Richard Branson's Virgin Group has launched its four-star Virgin Hotels brand in Chicago.
Its flagship property, the 26-storey Virgin Hotels Chicago, opened yesterday.
Located in the Old Dearborn Bank Building at 203 N Wasbash Avenue, the hotel contains 250 guestrooms, including 40 one-bedroom suites and two penthouse suites.
Branson said: "It's been a long-held dream to start beautiful, comfortable, fun hotels for guests and give them what they want and need while being gentle on their wallets."
The hotel features three meeting spaces — The Manor, with seating for up to 108 people; The Sandbox, which seats up to 72; and Founder's Room, which seats 12. There is also a rooftop bar (opening in the spring), The Commons Club "social" venue with a menu by chef Rick Gresh.
A ground floor diner called Miss Ricky's will be open 23 hours a day, while Two Zero Three bar will serve coffee in the day and wine at night. Both will open in February. A spa is scheduled to open in the spring.
An app called Lucy will allow guests to book stays, check in and out, make requests and use their phone as a TV remote. Free wifi with unlimited bandwidth will also be available.
There are no early check-in fees, late check-out fees, room service delivery charges, nor business centre charges.
All guest rooms are divided into two spaces by sliding doors, each with a peephole, while bathrooms include an "extra-large" shower with a bench.
Virgin Hotels Chicago was first announced in 2011 and was originally scheduled to open in autumn 2013 (see news, October 2011).
The next properties to open will be in Nashville next year and New York in 2017 (see news, December 15).
virginhotels.com
Graham Smith
Branson said: "It's been a long-held dream to start beautiful, comfortable, fun hotels for guests and give them what they want and need while being gentle on their wallets."
The hotel features three meeting spaces — The Manor, with seating for up to 108 people; The Sandbox, which seats up to 72; and Founder's Room, which seats 12. There is also a rooftop bar (opening in the spring), The Commons Club "social" venue with a menu by chef Rick Gresh.
A ground floor diner called Miss Ricky's will be open 23 hours a day, while Two Zero Three bar will serve coffee in the day and wine at night. Both will open in February. A spa is scheduled to open in the spring.
An app called Lucy will allow guests to book stays, check in and out, make requests and use their phone as a TV remote. Free wifi with unlimited bandwidth will also be available.
There are no early check-in fees, late check-out fees, room service delivery charges, nor business centre charges.
All guest rooms are divided into two spaces by sliding doors, each with a peephole, while bathrooms include an "extra-large" shower with a bench.
Virgin Hotels Chicago was first announced in 2011 and was originally scheduled to open in autumn 2013 (see news, October 2011).
The next properties to open will be in Nashville next year and New York in 2017 (see news, December 15).
virginhotels.com
Graham Smith 
