Latest
issue
GET ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT
magazine
Yes! Send me the FREE digital edition of Attractions Management and the FREE weekly Attractions Management ezines and breaking news alerts!
Not right now, thanksclose this window I've already subscribed. I've already subscribed.
Get Attractions Management digital magazine FREE
Sign up here ▸
Jobs   News   Features   Products   Company profilesProfiles   Magazine   Handbook   Advertise    Subscribe  
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.
MORE NEWS
Mubadala makes €1 billion bid for Pierre and Vacances
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed €1 billion offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the continental European Center Parcs business.
Expo 2030 Riyadh will create a permanent global destination
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
Australian waterpark acquisition creates new leisure attractions group
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor, creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
London Museum reveals 2026 opening date for new Smithfield home
The London Museum’s new site will open in Smithfield, East London, on 28 November 2026.
+ More news   
LATEST JOBS
General Manager, The Needles
Heritage Great Britain
Salary: c£70,000pa + benefits + relocation support
Job location: Isle of Wight , United Kingdom
+ More jobs  

COMPANY PROFILES
IDEATTACK

IDEATTACK is a full-service planning and design company with headquarters in Los Angeles. [more...]
RMA Ltd

RMA Ltd is a one-stop global company that can design, build and produce from a greenfield site upw [more...]
IAAPA EMEA

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

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
 

+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
29 Sep - 02 Oct 2026

Synergy - The Retreat Show

Pical Resort, Valamar Collection, Porec, Croatia
+ More diary  
LATEST ISSUES
+ View Magazine Archive

Attractions Management

2026 issue 1


View issue contents
View on turning pages
Download PDF
FREE digital subscription
Print subscription

Attractions Management

2025 issue 2


View issue contents
View on turning pages
Download PDF
FREE digital subscription
Print subscription

Attractions Management

2025 issue 1


View issue contents
View on turning pages
Download PDF
FREE digital subscription
Print subscription

Attractions Management

2024 issue 4


View issue contents
View on turning pages
Download PDF
FREE digital subscription
Print subscription

Attractions Management News

06 Apr 2020 issue 153


View on turning pages
Download PDF
View archive
FREE digital subscription
Print subscription

Attractions Handbook

2019


View issue contents
View on turning pages
Download PDF
FREE digital subscription
Print subscription
 
ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
 
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT NEWS
ATTRACTIONS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026
Get Attractions Management digital magazine FREE
Sign up here ▸
Jobs    News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
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
Mubadala makes €1 billion bid for Pierre and Vacances
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed €1 billion offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the continental European Center Parcs business.
Expo 2030 Riyadh will create a permanent global destination
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
Australian waterpark acquisition creates new leisure attractions group
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor, creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
London Museum reveals 2026 opening date for new Smithfield home
The London Museum’s new site will open in Smithfield, East London, on 28 November 2026.
Toverland unveils €98m expansion plan as park prepares to launch resort development
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi- day destination.
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
IDEATTACK

IDEATTACK is a full-service planning and design company with headquarters in Los Angeles. [more...]
RMA Ltd

RMA Ltd is a one-stop global company that can design, build and produce from a greenfield site upw [more...]
IAAPA EMEA

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

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
29 Sep - 02 Oct 2026

Synergy - The Retreat Show

Pical Resort, Valamar Collection, Porec, Croatia
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT NEWS
ATTRACTIONS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS