Mandarin Oriental to manage new Hotel and Residences in Chicago

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is to manage a new 250-room luxury hotel and 50 branded residences which are planned to open in Chicago in early 2008.

Mandarin Oriental, Chicago will occupy 15 floors of a new 90-storey tower which will be an exclusive mixed-use development in Chicago’s growing Millenium Park neighbourhood. In addition to the hotel and its luxury residences, the new 1.2 million square-foot development will feature a further 300 deluxe condominiums as well as upscale retail shops.

The project is ideally located for Chicago’s world-class cultural attractions, shopping, dining and entertainment facilities. It is adjacent to Millennium Park, the city’s renowned centre for art, music, architecture and landscape design, featuring the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the United States, designed by Frank Gehry. Located at 215 North Michigan Avenue, the hotel is also a short walk from the Magnificent Mile Shopping District and is ideally placed for easy access to McCormick Place, the largest convention facility in America. Chicago’s vast Pedway system is accessible directly from the development, which allows convenient covered walkways to the city’s financial district.

Mandarin Oriental, Chicago will offer 200 oversized guestrooms and 50 suites which will be among the most spacious accommodations in the city, with views of Lake Michigan to the north and east, Millennium Park to the south, and Chicago’s celebrated cityscape to the west.

An array of dining choices will be offered at the hotel’s 80-seat signature restaurant, an all-day dining venue, spa café, stylish bar, lobby lounge and Cake Shop – Chicago’s version of the legendary “Mandarin Cake Shop” at the flagship Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong.

The 20,000 square-foot Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Chicago will feature 14 treatment rooms, with two VIP couples suites, state-of-the-art heat and water treatments, including a Hamam for men and Rasul for women, as well as a spa café offering tailor-made, healthy cuisine. A dedicated pilates and yoga studio will complement the fully-equipped fitness facility.

The hotel will also offer exceptional amenities to business travellers, including the latest technology in the guest rooms as well as a full-service business centre. Ample meeting and function space, with a 10,000 square-foot ballroom, and four additional private meeting rooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology are also featured.

The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Chicago will be located above the hotel with units ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 square-feet. As with all Residences at Mandarin Oriental, owners will be treated as permanent guests of the hotel and will enjoy exclusive access to the services and amenities provided on property.

“We are delighted to be opening a new hotel in the celebrated city of Chicago. This project represents a wonderful opportunity for Mandarin Oriental to further strengthen our brand in significant business and leisure destinations worldwide,” said Edouard Ettedgui, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental. “We look forward to bringing Mandarin Oriental’s renowned levels of hospitality to this vibrant new development and its remarkable location. We certainly support Mayor Daley’s mission for the area’s success.” 

“We are excited about the addition of Mandarin Oriental to the city of Chicago. The development only serves to further enhance the amenities and visitor attractions in and around Millennium Park,” said Mayor Richard M. Daley.

The project is being developed by Illinois Center Development, LLC (ICDG), a private investment partnership formed by the development team of Frank Leo and Gerard Kenny of Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Kenny’s firm Kenny Construction Company will be leading construction of the overall project. The award-winning firm of Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB) will be lead architect coordinating with Patrick Danan of ICDG. 

“Our project will play an important role in the continuing renaissance of the area surrounding Millennium Park. The development promises to be a new city icon and we are very pleased to be working with Mandarin Oriental to create a unique luxury experience in Chicago,” said Frank Leo, a principal of Illinois Center Development, LLC.

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