Prevue January/February 2016 - (Page 82)

Silversmith Hotel Groups find a gem of a hotel in Downtown Chicago's Loop [ON LOCATION] BARBARA SCOFIDIO E very interior detail of the Silversmith Hotel, a newly renovated downtown Chicago boutique hotel, is bejeweled. The stylish chandeliers extending from the ultra-high lobby ceiling simply drip with crystals. The tables in the new restaurant/lounge, Adamus (the name itself a nod to the ancient Latin term for diamond), are actually jewelry cases sprinkled with diamonds on black velvet. The cocktail tables are clear Lucite gems. This gemstone-and-silver theme extends throughout the 144-room hotel-in the artwork, lighting and soft goods, right down to the faceted guest room lamps. The level of detail by the interior designers at Leo A Daly is simply extraordinary. WHAT'S WITH ALL THIS BLING? The Silversmith is located right in the middle of Jeweler's Row, the city's diamond district, tucked away on South Wabash beneath the roaring elevated train (which is barely audible from inside). At first glance, the location doesn't feel like the Chicago visitors would expect. But turn the corner one block in either direction and you realize it couldn't be better: directly across the street from "The Bean" in Millennium Park and just a few blocks' stroll to the Miracle Mile. Shopping is a given, with Chicago's finest being so close by. Macy's on State Street offers groups a downloadable Visitor Savings Pass for 10 percent off. While there, attendees shouldn't miss the two 7-ton clocks known as "The Sentinels of State Street," on the corner of Randolph and Washington, or the 5th floor Tiffany Ceiling. It's the biggest unbroken piece of Tiffany favrile glass in the world. With more than 1.6 million pieces, it's tucked into the heart of the department store. 82 | prevue magazine REDEFINING LUXURY The Silversmith was purchased two and a half years ago and has seen an $11 million investment that touched every square foot. Prevue was among the first to visit its newly redone meeting space, with 5 rooms accommodating up to 100 guests. The ideal meeting group size is between 30 and 40 people. Companies can also accommodate 150 in the restaurant space, which has a beautiful extra-long table at its heart. Located in an 1896 building (which has been a hotel for the past 30 years), the Silversmith is a member of Remington Hotels' independent luxury division, which also manages One Ocean Resort & Spa in Jacksonville and Pier House Resort & Spa in Key West. All of the Remington properties have a relationship with their locations, according to Silversmith General Manager Hans Ritten. The goal is "to integrate a sense of place" into the hotel experience. Ritten has been given the creative opportunity of redefining "luxury" for Silversmith hotels-and all the Remington Hotels'- guests. Companywide, Remington works to develop relationships with local farmers and small craft vendors. One concept Ritten has helped to spearhead is Sensory Direct room service, where guests choose from a menu of farm-to-table items, left at their doors in sleek eco-friendly containers within 10 minutes. "In the past, hotels dictated what luxury was-now the guests are," he says. "Old-fashioned room service doesn't work any more. People don't necessarily want someone coming into their room first thing in the morning. Our guests just love this." silversmithchicagohotel.com http://www.silversmithchicagohotel.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue January/February 2016

Planner’s Pick: Jamaica
Fresh Meets: 3 Hotel Brands to Watch
Bureau Buzz: Myrtle Beach CVB
Good Business: FedEx Ground Honors Our Heroes
Sea Shores: RCI: Anthem of the Seas
Rediscovering Value
EXCLUSIVE & ALL-INCLUSIVE Ramping up offerings & expectations
URBAN TRANSFORMATION How convention centers are shaping communities
FLORIDA: MEETINGS INSPIRED Sunny skies and more than 1,100 miles of coastline create the perfect place to rejuvenate and reward attendees
4 CORPORATE RETREATS FOR 2016 Looking for wellness in all the right places
PARROT CAY [ON LOCATION] A tranquil retreat for wellness and creativity
On Location: The Broadmoor
On Location: Chicago Marriott CRN
On Location: Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun
On Location: Silversmith Hotel
Checkout: Delano Las Vegas, Rivea

Prevue January/February 2016