Sir Richard Branson has officially expanded the Virgin empire, with the opening of the first Virgin Hotels in Chicago.
Located in the heart of Chicago’s Loop district in the historic Old Dearborn Bank Building, the 26-story building offers 250 guests rooms including 40 one-bedroom suites and two Penthouse suites.
And while the Virgin touch is enough to set this hotel apart from others, Branson said the property was designed with women in mind and aims at courting female business travellers.
“I don’t think any hotel caters to the female traveler. It will give Virgin an edge to make sure we look after them.”
Sir Richard Branson
A view from the outside.
The building has retained several of its original features including the 1920s oak Cigar Bar that now serves as the hotel’s front desk. There’s also ornate brass elevator doors and the original mail slot and chute serving all floors.
New to the building and right in the heart is The Commons Club – a two-story space located on the original bank floor where guests can dine, drink, work and mingle. After hours it turns into a Social Hour event and offers a private members club vibe but without the fees.
The Virgin Hotels’ Common Club is open to all guests.
Chef Rick Gresh was recruited to create the Commons Club menu, which features a variety of international dishes such as stuffed potato tots, cider mussles and lobster flatbread. For dinner, guests can enjoy fatty noodles, furi spice, eye of the ribeye and a ribeye dish served with bone marrow mac n cheese.
The hotel has four additional dining options, including Miss Ricky’s, a 23-hour, All-American diner and a rooftop bar and lounge, all opening between February and April of this year.
Virgin Hotels Chicago’s rooms or as Virgin likes to call them, Chambers feature two-chamber layouts – a sliding door divided the room into two spaces so guests can get a little privacy.
The dressing room has a full vanity, make-up desk and mirror, an extra-large shower with a bench and his and hers closets.
On the other side of the privacy door is the lounge with a red SMEG mini-fridge, LG Smart TV, custom designed table that swivels and a Poltrona Frau task chair.
Rooms are also fitted with conveniently located electrical plugs.
“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.”
Since, the hotel’s conception, Virgin stressed it will offer free wifi at an unlimited bandwidth. Early check-in and late check-out fees have been eliminated along with room service delivery charges and business centre transactions.
Click here for more on the Virgin Hotels difference.
Next year, Virgin Hotels plans on opening a second property in Nashville followed by a third in New York City in 2017. The group is hoping to be in around 20 locations by 2025.
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