Ritz-Carlton Chicago (A Four Seasons Hotel)

Ritz-Carlton Chicago (A Four Seasons Hotel) is a part of the Toronto-based Four Seasons chain of luxury hotels and resorts. Ritz-Carlton Chicago, an American Automobile Association (AAA) Five Diamond and Mobil Five Star hotel,[1] is located atop Water Tower Place in the heart of downtown Chicago, Illinois. The Ritz-Carlton Chicago is one of two properties under management by Four Seasons in the North Michigan Avenue area, as their namesake hotel Four Seasons Hotel Chicago is located a few blocks away. The hotel is not part of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, the name is used under special licensing agreements.

Effective August 1, 2015, The Ritz Carlton Chicago will cease being a Four Seasons property and will convert management and operation to Sage Hospitality Resources of Denver CO.The hotel will hence be operated as a member of the worldwide properties of Ritz Carlton LLC and will participate and be marketed with the rest of the Ritz Carlton name properties. [2]

History

Originally constructed in 1975, Four Seasons acquired the management contract for Ritz-Carlton Chicago in 1977. In 1985 it was decided that the number of guest rooms would be reduced to 435. Ritz-Carlton Chicago was designed and decorated in a classic luxury style with marble floorings and grand floral arrangements. Believing they lacked the brand recognition at the time in the area to attract a satisfactory client base they decided that with the purchase agreement that they would be able to maintain the historic Ritz-Carlton name indefinitely. Also under terms of the agreement, no other hotel is permitted to hold The-Ritz Carlton flag in the area (including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company) while the agreement is still in effect. Note the new Ritz-Carlton Residences will lack a hotel component.

The Ritz-Carlton Chicago currently houses 435 guest rooms, including 91 suites between floors 15 and 30 in Water Tower Place along the city’s elite shopping district, the Magnificent Mile.

Amenities

As with most Four Seasons properties, Ritz-Carlton Chicago is known for its services and amenities. Some of the amenities include deca Restaurant + bar featuring executive chef Martin Knaubert. Ritz-Carlton Chicago was voted as a “Top Large Hotel” by Zagat Survey in 2007,[3] and ranks 61st on the Top 100 Hotels in the World by Institutional Investor. Other amenities include a pool, spa services, on-site shopping and fitness facilities.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences

South of the current hotel, construction is to begin shortly on a new 40-story, 86-unit upscale residential tower at 664 North Michigan Avenue carrying the Ritz-Carlton name, with services provided by the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Construction is slated to begin in September 2008, the location is currently occupied by several local retailers (Garrett's Popcorn & Hanig Shoes) which are in the process of relocating to allow for construction. The property was last the site of the Terra Museum of American Art (which has now relocated to the Art Institute Chicago in a complicated partnership).

Financing has been secured for the project, and to-date (May 2008) 33 of the 86 units have been sold.

The tower is to include the facade of the historic Farwell Building to the south of the new tower (utilising it mostly for parking starting on the 3rd floor).

Nearby attractions and activities

Ritz-Carlton Chicago is located within walking distance of the following locations:

In addition, the hotel is located within a short drive of other notable Chicago attractions:

References

  1. ↑ Five Diamond and Five Star hotel, mobiltravelguide.howstuffworks.com
  2. ↑ http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/PH90924.htm
  3. ↑ 2007 Zagat Survey, businesstravellogue.com

External links