Aloft Hotels, along with Tishman Hotel Corporation and MetLife Investment Management, announced the opening of Chicago’s newest hotel, Aloft Chicago Mag Mile.
The newly-built hotel from Marriott International’s tech-savvy and design-forward brand Aloft, features 337 urban-inspired guestrooms and just over 5,600 square feet of creative, art-inspired meeting spaces, making this the largest Aloft property in North America. Guests will enjoy amenities such as Splash, the indoor pool perched atop the hotel on the 19th floor; Aloft’s signature W XYZ® Bar with an extensive cocktail menu and regular live music programming; Re:fuel by Aloft℠, serving up delicious gourmet-grab-and-go options around the clock; and the state-of-the-art Re:charge fitness center. This property is the first urban example of the updated brand design vision, reflecting Aloft’s history and evolution as a future-focused brand for how tech-savvy, global travelers want hotels to be.
The hotel’s 337 guestrooms feature 65-inch LED televisions, plush platform beds, in-room mini refrigerators, custom Aloft bath amenities by Bliss® Spa, and walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. Accommodation choices range from king and double queen rooms to one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites, all with complimentary, fast internet access.
Since the property occupies the site of the original location of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), the hotel’s atmosphere is infused with art – recalling the acclaimed gallery shows the museum once hosted there. A photo of the original MCA will welcome guests in the lobby with the background on how the art program was approached for Aloft Chicago Mag Mile. This theme is most notably displayed in Aloft Chicago Mag Mile’s meeting and event spaces, which are named after contemporary artists who had exhibited at MCA in the past: Warhol, Escher, Mondrian and Lichtenstein. The various reproduced works from the artists are now on display in each of their namesake meeting rooms. The Warhol room, for example, has poppy flowers as the focal point, displayed as an expansive wall covering. At that time, the museum’s on-staff photographer captured all the shows’ works, mostly in black and white. Fast forward nearly 50 years: the design team has recreated large-scale reproductions of this archival footage with mono-color enhancements. These works can be seen throughout the corridors on floors three through 19.
Other nods to artist history weaving the theme throughout the hotel include: Reproductions of a Chuck Close show in the Presidential Suite and a rooftop-level event space named after Jan van der Marck, who was the first director of the MCA. The 19th floor showcases a “Party People” exhibit that features patrons of the gallery shows at MCA donning tiaras and ballgowns at the sought-after events during that time. Art plaques accompany each piece to tell a bit about the artist and the show that this particular work was featured in.
Just as art is a part of the hotel’s DNA, so is music – something that is reflected in the new design on display at Aloft Chicago Mag Mile, with features such as built-in outlets for amps and microphones. Aloft Hotels offers exceptional global music programming and an unmatched commitment to the world’s hottest emerging talent, which Aloft Chicago Mag Mile will infuse into its programming with Aloft’s signature live music series, Live at Aloft Hotels. As a further commitment to rising musicians, Aloft’s annual Project: Aloft Star global talent competition is aimed at discovering the world’s hottest new music acts. This year’s winner – who will win the chance to record a single with Universal Music Group at Capitol Records – will be playing at the hotel’s grand opening event on November 7. On November 8, the hotel will play host to an event on the Future of Music in partnership with The Verge, where attendees can find out about the latest technology transforming the music industry and enjoy a performance from Chicago electronic music trio Autograf.
“Aloft Hotels are designed with the next generation of travelers in mind, and we’re excited to be unveiling the Aloft Hotel of the future at Chicago Mag Mile – the first urban location to feature the new design vision,” said Bridget Higgins, Senior Global Brand Director, Aloft Hotels. “From the latest tech, to savvy new design, to great live music programming, locals and guests checking into Aloft Chicago Mag Mile can expect a hotel experience that is different from anything they’ve seen before.”
