Remarkably, the United States does not yet have a fully-functioning Radisson Blu hotel. Come November 2011, however, and that status will change. On 1 November, the first Radisson Blu hotel in the United States will open its doors in Chicago. The new luxury hotel is located within the 81-storey Aqua skyscraper in the famous windy city. The opening of the new Chicago hotel is being keenly awaited in the luxury travel sector.
The Radisson Blu Chicago occupies the first 18 floors of the Aqua skyscraper. With 334 guest rooms and suites, the luxury hotel brand is hoping to make a dent in the business of other high-end hotel chains like Hilton and Crowne Plaza. Interestingly, despite the Radisson’s reach across Europe, it is under-represented in the United States. The Chicago hotel is an attempt on Radisson’s part to increase its reach in America. The room designs have been supervised by Christian Lundwall. Brit Jim Hamilton took charge of the rest of the hotel and the Italian Filini bistro.
The Radisson Blu brand has positioned its new hotel as a “celebration of Chicago”. The entire hotel takes Chicago’s range of skyscrapers as its inspiration. The theme here revolves around the idea of Chicago being the birthplace of the modern skyscraper. Walk through the lobby to see backlit glass bricks being used to depict the Chicago skyline. The hotel will also house an indoor lap pool, a basketball court, a movie screening room, and an 8,000-square-foot fitness center, alongside an 80,000-square-foot green roof and recreation deck complete with fire pits, pools, gazebos and even a running trail.
