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NEWS
Virgin Hotels Chicago teams up with city's bloggers for alternative tourist guide
POSTED 05 Mar 2015 . BY Helen Andrews
The guide to the Windy City will evolve each season, presenting a new set of bloggers and their recommendations Credit: Shutterstock / Rudy Balasko
Virgin Hotels Chicago, which opened in January of this year, has collaborated with a number of the Windy City’s influential bloggers to create a new kind of hotel city guide for guests.

The project Step Outside features seven personas, each of which is paired with a curated list of things to do, see, eat and explore – put together by a team of local bloggers. This guide will evolve each season, presenting a new set of bloggers and their recommendations. The lists of things to do are based on personas such as ‘The Dare Devil’, ‘The Artist’ and ‘The Partier’.

Doug Carrillo, VP of sales and marketing said: “In typical Virgin fashion, we didn’t want to introduce an ordinary hotel city guide. We collaborated with bloggers who are imbedded in the Chicago landscape to create thoughtful, well-rounded and distinct insights on the city’s best activities, restaurants, neighbourhoods and more.”

A separate resource, Step Inside, is a guide for Virgin guests on topics including music, entrepreneurship, wellbeing, as well as the line-up for artist performances at the hotel and its other programming. Presumably, this content will also provide guests with hotel service updates, for example information on the spa’s services – when it opens in Q2.

Step Inside will provide our guests with ever-evolving content that interests them, brings a chuckle and gives an insider’s view into the world of Virgin Hotels,” added Carrillo.

PROJECT PROFILE:

Virgin Hotels Chicago
The first Virgin-branded hotel has opened in Chicago’s Loop district in the 26-storey Old Dearborn Bank Building, originally designed by architecture firm Rapp and Rapp.

Location: Chicago , United States

RELATED STORIES
  Virgin Hotels Chicago property debuts with a spa planned for Q2 of this year


The first Virgin-branded hotel has opened in Chicago’s Loop district in the 26- storey Old Dearborn Bank Building, originally designed by architecture firm Rapp and Rapp.
  Virgin Hotels reveals New York City hotel designs


Virgin Hotels and owner/developer Lam Group have revealed building designs for their first project together in New York City, expected to open in 2017.
  Virgin announces location of its next New York hotel


Virgin Hotels has announced the location of their new hotel set to be unveiled in New York. It can now be confirmed that the new hotel will be located on the northwest corner of 29th Street and Broadway.
  2013 launch for first Virgin-branded hotel


Virgin Hotels is expected to open its first property by the end of 2013 in Chicago, US, after it completed the acquisition of the downtown Old Dearborn Bank Building in late 2011.
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NEWS
Virgin Hotels Chicago teams up with city's bloggers for alternative tourist guide
POSTED 05 Mar 2015 . BY Helen Andrews
The guide to the Windy City will evolve each season, presenting a new set of bloggers and their recommendations Credit: Shutterstock / Rudy Balasko
Virgin Hotels Chicago, which opened in January of this year, has collaborated with a number of the Windy City’s influential bloggers to create a new kind of hotel city guide for guests.

The project Step Outside features seven personas, each of which is paired with a curated list of things to do, see, eat and explore – put together by a team of local bloggers. This guide will evolve each season, presenting a new set of bloggers and their recommendations. The lists of things to do are based on personas such as ‘The Dare Devil’, ‘The Artist’ and ‘The Partier’.

Doug Carrillo, VP of sales and marketing said: “In typical Virgin fashion, we didn’t want to introduce an ordinary hotel city guide. We collaborated with bloggers who are imbedded in the Chicago landscape to create thoughtful, well-rounded and distinct insights on the city’s best activities, restaurants, neighbourhoods and more.”

A separate resource, Step Inside, is a guide for Virgin guests on topics including music, entrepreneurship, wellbeing, as well as the line-up for artist performances at the hotel and its other programming. Presumably, this content will also provide guests with hotel service updates, for example information on the spa’s services – when it opens in Q2.

Step Inside will provide our guests with ever-evolving content that interests them, brings a chuckle and gives an insider’s view into the world of Virgin Hotels,” added Carrillo.

RELATED STORIES
Virgin Hotels Chicago property debuts with a spa planned for Q2 of this year


The first Virgin-branded hotel has opened in Chicago’s Loop district in the 26- storey Old Dearborn Bank Building, originally designed by architecture firm Rapp and Rapp.
Virgin Hotels reveals New York City hotel designs


Virgin Hotels and owner/developer Lam Group have revealed building designs for their first project together in New York City, expected to open in 2017.
Virgin announces location of its next New York hotel


Virgin Hotels has announced the location of their new hotel set to be unveiled in New York. It can now be confirmed that the new hotel will be located on the northwest corner of 29th Street and Broadway.
2013 launch for first Virgin-branded hotel


Virgin Hotels is expected to open its first property by the end of 2013 in Chicago, US, after it completed the acquisition of the downtown Old Dearborn Bank Building in late 2011.
MORE NEWS
Warner Bros Discovery collaborates on upcoming Pompeii attraction
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while remaining actively involved with the company.
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
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COMPANY PROFILES
Alterface

Alterface’s Creative Division team is seasoned in concept and ride development, as well as storyte [more...]
IAAPA EMEA

IAAPA Expo Europe was established in 2006 and has grown to the largest international conference and [more...]
Sally Corporation

Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
instantprint

We’re a Yorkshire-based online printer, founded in 2009 by Adam Carnell and James Kinsella. [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
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