Latest
issue
Uniting the world of spa & wellness
Get Spa Business and Spa Business insider digital magazines FREE
Sign up here ▸
News   Features   Products   Company profilesProfiles   Press releasesProfiles   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
Almost half of spa survey respondents are unaware cancer is a disability and not adapting treatments is discrimination
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Solmar Hotels and Resorts offers Temazcal ceremony for Global Wellness Day
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los Cabos.
Mandarin Oriental announces standalone Mansions-branded residences for Abu Dhabi
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
Healing sanctuary Tulah Clinical Wellness opens in Kerala
Tulah Clinical Wellness, a holistic wellness destination, has officially opened in the hills of northern Kerala, India.
+ More news   

FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Longevity in spas: a strategic choice, not a default setting
Longevity has become one of the most debated concepts in contemporary wellness. [more...]

Introducing Silent Loads: Wildsmith’s newest advancement in personalised wellbeing
In a world where imbalance often accumulates quietly, Wildsmith unveils its newest wellbeing innovation: Silent Loads, an approach designed to meet the needs of modern spa guests with precision and depth. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
Seed To Skin

Founded by Jeanette Thottrup in 2018, in Tuscany, Seed to Skin is an award winning skincare line. [more...]
WDT Werner Dosiertechnik GmbH & Co. KG

WDT was founded 40 years ago by Dietmar Werner with the invention of a dosing system for calcium hyp [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
 

+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
09-12 Jun 2026

W3Spa EMEA

Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa, Portugal
+ More diary  
 
ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
 
SPA BUSINESS
SPA OPPORTUNITIES
SPA BUSINESS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026
Uniting the world of spa & wellness
Get Spa Business and Spa Business insider digital magazines FREE
Sign up here ▸
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
Almost half of spa survey respondents are unaware cancer is a disability and not adapting treatments is discrimination
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Solmar Hotels and Resorts offers Temazcal ceremony for Global Wellness Day
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los Cabos.
Mandarin Oriental announces standalone Mansions-branded residences for Abu Dhabi
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
Healing sanctuary Tulah Clinical Wellness opens in Kerala
Tulah Clinical Wellness, a holistic wellness destination, has officially opened in the hills of northern Kerala, India.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai creates Global Wellness Day programme rooted in nature
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day (GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Lithuanian care operator Addere Care has launched a new “wellness care hospital” in Vilnius.
+ More news   
 
FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Longevity in spas: a strategic choice, not a default setting
Longevity has become one of the most debated concepts in contemporary wellness. [more...]

Introducing Silent Loads: Wildsmith’s newest advancement in personalised wellbeing
In a world where imbalance often accumulates quietly, Wildsmith unveils its newest wellbeing innovation: Silent Loads, an approach designed to meet the needs of modern spa guests with precision and depth. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
Seed To Skin

Founded by Jeanette Thottrup in 2018, in Tuscany, Seed to Skin is an award winning skincare line. [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
09-12 Jun 2026

W3Spa EMEA

Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa, Portugal
+ 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
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS