Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Empire continues to spread its wings around the world. The British billionaire is famous for tearing up the rule book and pushing envelopes with air And cruise ship very ostentatious, and his Virgin Hotels brand is slowly but surely open the property across the US and UK
Built in 1928, the Old Dearborn Bank Building on North Wabash Avenue in ChicagoIllinois, purchased by Virgin Corporation in 2011. The hotel finally opened in 2015 following delays in refurbishment due to the building’s landmark condition.
How does Virgin’s unique and modern hospitality approach combine with an iconic centuries-old building?
Here’s what you need to know about Virgin Hotels Chicago.
Snapshots
In the heart of the city, Virgin Hotels Chicago adopts a more laid-back, casual hospitality approach, with a focus on youthful fun and a touch of British daring. Room rates are lower than in nearby luxury hotels, although guests may find the informality that can stretch to service standards and food quality overwhelming.
What would you like about the Virgin Hotel in Chicago?
Virgin’s playful style is evident throughout the hotel, providing an alternative to the cookie-cutter company’s lodging services. You can feel more like staying with a great friend than at a hotel chain.
A location close to everything
Located in the vibrant “Loop” area of downtown, this property is an easy walk from some of Chicago’s most popular attractions, including the Magnificent Mile and Millennium Park with its Cloud Gate sculpture. iconic (affectionately known as The Bean). The Chicago Theater is the ideal Instagram backdrop for your vacation photos just a few blocks away.
Chicago sky trains (the “L”) pass by the hotel for non-walkable journeys, with stops for the Brown, Green, Orange, Pink and Purple lines directly opposite the hotel.
The room feels like home, with some fun bells and whistles
Virgin Hotels calls its guest rooms “Chambers,” with 250 rooms starting at 350 square feet (according to this zip code) and creating a cozy yet chic feel with furniture like leather armchairs and tables gold side.
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BEN SMITHSON/THE POINT
At the foot of the bed in the spacious, airy bedroom is a new option for working remotely, allowing guests to sit in the bottom corner of the bed, facing the head of the bed while working on a laptop – the Orthopedist’s nightmare. It’s an interesting idea, but impractical or uncomfortable in the long run.
The bathroom, storage and vanity areas are combined into a single sash room, the “Changing Room”, with plenty of space for unloading and stretching.
A plush vanity chair between a double vanity is ideal for getting ready for a night out on the street. You can prep your fun rag catwalk using the soft bathrobes provided. A giant open-air shower with a rain shower head and handheld fixture, plus a tiled bench for weary feet and Red Flower toiletries to match regular red brick color, a constant subtle reminder of the Virgin brand.
In many ways, Virgin’s Chambers is more like an elaborately designed and fully furnished city apartment than a hotel room.
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BEN SMITHSON/THE POINT
The small Smeg fridge (magenta of course) stocked mini-bar favorites at surprisingly reasonable prices, including $6 for a large can of First Pils beer, $3 for cookies and just $2.50 for a bottle of Coke—a bargain compared to many big city mini bars where a box of nuts can easily go for as much as $15.
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BEN SMITHSON/THE POINT
While round tables aren’t the most practical place to work, the Bel & Bel Vespa high-back cream leather chair is a fun feature to pivot in this already bright and playful space. .
The whimsy continues in the hallways with their meaningless statues but bringing smiles to the faces of the guests amid the red patches of the Virgin.
Last minute affordable software suite upgrades
Basic rooms at Virgin Hotels Chicago start at a reasonable $198 a night in low season to as low as $436 for peak days in summer.
While suites cost around $100 – $120 a night compared to the Cheapest Room, guests should check their inbox a few days before departure as Virgin offers suite upgrade email offers with significantly discounted rates.
For just an extra $20 per night, you’ll get significant extra usable space — a 150-square-foot living room complete with a large padded couch and flat-screen LG smart TV is a great deal. great with 83% discount.
Everything about dinner with Miss Ricky
On the ground floor, the hotel’s main restaurant, Miss Ricky’s, is open from morning to night and offers a superb hospitality experience.
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The staff are extremely upbeat and enthusiastic as they greet the dim-eyed guests to start the day. Beyond bottomless coffee, expect Mexican favorites like chilaquiles, a nod to the city’s large Hispanic population, and grass-fed breakfast potato omelettes.
Room service is also available from Miss Ricky’s. While the breakfast baguette is an odd combination of savory fillings inside a sweet croissant served with strawberries and grapes, it’s filling and the flat white coffee is perfectly crafted.
In the evening, the mood at Miss Ricky’s is more formal, with an Italian and Spanish-inspired menu featuring elegantly treated Atlantic salmon and black cod ceviche ($20) for starters and entrees. Luxurious spinach lobster ravioli in Champagne cream sauce ($29) for an appetizer.
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BEN SMITHSON/THE POINT
Virgin has done an excellent job with this space and the staff here should be commended.
Why You Might Not Like Virgin Hotels Chicago
Virgin’s other approach to hospitality won’t be for everyone. Some staff with a laid-back attitude go too far with business groups because of their lack of professionalism and a “can do” attitude.
A head-scratching loyalty program
Instead of being an obvious monetization partner of Virgin Atlantic Flight Club ProgramInstead, Virgin Hotels has a loyalty program called “In The Know”, which encourages room upgrades, welcome gifts and invitations to special events. Even if guests carefully fill in all of their personal preferences, it’s unlikely that any tangible benefit will ever actually be delivered and it all seems far from paying off. .
The 2,000 Virgin Points promised for direct booking and In The Know registration may also never arrive and even if they do, guests still cannot redeem Virgin Points for Virgin Hotels.
This vaguely separate “loyalty program” seems unnecessarily complicated and likely to lead to frustration compared to Virgin Points, can be a great value.
Disappointed on the terrace
On Level 17, Cerise offers spectacular views of downtown Chicago.
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Unfortunately, views are the only reason to visit.
The signature Lil Smokey cocktail with Conejos mezcal ($17) has too much sweetness with well-balanced smoke, and the presentation isn’t much to write home about either.
Worse is the food. A seemingly simple request to remove gluten from brussels sprouts and char-broiled broccoli resulted in both dishes losing all of their flavor and seasoning, and then brought to a boil with no explanation. Did not taste pleasant.
The pork carnitas are greasy and heavy, the grilled octopus is delicious but tiny, and the fries are served with warm sauce in baseball-style plastic jars.
The food, cocktails and service at Cerise could be upgraded to match the amazing views.
Potential guests should note that the premier on-site food and drink destination, The Commons Club, has closed, appearing to be a long-term victim of the pandemic. Fortunately, this large space has been converted into a quiet, civilized co-working area and great for working outside of the Guest Room.
Do you work here?
The well-dressed front desk staff at the front desk warmly welcome and explain the amenities available to each guest upon arrival.
However, after leaving the front desk, the service changed a lot. Almost every employee seemed to dress differently, from formal to sloppy casual.
My room service was delivered by an employee wearing sweatpants and Timberland work boots. Every employee at Cerise wears different, casual black suits, making it difficult to guess who is working and who is not.
Casual presentation is not automatically synonymous with regular service, but appearance and professionalism seem to be directly correlated here. Cerise seems to have more staff than is necessary, but they seem to be more interested in joking and joking with each other than serving customers or displaying a professional demeanor.
alternative choice
Business travelers looking for service and a more corporate atmosphere than usual should consider the nearby Kimpton Gray Hotel, also inside the Loop.
IHG One Rewards members can earn and redeem points at a reasonable rate while enjoying luxurious accommodation and mingling with other business travelers for after-hours drinks at Vol. 39 bars with its gallery aesthetic.
In addition, Thompson Chicago, part of Hyatt’s Worldoffers memorable room designs in masculine dark tones and creams, while overlooking Lake Michigan while adopting a more mature culture of catering.
accessibility
Can access rooms and all public areas without having to climb stairs, scoring gold for accessibility 8.7/10 by Mobile Mojo. Service and guide dogs are welcome, wheelchairs are accessible, and there are dozens of accessible bedrooms.
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