ART EVERY COLLECTOR SHOULD STAY AT THE RITZ-CARLTON IN CHICAGO

By Rebeca Herrero

The Water Tower, once the most famous luxury building in Chicago, built in the 1970’s is currently a landmark that now houses the newly renovated Ritz Carlton Hotel. Situated in the Magnificent Mile and with great views of Lake Michigan, the sense of luxury its private entrance provides makes for the most ideal journey destination for the business class clientele or the discerning art collector that wants to enjoy one of the flagship hotels of the luxury hospitality brand in the world.

As you enter, the elevator takes you to the lobby on the 12th floor, giving it an additional sense of privacy that only true luxury can provide. The beautiful décor designed by Billy Quimby of San Francisco-based design firm BAMO is exquisite. The service continues to be top of the line and even though this particular Ritz-Carlton has been here for 40 years, it had a licensing deal with the Four Seasons brand for decades, making it a particularly unique hotel, named with the Ritz Carlton brand but managed by what turned out to be their competitor.

The umbrella hospitality brand that owns the Ritz-Carlton franchise, Marriott, was able to finally acquire the hotel, sitting atop one of the most exclusive areas, surrounded by high end shopping stores in the vicinity known as the Gold Coast. Take a walk through that ritzy neighborhood and you are captivated by the splendor of the Windy City. Each suite has enormous space for the guest, including walking closets, spa-like fixtures within beautiful and elegant wallpaper, that makes you desire not to leave the room at all.

The high-quality restaurants and bar service, only this five star Hotel and what it can deliver, are also a delight. Watching families, businesspeople and celebrities stay at this staple of elegance, where the meals are concocted in special ways by renowned chefs, engulfs you in an array of superior and relaxed feel. The Spa is extremely spacious, operates to the highest level, the indoor pool is designed for the tough winters as well as for summery days, and going to the steam is one of the perks of this excellent amenity.

The Presidential Suite stands out as a unique area of the property. Here the artwork which belongs to the actual owner of the hotel, consists of several high-end names in the art world, and all the details the suite has to offer engulfs you in a highly decorated venue of luxury for

Torali is the hotel’s new signature restaurant offering seafood and steak world VIPs that enjoy the best of the best globally. Its museum-esque finishing is perfect for a business celebration that requires the ultimate luxury ambiance. The bathrooms are complete with marble finishes and gold details reminiscent of modern Italian design with a very Art Deco feel. The 434-room hotel underwent a $100 million renovation that was unprecedented, making it one of the most breathtaking projects a major hotel has gone through in recent years. The lobby also has a handblown glass installation created by the Czech glass brand Lasvit. www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/Chicago suites allow you to have an experience of luxury like no other hotel nationwide. allow you to have an experience of luxury like no other hotel nationwide.

Another of the art pieces is the “Wallpaper with Blue Floor Interior” by Roy Lichtenstein located in the lobby area.