Virgin Hotels Chicago is located in the heart of Chicago’s Loop district
Virgin Hotels opened the doors to its first property, Virgin Hotels Chicago, on January 15, 2015. The new hotel brand will join a stellar portfolio of hospitality companies led by Virgin Group and its founder Sir Richard Branson and offer the same excitement, service and innovation for which Virgin is known.
“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,” said Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder. “I’m tremendously proud of the brilliant Virgin Hotels team, and I look forward to hosting our fans and spending more time in Chicago.”
Since the brand’s inception, eliminating fees and surcharges have been top priority, along with creating an experience that allows guests to feel that Virgin Hotels is their place in the city. The hotel brand offers free Wi-Fi (at unlimited bandwidth) and has eliminated early check-in fees, late check-out fees, room service delivery charges, business center transactions and other service fees.
Virgin Hotels Chicago is located in the heart of Chicago’s Loop district in the historic Old Dearborn Bank Building at 203 N. Wabash Ave. The 26-storey Art Deco building, a Chicago landmark, offers 250 guest rooms, including 40 one-bedroom suites and two Penthouse Suites.
Several of the building’s original features remain intact and are showcased throughout, such as a beautiful 1920s oak Cigar Bar that serves as the hotel’s front desk, ornate brass elevator doors, and the original mail slot and chute serving all floors.
At the heart of Virgin Hotels Chicago is The Commons Club, where guests can dine, drink, work and mingle, as well as attend the nightly hosted Social Hour. The vibe is one of a private members club, without the fees, where guests and locals alike are welcome. The two-storey space it occupies was the original bank floor with its beautiful coffered plaster ceiling.
At the heart of Virgin Hotels Chicago is The Commons Club, where guests can dine, drink, work and mingle, as well as attend the nightly hosted Social Hour.
The Commons Club menu, created by Chef Rick Gresh, features a variety of internationally influenced small plates, from Stuffed Potato Tots to a Cauliflower Caesar to Cider Mussels to a Lobster Flatbread. The dinner menus Large Plate options also embody unique and flavourful compositions, among them are Fatty Noodles, a combination of lobster, udon noodles, Sriracha, furi spice and rapini, another is the Eye of the Ribeye, Chef Gresh’s one-of-a-kind black truffle tattoo technique adorned on a Ribeye served with bone marrow mac ‘n cheese.
The Commons Club is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The hotel will have 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 2015. Seating from 12 to 108, Virgin Hotels Chicago has three modular spaces on the third floor to accompany any type of social event, dinner or meeting.
Virgin Hotels Chicago will feature a two-chamber room layout. The dressing room includes a full vanity, make-up desk and mirror, an extra-large shower with a bench and his and her closets. Ample bedside outlets are available for smartphone, computer or other electronic devices.
Virgin Hotels patent pending, ergonomically designed bed and plush bedding creates ultimate comfort whether guests are working, recharging or playing.
All guest rooms are divided into two spaces by sliding doors. Slide open the privacy door and guests will enter the lounge with a red mini-fridge, LG Smart TV, custom-designed table that swivels and a task chair.
What’s next?
Virgin Hotels has plans to open a second location in Nashville in the summer of 2016 and a third property in New York City in the fall of 2017. The team will announce two additional locations by the end of 2016, as well, with the brand hoping to have 20 locations by 2025.
