration desk, where she handed me over to a very efficient and friendly guest relations executive.
The young man, who turned out to be from Seoul, led me to my guestroom, explained the amenities and wished me a pleasant stay. The porter, who brought up my suitcase, also proved to be quite chatty, which led to a lively conversation. He brought me up to speed about the city where I had once lived in the late ’80s.
The hotel, which opened in 2001, may be the much younger sister of The Peninsula Hongkong but has managed to hold its own, picking up a nice set of awards these past few years, including our BTUS’ Best Hotel for Business Travel (2006 and 2007). But reminders of its roots are ever present – Pen habitués, particularly Asian visitors, will smile at seeing the familiar Chinese lions flanking the hotel’s entrance on Superior Street. And part of its handsome art collection is Taiwanese sculptor
Ju Ming’s bronze installation Single Whip, found on the outdoor section of the Terrace restaurant, loaned by Michael Kadoorie, chairman of Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, owner of the Peninsula chain. Other artists in the hotel’s portfolio include Robert Mangold, Le Corbusier, Martha Diamond and Paul Houseberg.
WHERE IS IT? Along the “Magnificent Mile” (Michigan Avenue), boasting shopping to rival New York’s Fifth Avenue or Hollywood’s Rodeo Drive. It’s steps away from the historic Water Tower and the boutiques of Water Tower Place, which I could see clearly from my window.
HOW MANY ROOMS? 339 guestrooms and suites. While furnished in the classical style, there were also subtle touches of the Orient such as the Tang Dynasty horse prancing atop the TV-minibar cabinet.
ROOM FACILITIES: The standard Pen features were present: multifunction bedside electronic control panel, separate shower stall and soaking tub with TV and hands-free telephone among others. Wireless high-speed internet access and local and toll-free access telephone calls were complimentary – a range of benefits that extends to all room categories.
RESTAURANTS: Award-winning chef Graham Elliot Bowles fashions adventurous but delicious cuisine at Avenues; Shanghai Terrace – Shanghai and Cantonese. The Lobby is all-day dining offering the famous Peninsula Afternoon tea from 3pm to 5.30pm with live music, weekends the Chocolate Bar 8pm to 11.30pm and Sunday brunch.
BARS: Drinks and high-powered talk or light chatter mix extremely well in The Bar, Pierrot Gourmet or The Lobby.
BUSINESS FACILITIES: Needing to check my emails, I searched for the business centre but instead came across a small room on the sixth floor, accessed by guest key, equipped with two workstations and printers. The Grand Ballroom has views of Michigan Avenue and can take up to 550 for cocktails. Five other function venues and a boardroom are available.
LEISURE FACILITIES: The 1,394-square-metre Peninsula Spa occupies the top two floors of the hotel, which accounts for the floor-to-ceiling windows that let in glorious natural lighting. Other “wow” features include an outdoor sundeck, a half Olympic-length heated indoor pool, gym and eight treatment rooms and suites.
VERDICT: Elegance and efficiency seamlessly combined.
PRICE: Internet rates for a three-night stay in late August start from US$460.
CONTACT: 108 East Superior Street, North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 606111, tel 1 312 337 2888, www.peninsula.com
Margie T Logarta
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