At the New Virgin Hotels Chicago, It’s Really About the Radical Rooms

Despite big promises to innovate, most of what you’ll see at the new Virgin Hotels Chicago has been done before—except for its radical rooms.

January 16, 2015

Nina Kokotas Hahn
While amenities like free Wi-Fi, mini-bars stocked with street-level-priced goods, no fees for late or early check-out, and free room service are not necessarily new, it’s rare that a hotel offers them all under one roof. Enter the 250-room Virgin Hotels Chicago, billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson’s latest endeavor, now open in the city’s Old Dearborn Bank Building. The hotel itself doesn’t offer a ton in the way of innovation—but then there’s the rooms, which are arguably the most special and radical thing about the hotel.
Courtesy Virgin Hotels
Divided into two “chambers,” rooms feature a dressing area and lounge-y bedroom separated by a thick sliding door. The idea here is to create two distinct spaces: one in which to get dressed and primped, and one in which to sleep and play. But you won’t have to pay suite-level prices; chambers right now are starting at $195.

Courtesy Virgin Hotels
Branson’s team has long been promising rooms designed with the female business traveler in mind. This statement vanity delivers, as does a large bench in the shower (perfect for shaving) and lots of bright lighting in the dressing chamber.
Courtesy Virgin Hotels
How many times has your hotel bed become your couch or your desk? Designed by Virgin Hotels and Rockwell Group Europe specifically for Virgin Hotels, this patent-pending bed features an ergonomic, lounge-style backboard and an added seatback at the foot to spice things up.

Courtesy Virgin Hotels
Branson was deliberate in wanting to create something for the tech-savvy traveler. Take the hotel’s app, Lucy, which gives you control over a number of things from a mobile phone or tablet. Use it to adjust the thermostat, control the TV, order room service, live chat with other guests at the hotel, and communicate with hotel staff. Other features in the room include freed-up outlets right next to each side of the bed and a Bluetooth-enabled speaker tower for music and conference calls.
Nina Kokotas Hahn
Let’s say you place a breakfast order with room service but don’t want to get out of bed just yet. Slide the privacy door shut, have the order delivered to the dressing room (which is essentially the first room one enters), and spy on the delivery through the privacy door’s nifty peep hole. Ditto for housekeeping requests or whatever you don’t want to get out of your pajamas for.

Nina Kokotas Hahn
No need to hold out on the adorable Smeg mini-bar: The prices are comparable to what you’d pay at a nearby drugstore. So what exactly does that look like? Coke and York Peppermint Patties for a buck, Snyder’s Pretzels for $1.50, Pellegrino at $2, and even an intimacy kit for $20.
Nina Kokotas Hahn
You won’t have to guess which rooms are dog friendly with a loud-and-proud display of pooch love right at the door. A life-size dog statue sits outside of 40 dog-friendly rooms (two on each floor); inside and included at no extra charge are a pet-friendly pull-out bed for the pooch, food and water bowls, a bandana, waste bags and gourmet treats.

Courtesy Virgin Hotels
Beyond the rooms, the relaxed yet posh Commons Club is the first of several dining concepts to be open at the hotel. A mixed-use social space, Commons Club features a bar, “shag room,” shared and cozy workspaces, and an open kitchen helmed by Rick Gresh. Guests can show up here daily from 6 to 7 p.m. for a hosted social hour with beer, wine, and cocktails.
For even more photos, read A First Timer's Guide to Sleeping with The Virgin Hotel in Chicago via HotelChatter.com