Swissôtel’s Sizzlin’ Summer Package

Enjoy Chicago The VIP Way

Summer is the best time of year to enjoy all of the wonderful sights and sounds of Chicago. Swissotel Chicago is offering a one-of-a-kind package that allows the entire family to enjoy a fun-filled summer vacation in one of America’s greatest cities. The Swissotel Summer VIKation is offering the third night for free if you stay two nights and extra bonuses worth $500. This package can be redeemed on select dates now thru September 6^th and includes:

-         $25 parking discount

-         Exclusive Bloomingdales Savings Package

-         Complimentary use of the 42^nd floor fitness center & pool

-         Tickets to your choice of Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium or the Art Institute of Chicago (two tickets to two museums or four tickets to one museum)

-         $100 play money. This money can be applied to The Lobby Lounge, Geneva Restaurant, Room Service, In-room movies, local calls, internet and mini-bar.

Whether its mom that loves downtown Chicago for the shopping, or the kids who can’t get enough of Shedd, there are activities that the entire family can enjoy together.

For all the dads out there, it’s time to grab the kids and make this year’s Mother’s Day extra-special with a breakfast in bed like nothing she’s ever seen.  Swissôtel Chicago Executive Chef Dan McGee shares his ultimate bread pudding French toast recipe he created for his own wife and kids, along with some fun, kid-friendly accompaniments that will leave Mom speechless!

• Bread Pudding French Toast: This sinfully delicious breakfast treat takes a little extra preparation, but it’s well worth the effort!  You can prepare the bread pudding two days in advance for a simple breakfast preparation on Mother’s Day.  Then simply cut into heart shapes and sauté in a pan with a little butter. 

• Peach Syrup: Instead of using your traditional syrup, try this recipe.  Use a can of peaches, take them out of the syrup and blend them, and then pour just enough syrup into the blender to create a peach sauce.  Pour on top of the bread pudding and enjoy!

• Heart-Shaped Fruit Kabobs: This fun breakfast kabob is a great way to get the kids involved.  Simply cut the fruit into a heart shape before slicing it, and then skewer the pieces on a kabob.

• Home-Made Whipped Cream: What’s better than whipped cream?  Home-made whipped cream! It’s easy to make, and you can even add fun twists, like flavoring it with fruit syrup or adding some red food coloring.

• Hand-Crafted Coffee Mug: When you have home-made whipped cream, you have to have some coffee to put it on!  Make it a special cup of coffee by letting the kids decorate the mug.  You can find plain white mugs and special markers at the craft store, and it’s the perfect activity for the kids while you’re working on the meal!

In celebration of Mother’s Day, Swissôtel Chicago is offering a Mother’s Day brunch recipe contest.  One lucky winner will receive a personalized cooking class for two with Executive Chef Dan McGee.  Simply e-mail us your favorite Mother’s Day brunch recipe by May 1, 2010.  A panel of chefs will judge the recipes for quality, taste and creativity. The winner will be announced on May 7, 2010.

How to Enter

E-mail your recipe to enews.chicago@swissotel.com

Please include the full recipe, your full name, phone number and e-mail address. 

One entree per person. No purchase necessary to win.  Cooking class dates are subject to the hotel’s kitchen schedule. Restrictions may apply.  

Whether you prefer music, art or spring gardens, Chicago offers an array of activities for you to enjoy this spring. 

May Activities

Chicago Neighborhood Tour

http://www.chicagoneighborhoodtours.com

Art Chicago       

April 30 – May 3

Merchandise Mart

http://www.artchicago.com

Celtic Fest

May 8 – 9

Millennium Park

http://www.explorechicago.org/etc/medialib/explore_chicago/mose/celtic_fest_chicago.Par.61647.File.dat/celticbrochure2010.pdf

National Train Day

May 8

Union Station

http://www.nationaltrainday.com/events/chicago/

The Magnificent Mile Floral Mural

Tulips on The Magnificent Mile

May 7 – 9

The Magnificent Mile

www.themagnificentmile.com

Poetic Sips for National Poetry Month

Wax Poetic at Swissôtel Chicago

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May…Springtime inspires the poet in all of us, and with April officially declared National Poetry Month, there’s no excuse not to pen a sonnet or two. To celebrate, Swissôtel Chicago is offering four thought-provoking cocktails inspired by a few of history’s master poets. And each cocktail comes with a copy of the poem the drink is named after!

The Lasting Impression

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Patron Silver, Fresh Lemon Juice, Club Soda and Mint Leaves

Wisdom

Emily Dickinson

Amaretto, Fresh Lemon Juice, Cherry Juice

Love Potion

Robert Graves

Korbel Sparkling White Wine and Chambord

The Awakening

Robert Frost

Peppermint Schnapps, Vodka, 7-Up, Fresh Lime Juice, Red Bull

What is National Poetry Month? Established by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is a yearly celebration created to widen the attention of individual and media to the art of poetry. The hope is to increase visibility and availability of poetry in popular culture while acknowledging and celebrating poetry’s ability to sustain itself.

These cocktails will be available at The Lobby Lounge at Swissôtel Chicago (323 E Wacker) throughout the month of April for $8 each.

Swissôtel Chicago Offers A One-of-a-Kind Package

April is national Dog Appreciation Month, and in the spirit of pampering your four-legged friend Swissôtel Chicago has created a Pampered Pets Package. The Pampered Pet Getaway is a pet-friendly package that will pamper your pooch in true Swiss style. Your dog will receive the VIP treatment from the second they step one paw in the door. Your pooch will receive a pet bed and bowls, a pampered pet massage, a special welcome, dog toy, a 30 minute walk complete with all of the fixin’s (leash, bags, and portable water dish) as well as a donation to Lakeshore Animal Shelter when you book your reservation.

In addition to a wonderful pet package where you and your pooch can escape for the weekend, Chicago offers unique and fun pet activities. Some of these wag-worthy attractions include:

-         Of Mutts and Men: This bark-worthy spot on Belmont was created as an indoor alternative to the dog park. In this space there are chess boards, pool tables, free coffee and a TV area. Enjoy this while your dog can roam leash free.

-         White Sox Dog Day: Bring your pooch to the park and enjoy some fun in the sun. This event benefitting Canine Companions for Independence will take place on June 5^th of this year.

-         Shoreline Sightseeing Boat Tours: This architectural tour that highlights over 40 Chicago buildings allows your favorite friend on board as well.

Swissôtel Chicago is committed to environmental responsibility through sustainable business practices. We embrace public awareness and foster commitment to our environmental mindset, while capturing our associates’ pride, passion, and involvement.  We foster “good neighbor” partnerships, measurably reduce pollution and drive energy conservation.

Recycling Programs

The property embraces the fundamental waste mitigation concept of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” The property maintains an aggressive effort to capture all recyclable materials to include: cardboard, plastic, glass, steel, aluminum, office paper, newspaper, fluorescent light bulbs, cooking oil, toner cartridges, batteries, pallets and crates.  Additionally, all unused amenity bottles are delivered to the Resource Center, an organization which benefits homeless and battered woman and children in the Chicagoland area.  In 2009, our recycling program reduced our carbon footprint by 1.36 metric tons.  

Water Efficiency Program

Our guest linen program allows guests to select their linen changing preference.  With our guests’ participation, we are able to reduce the total number of loads per year, in turn, reducing our overall water consumption.  Water conserving fixtures or retrofits are located throughout the hotel including 2.2 gpm faucets and 2.5 gpm shower heads.  Our landscaping company’s environmental standards include the use of plants and trees tolerant of climate, soils and natural water availability.

During the opening of the hotel’s new Event Center, we introduced a linen free meeting concept as part of our Sustainable Meetings program.  In less than one year, this program saved over 27,000 gallons of water. 

Energy Conservation Program

Energy efficient lighting is used in guest areas, guest rooms, meeting rooms corridors, garage and heart-of-the-house. HVAC equipment has recently been updated for energy efficiency.  All air handlers are additionally connected to our B.A.S. (Building Automated System).  Programmable on/off timers and/or sensors are used for lighting and HVAC in low-traffic and low-occupancy areas.  This includes the heart-of-the-house, corridors, meetings rooms, storage rooms, fitness center and equipment rooms. Moreover, the new Event Centre is equipped with motion sensor lighting in all lavatories and LED lighting throughout the new building reducing our energy consumption by 50%.        

Drink and Dine The Irish Way

Swissôtel Chicago is partying like the Irish throughout the month of March. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, The Lobby Lounge at Swissôtel Chicago will feature Irish-inspired dishes and cocktails. Not only will there be delectable dishes and creative cocktails, but guest rooms facing the Chicago River boast perfect views of the yearly tradition of dying the river green. The menu and Irish cocktails will be offered from March 8-31.

The Irish-inspired dishes include Shepherd’s Pie, corned beef sliders, Irish bangers & cabbage and fish & chips. Cocktails include:

Irish Gold

2oz Jameson

2oz Ginger Ale

½ oz Peach Schnapps

$9

Green Grasshopper

¾ oz green Crème De Menthe

¾ oz white Crème de Cacao

1 scoop of ice cream

$5

Irish Car Bomb

½ oz Bailey’s

½ oz Jameson

Half pint of Guinness

$9

The Field Museum

Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age

Opens March 5, 2010

More Info

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

March 13, 2010

More Info

The Art Institute of Chicago

Matisse: Radical Invention           

Opens March 20, 2010

More Info

Chicago Architecture Foundation

Devil in the White City Tour

March 28, 2010

More Info

Harris Theatre

Bach, Mozart, Haydn - Music of the Baroque

March 31, 2010

More Info

Spring Break

Enjoy the spring season in Chicago - Stay 2 nights get the 3rd night free!

Swissotel Chicago is offering stay 2 nights get the 3rd night free and extra bonuses worth $500 when you book our Spring Break Getaway.

• Stay 2 Nights and Receive the 3rd Night Free
• $25 Parking Discount
• Exclusive Bloomingdale’s Savings Package
• Complimentary Use of the 42nd Floor Fitness Center & Pool
• 4 Tickets to your choice of Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium or The Art Institute of Chicago. (2 tickets to 2 museums or 4 tickets to 1 museum – you choose)
• $100 Play Money**

Available:
Select dates March 1- April 30, 2010

Book Now

**$100 Play Money may be applied to The Lobby Lounge, Geneva Restaurant, Room Service, In-room Movies, Local Calls, Internet and Mini-bar. Not valid at The Palm or for massage services. No cash value.

*Subject to availability. Restrictions may apply.