Following a $25 million renovation that transformed the House of Blues Hotel into the Hotel Sax Chicago, the property hosted a two-night event on March 13 and 14 for its big reveal. Benefiting Gilda's Club Chicago, a cancer charity named after comedian Gilda Radner, and Lumity, a nonprofit that helps other charities through donations of technological equipment, the events tied together four floors of entertainment with a purpose. A silent auction, displayed in one of the hotel's meeting rooms, raised more than $12,000 for the causes.
The event also served to show off the hotel and its surrounding Marina City complex. "We wanted to be able to display the hotel's interesting capabilities, as well as the interconnection between the hotel and its Marina City neighbors," said Hotel Sax director of marketing Adam Kaplan, referring to the complex's mix of restaurants and entertainment options. While the hotel catered the first night's party, sister restaurants Bin 36 and A Mano (both located within Marina City) provided food at various stations for the second evening's event.Hosting 1,000 people on the first night and 1,300 the second (hotel- and hospitality-industry types and Chicago's social set were represented on the guest list), the invitation-only events took over several of the hotel's floors. More than 35 hotel managers, plus a passel of PR reps, event planners, and hotel staff, led guests from room to room, a task that proved to be a challenge, with hotel elevators often maxed out. However, the flow between floors where the parties took place—the presidential suite on the 16th floor, the Jennifer Lopez- and Red Hot Chili Peppers-designed suites on the 12th floor, the sixth-floor Microsoft suite, and the fourth-floor meeting and event spaces—continued unabated throughout the evening.
Technology was ever-present, with highlights including a limited-edition, lipstick-red Yamaha piano signed by Elton John that was played remotely by a pianist in New York, and a Spanish percussionist whose instrument was a high-tech suit. "We spent the most time planning the technological aspects and the entertainment to show the technology associated with our luxury hotel," Kaplan said. The planning process began last year, and by necessity was based around the building's completion. Produced by Big City Events, the parties also included lighting and flowers by Kehoe Designs. The crowds ended up in the hotel's lobby-level Crimson Lounge each night, where celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson spun.
The event also served to show off the hotel and its surrounding Marina City complex. "We wanted to be able to display the hotel's interesting capabilities, as well as the interconnection between the hotel and its Marina City neighbors," said Hotel Sax director of marketing Adam Kaplan, referring to the complex's mix of restaurants and entertainment options. While the hotel catered the first night's party, sister restaurants Bin 36 and A Mano (both located within Marina City) provided food at various stations for the second evening's event.Hosting 1,000 people on the first night and 1,300 the second (hotel- and hospitality-industry types and Chicago's social set were represented on the guest list), the invitation-only events took over several of the hotel's floors. More than 35 hotel managers, plus a passel of PR reps, event planners, and hotel staff, led guests from room to room, a task that proved to be a challenge, with hotel elevators often maxed out. However, the flow between floors where the parties took place—the presidential suite on the 16th floor, the Jennifer Lopez- and Red Hot Chili Peppers-designed suites on the 12th floor, the sixth-floor Microsoft suite, and the fourth-floor meeting and event spaces—continued unabated throughout the evening.
Technology was ever-present, with highlights including a limited-edition, lipstick-red Yamaha piano signed by Elton John that was played remotely by a pianist in New York, and a Spanish percussionist whose instrument was a high-tech suit. "We spent the most time planning the technological aspects and the entertainment to show the technology associated with our luxury hotel," Kaplan said. The planning process began last year, and by necessity was based around the building's completion. Produced by Big City Events, the parties also included lighting and flowers by Kehoe Designs. The crowds ended up in the hotel's lobby-level Crimson Lounge each night, where celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson spun.
A pianist in New York remotely played a limited-edition, Elton John-signed piano.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
Displays of silhouetted dancers were attention-grabbers throughout the night.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
The ballroom's artwork served as a screen for one of the evening's dancers.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
A percussionist equipped with a MIDI (that's a musical instrument digital interface) suit entertained along with the DJ.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
A poker game took place in the presidential suite on the hotel's 16th floor.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
Rock-star wannabes got in the spirit of the Red Hot Chili Peppers-designed junior suite.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
The sixth-floor Microsoft technology suite features media centers, Zune MP3 players, Xbox 360 Elite stations, laptops, and a Studio Host.
Photo: Eric Craig for BizBash
