Swissôtel Chicago is proud to announce that we have completed the $10 million renovation of our lobby and classic meeting space. Construction began in December 2011.

Inspired by the work of the building’s original architect, Harry Weese, Swissôtel Chicago’s renovated lobby has been transformed into a welcoming oasis for guests. The lobby now features a modern design with natural elements and an earth tone palette that reflect the hotel’s Swiss heritage.

This natural feel is set off by attention grabbing splashes of color, dramatic art, and lighting elements like the artistic rainstorm created by thousands of dangling glass bubble fixtures, and backlit glass panels, etched with Chicago’s skyline, sit just behind the innovative check-in area.

Designed by artist Jork André Dieter, award-winning Swissôtel circles, including Swissôtel Chicago’s very own, are projected above the bar area and change colors to reflect various moods throughout the day. This illuminated work features two rings of Chicago landmarks and historic elements like Soldier Field and Cloud Gate, while the center shows off Chicago’s skyline and Lake Michigan.

Located in the lobby, Amuse is the hotel’s latest food and beverage concept offering seasonal small and shareable plate options with signature cocktails and wine pairings for each. Amuse appeals to all five senses with its aromatic and flavorful menu, DJ-style music to fit the mood and seating in an artistic, eye-engaging setting.

Check-in pods replaced the traditional bulky hotel front desk, affording a more welcoming experience for the guest upon arrival.  Front desk agents will now work from laptop computers, giving them the flexibility to interact with guests even when they are away from their pod.

The concierge will be armed with tablets for quick access to all necessary information a guest may need to know, and a Nervana Ghost Wall will act as a digital concierge for guests to check weather, map local routes, research area attractions and get a 360-degree view of hotel’s event spaces and room layouts. Guests can even take turns or get group shots featuring a number of unique Chicago backgrounds at the Ghost Wall that can later be retrieved online.

Swissôtel Chicago will be the first property to provide meeting planners and attendees with Nervana’s Bonfire Events Management app. This application tracks schedules, flights, and presentations, connects guests via a social site and sends alerts for any changes in scheduling. Meeting planners can use this technology in the newly renovated classic meeting space that’s been transformed to mimic the modern, monochromatic feel of the hotel’s 38,000 square foot Event Centre that opened in 2009.

Come check out these exciting new renovations today and experience a new level of hospitality and luxury.

Swissôtel Chicago has always understood the importance of conservation and recycling, and we have made a commitment to utilize as many green practices as possible. In keeping with this philosophy, Swissôtel Chicago has even made our recent renovation green and kind to Mother Earth.

In November of 2011, Four Diamond Swissôtel Chicago began the revitalization of its lobby and meeting space with an extensive $10 million renovation. The updates are inspired by the work of original architect Harry Weese, and will feature a harmonious blend of modern design and natural elements in calming earth tones. In addition to technological and aesthetic enhancements, Swissôtel Chicago is intent on maintaining its commitment to sound environmental practices during the process.

Throughout the updated lobby and meeting space, project designers chose to utilize as many eco-conscious, sustainable materials as possible, including tile, rugs, carpeting, and paint. These choices align with Swissôtel Chicago’s already strong commitment to the environment, exemplified by its global certification by the International Organization of Standardization for Quality and Environmental Management and Job Safety and Health Protection, as well as ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management and OHSAS 18001 Job Safety and Health Protection certifications.

Additionally, Swissôtel Chicago uses energy-efficient lighting throughout the hotel, donates all unused amenity bottles to Chicago charity Bin Donated, and saves water by remaining linen-free, among other initiatives.  In keeping with Swissôtel’s long-standing commitment to environmentally responsible practices, it was important to utilize as many eco-conscious materials as possible during our renovation.

Look for our new green-friendly updates in Spring 2012!

Big changes are coming to Swissôtel Chicago! The Four Diamond hotel has begun to revitalize its lobby and classic meeting space, pulling inspiration from its original architect, Harry Weese, to create a modern design with natural elements that reflect the hotel’s Swiss heritage.

Guests will see one of the biggest changes right at the start of their stay. Check-in pods will replace the bulky front desk giving guests a more welcoming experience. The pod design allows the hotel’s team members to intentionally engage with the customers in the true sense of Swiss hospitality.

Every front desk agent will work from a laptop computer, giving them the flexibility to interact with guests even when they are away from their pod.  The concierge will also be armed with iPads for quick access to all necessary information a guest may need to know.

Located in the lobby, Amuse will be the hotel’s latest food and beverage concept offering small plates, specialty cocktails and wine pairings.  DJ-style music will change with the mood of the area, and guests desiring seclusion from the hustle and bustle can escape to a private room with cozy seating, televisions, multi-media plug-ins and more.

The classic meeting space will be transformed into a modern design with a simplified palette: monochromatic with pops of red and gold tones. From wall coverings and carpeting to technology, the new space will create a coherency with the hotel’s 38,000 square foot Event Centre that opened in 2009.

By combining classic hospitality with the cutting-edge of business technology, Swissôtel can continue to offer guests the best of services and conveniences in Chicago. Look for our new improvements to be completed in Spring 2012!

With Swissôtel Chicago, world class accommodations and award-winning hospitality are not just fluffy words in a catchy tagline. When it comes to exceeding standards, this Chicago hotel is among the best. Swissôtel Chicago continues to set itself even further apart from the crowded hospitality scene by becoming the only hotel in the nation with four ISO certifications.

So what is an ISO certification? ISO certifications are a set of guidelines put in place to ensure desirable characteristics in quality, environmental friendliness, safety, reliability, efficiency and interchangeability for products and services. (There are over 18,500 international standards, all highly specific to a particular product, material or process).

In addition to their first three ISO certifications, Swissôtel Chicago recently passed the ISO 22000 Food Safety Management audit, adding another certification to their already shining resume. Why is this good for hotel visitors? In passing the Food Safety Management audit, Swissôtel Chicago ensures that all food supplied at the hotel is produced, stored, handled and transported in accordance with relevant legislative requirements.

To receive this international honor, Swissôtel Chicago had to improve team members’ knowledge of issues relating to the production, safety and quality of food. Hotel staff also vowed to conduct inspections regularly to ensure the standards are being met and promised to take the appropriate measures if they are not.

On top of continuing to educate team members about food safety and quality, the certification also ensures that the hotel has proper management systems and controls in place, and that all the risks associated with food provision have been reduced to the lowest level possible. Since food safety hazards can occur at any stage in the food chain, it is essential that adequate control be in place and that standards be met. Swissôtel Chicago does not take these standards lightly. Would you stay somewhere that does?

The number of American businesses with formal green programs in place increased 54 percent last year according to research from Buck Consultants. In addition, 69 percent of companies said they took deliberate measures to improve their environmental and social impact in 2010.

While Swissôtel Chicago has made a solid environmental commitment in all facets of our operations, including facilitating green meetings, there are still a number of misconceptions about the feasibility of sustainable business practices in the event planning arena.

Myth: Green meetings are a hassle
Reality: At Swissôtel Chicago, we have the onsite resources including a catering and convention team committed to providing everything from edible centerpieces to recycled binders. Our planners can connect your organization with our green partners and off-site venues that are easily accessible via public transportation.

Myth: Green meetings are expensive
Reality: Green meetings are about increasing economic and environmental efficiency by minimizing the use of resources and reducing the amount of waste produced. Swissôtel Chicago offers high-speed internet, both wired and wireless in all meeting rooms, so business can save on expensive printing costs.

Myth: Green meetings reduce the quality of the meeting experience
Reality: Most green meeting activities go completely unnoticed by delegates. Attendees are not likely to notice your reuse of signage or preference for recycled paper. Many already sort their household waste for curbside pickup and are likely to make use of onsite recycling without a second thought. Furthermore, delegates who are becoming increasingly conscious of their diet respond positively. Over 80% of Swissôtel Chicago’s food products are from local sources.

As part of our overall sustainability efforts, Swissôtel Chicago is committed to finding new ways to help your company hold effortlessly executed and environmentally friendly events.

One of the oldest Chicago events, the Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony and Parade has extra meaning this year and offers a great way to pay tribute to those who have served the United States.

The parade and wreath laying ceremony are scheduled for Saturday, May 28.. The Wreath Laying Ceremony will begin at 11a.m. at the Eternal Flame on Daley Plaza in Chicago (Dearborn and Washington Streets). The parade will step off at 12:00p.m, just a few blocks from the Swissôtel Chicago at the corner of State and Lake streets and will proceed south.

This year’s Grand Marshal will be General Raymond T. Odierno, United States Army, Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command. During the parade, Odierno will swear in new recruits representing many branches of service. He oversees USJFCOM’s roles in joint concept development and experimentation, joint capability development, joint training, and force provision and management as outlined in the Department of Defense’s Unified Command Plan. Prior to this, Odierno commanded Multi-National Force –Iraq and then U.S. Forces –Iraq. H

Memorial Day observance in the United States began shortly after the Civil War ended when General John Logan proclaimed that the 30th day of May be designated for the purpose of decorating the graves of soldiers who died; the day was called Decoration Day. It was first observed on May 30, 1868. The modern day event is similar, but the original idea has been expanded and now honors all fallen soldiers.

The Chicago Memorial Day parade is now considered one of the largest in the nation

Spring reawakens our senses as we immerse ourselves in the sights, smells and of course sounds of the city. Music will be in the air this summer at Chicago’s Millennium Park .

The Swissôtel Chicago is a luxurious hotel with European amenities and service situated at the juncture of the Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, the perfect location to embrace the musical treasures of the city!

Downtown Sound.
May 23-July 25, Mondays

Now in its third year, Downtown Sound features an eclectic mix of music discoveries, including cutting-edge indie rock, pop bands and rock veterans. Some of the highlights for Summer 2011 include Iron and Wine, Blonde Redhead, Low, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Ted Leo, the UK’s Seefeel, France’s Ben L’Oncle Soul and Niger’s Bombino, along with Chicago favorites Rachel Ries and Andre Williams.  6:30p.m., Jay Pritzker Pavilion, North Michigan Avenue and East Randolph Street. 312 742 1186.

Music Without Borders.
June 9-July 21, Thursdays.

Music Without Borders explores the world from cultures spanning fivecontinents:  Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America will be represented in this global series. 6:30p.m. Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

World Class Jazz.
July 28-September 1, Thursdays.

Come hear jazz featuring Chicago’s leading artists with concerts that explore jazz connections to Africa, Latin America and the rhythm and roots of the South side of Chicago. The 2011 series includes tribute concerts and retrospectives, along with opening night of the 33rd Annual Chicago Jazz Festival.

Dusk Variations.
August 1-22, Mondays.

Discover a new wave of music, mixing pop and alternative genres with classical music. 6:30p.m. Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

Grant Park Music Festival.
June 15-August 20, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30p.m.
Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

Experience Grant Park Music Festival’s eclectic 77th Season under the leadership of Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar. The Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park is the official hotel and American Airlines is the official airline of Grant Park Music Festival. The Festival opens its season with pianist Jean-Philippe Collard performing Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, on a program that also includes one of the most important pieces of the early Romantic period, Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique

Experience a Chicago winter with the awe, wonder and whimsy of a child and enjoy the fun side of luxury at a first class downtown hotel.

Swissôtel Chicago provides the perfect winter base camp for families to tour the city with a fabulous array of child-friendly amenities, including specially designed Kids Suites, interactive VIK check-in, and children’s menus at onsite restaurants. Even if you never leave the hotel property, cooped up kids can spend hours splashing out their winter doldrums in the spacious indoor pool, located on the 42^nd floor.

Just looking out the windows at the Swissôtel Chicago can be a satisfying and educational adventure with spectacular views of the Chicago River, the only river in the world that flows backwards, and Lake Michigan, which never entirely freezes, no matter how cold it gets.

But when you want to venture outdoors, the Millennium Park Ice Skating rink provides the ultimate Chicago winter activity. An easy walk from the Swissôtel Chicago, the rink provides 15,910 square-feet of skating surface and draws 100,000 skaters annually. Plus, it’s free as long as you have your own skates (otherwise rentals are available onsite for $9).

Also just steps from the hotel, the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier provides the perfect indoor playground with hundreds of interactive exhibits and innovative educational programs. At CCM, visitors can build a dam, create a flying machine, build a skyscraper, or create collaborative artwork.

Once you’ve braved the cold, come back and recap your adventures with a delicious cup of hot cocoa. Our 24-Hour Room Service allows kids, and parents, to relax and replenish so you can plan your next Chicago winter adventure.

Meeting the highest standards of convenience, hospitality, and comfort, Swissôtel Chicago joins the list of other exclusive properties that travel and Travel + Leisure readers deemed the best business hotels in the world for 2010.

The Travel + Leisure readers, often dedicated business travelers who log dozens of hotel nights each year, picked properties with  top-notch service, hassle-free technology, comfortable rooms, and a central, accessible location.

Not surprisingly, Swissôtel Chicago delivers on all fronts. With the unique combination of American energy and Swiss Service, Swissôtel Chicago provides spacious, well-appointed guestrooms with first class amenities and an elegant European touch. From handsomely furnished executive boardrooms to seamless technological integration, Swissôtel Chicago works in conjunction with you, to be a business asset, not add to the inherent hassles of operating away from your home base.

Located just steps from The Magnificent Mile and a short walk to the city’s financial, business and entertainment district, Swissôtel Chicago expects the accolades to continue in 2011 and beyond.