The Kimpton Gray Hotel will open in the financial district this spring. With 293 rooms, the hotel will have 13,000 square feet of meeting and event space. On the top floor, a 2,800-square-foot ballroom will have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown Chicago. The room will hold receptions for 280 guests. The hotel will also have a rooftop lounge with a private dining area on its 15th floor, and a library lounge on the second floor. On the ground floor, there will be a restaurant, a Starbucks, and the fast-casual Protein Bar.
From Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Oyster Bah opened in Lincoln Park in December. The restaurant's lower-level "Crab Cellar" seats 30 guests for a private dinner or holds 50 guests for receptions. The room has its own bar. On the menu, New-England-style offerings include clam chowder, lobster rolls, and crispy rainbow trout.
The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel opened on the Magnificent Mile in September. Housed in the landmark McGraw-Hill building, which is decorated with sculptural panels by 1920s artist Gwen Lux, the hotel has an Art Deco theme. There are 15 meeting rooms and more than 15,000 square feet of meeting space. Event spaces include the Terrace Rooftop, which overlooks the Magnificent Mile and holds 150 guests for receptions. The Skyline Ballroom, which is decked with Swarovski chandeliers, holds 350 for banquets. On the 16th floor, the Grand Terrace Suite holds 75 for receptions. The Magnolia Ballroom, which is 3,388 square feet, seats 68 conference-stye.
