The Virgin Group, lead by the well-known and affluent Sir Richard Branson, is a massive, multi-national conglomerate with divisions operating in a variety of different industries. They have everything from cellphone and radio brands to prominent airlines and cruise lines, all under the Virgin name. Branson and the Virgin Group have wanted to enter the hospitality industry for some time, so they began to develop they Virgin Hotel brand in 2010. In 2011, they acquired a 27-story building in downtown Chicago that was formerly the Dearborn Bank Building. This was the future location for their upcoming hotel. After years of renovations, construction, and improvements to the building, the Virgin Group launched their first hotel in January of this year. It’s called the Virgin Hotel Chicago, and now that it has been open for a bit, it seems to be one of the hottest new hotels in the city. It’s been a success so far, so Virgin Hotels has also made plans to expand into New York and Nashville as they look towards the future. While those projects are currently in development, why don’t we take a look inside the new Virgin Hotel Chicago and see what it has to offer.
Virgin Hotels are positioning their properties as modern, design and lifestyle-focused hotels that perfectly balance luxury, affordability, features, and entertainment. The Virgin Hotel Chicago is the perfect hotel for the modern, 20 to 30-something business person that seeks a premium hotel that is relatively affordable. The hotel exclaims that there are no hidden fees, they off completely free Wi-Fi, and absolutely “no nickel & diming”. There are no early check-in fees or late checkout fees, bottled water is free, the minibar in rooms are more affordable, for example. In general, they have tried to eliminate all other additional costs seen at other hotels. It seems as thought they have thought of everything, and the Virgin Hotel Chicago is certainly very premium. Upon entering the property, you will see the lobby and find quick access to “The Commons Club”, which is the heart of the Virgin Hotel Chicago.
The Commons Club, as Virgin Hotels describes, is a “modern day social club…that is a dynamic hybrid of a bar, a lounge, a restaurant, and a study”. Essentially it’s a large space where guests of the hotel can be social, get work done, or enjoy some food. It’s extremly stylish and gives off a “members-only” type of vibe, however any guests can gain access to The Commons Club. It is here that we find the hotels main lounge space, their largest restaurant, a library, some work desks, and a bar. However the Virgin Hotel Chicago also has other restaurants and bars as well.
Outside of The Commons Club, the hotel also has “Miss Ricky’s” which is a classic, American-styled diner. There is also the “Two Zero Three”, which is a cafe/bistro by day and a wine bar by night. For those that enjoy being social, there is also “Cerise”, a luxurious rooftop bar/club that is stylish, suave, and very modern. You can hang out on the rooftop and enjoy the view, or head on inside to order drinks or to listen to the DJs that often play.
The fun does not stop there however. The Virgin Hotel Chicago is very much a full-service hotel. If you don’t want to be social at the various bars and lounges, they also offer premium room-service. Additionally the hotel has a premium spa and a large fitness center. So on any given day you can eat breakfast in your room, head to The Commons Club to do work, work out in the gym, and then head upstairs to Cerise for the party. Again, the hotel places a great amount of emphasis on entertainment/social life, so there’s plenty to do here if you want to cut loose from your daily business meetings while you’re traveling.
Int terms of accommodations, this hotel is very large. There are 250 rooms in total, and are offered at various price points. The basic rooms, or “chambers” as Vigin calls them, are self-contained rooms that offer either one king-sized bed or two full-sized beds. These rooms combine the bedroom, hallway, bathroom, and closet into one space. By that I mean, there are various sliding doors that allow guests to open, or close, any given part of the room. For example, if you wanted to get some work done while someone was sleeping, the bedroom can be sealed off from the small office space. The chambers, while small, are actually very comfortable, premium, and ergonomic.
For those that want a little more space, guests can upgrade to the larger suites that are offered at the Virgin Hotel Chicago. These suites have larger bathrooms and closets, in addition to a small living area that is complete with a few couches and chairs. The Virgin Hotel Chicago is also very progressive with regards to technology. Guests can book rooms and checkout through the corresponding app. The prices for the rooms range depending on the rates, but typically you can book the basic room for about $300 per night or so. Again, that rate includes access to most of the offerings at the hotel, as they don’t want to bombard guests with additional hidden fees and what not.
The Virgin Hotel Chicago has only been open for seven months now, however guests have been extremely impressed with the hotel. TripAdvisor users have rated the hotel with 4.5 out of 5 stars, which is certainly very high. The hotel has all the offerings that you could want marketed in a very attractive package. It’s stylish, premium, modern, and fairly affordable given what it has to offer. We look forward to the future properties opened by Virgin Hotels, as the current location is a massive hit. So would you want to stay at the Virgin Hotel Chicago?
Photos from Virgin Hotels
