Inside the Swanky Virgin Hotel Now Open in Downtown Chicago

By AJ LaTrace Jan 20, 2015, 11:15am CST

It's been a long time in the making, but the world's first Virgin Hotel is now open in downtown Chicago. Sir Richard Branson and crew have spent the last two years making over the 26 story Old Dearborn Bank Building at 203 North Wabash, located just steps away from the Magnificent Mile. The old Art Deco building still sports much of its original finishes, which the Virgin team stated early on that it would try to preserve. However the vintage bank building which previously housed numerous offices now features 250 guest rooms (or "chambers"), a rooftop bar and lounge and full-floor restaurant and lounge space called the Commons Club.

Decked out Virgin's red and white colors, guest rooms come in seven different room sizes/layouts ranging from mini rooms to its two penthouse suites. And for those who are somewhat tech savvy, room service and virtually every device in the hotel's rooms can be controlled from the new Virgin Hotel app. There's still a little bit of work still left to do however, as the rooftop lounge, spa and ground-level coffee and wine bar are not open just yet, but Virgin reps anticipate that everything will be completed and opened by early-mid Spring.