Richard Branson’s Virgin Hotels brand, has finally opened its first hotel in Chicago, after a string of delays over the past three years. The hotel is located in the heart of Chicago’s Loop district, in a historic 26-storey art deco building. Chicago’s Old Dearborn building includes original features such as a 1920s oak cigar bar, which now serves as the hotel’s front desk.
There are 250 guest rooms, including 40 one-bedroom suites and two Penthouse Suites. Also, there is a restaurant helmed by Chicago chef Rick Gresh and will add four more restaurants and bars by April.
According to Branson, the hotel will be four-star and rates in Chicago will start from a relatively cheap $209.
The operator plans to open a second location in Nashville in 2016 and a third in New York City in 2017. Another two locations are set to be announced by the end of next year 2016, with Virgin hoping to have 20 hotels by 2025.