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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

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  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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Uniting the world of spa & wellness
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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.
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Taking GLP-1s is linked to falls in physical activity
People taking GLP-1 weight loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound may be losing weight, but they’re also becoming less physically active, according to new research presented at the ENDO 2026 annual meeting of the Endocrine Society
Synergy The Retreat Show launches resource for retreat business leaders to showcase specialisms
Global retreat trade show, Synergy The Retreat Show, has launched a resource called The Source, which hosts an open-access online Transformation Series programme.
The SATCC announces first five-day Living with Cancer and Beyond retreat
The Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care (SATCC) charity has announced its first five- day Living with Cancer and Beyond retreat, which will be held at Carden Park Hotel and Spa in Cheshire, UK, between 1 and 5 September.
Palazzo di Varignana launches family wellbeing and longevity retreat in Emilia Romagna
Palazzo di Varignana, in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, has created a new tailored health programme designed specifically for families.
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The Longevity Show

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03-05 Jul 2026

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ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

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Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
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