Chicago's First JW Marriott Hotel Opens In Historic Burnham Building

JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts is a luxury brand within the Marriott International, Inc. global family of brands. Featuring neoclassical design, the new JW Marriott Chicago hotel will occupy the first 12 floors of the former Continental & Commercial National Bank Building at 151 W. Adams St., the hotel -- part of a $396 million restoration spearheaded by architectural firm Lucien Lagrange & Associates -- will boast 610 well-appointed guestrooms including 29 corner suites and more than 44,000 square feet of meeting space, including 36 meeting rooms, a beautiful 8,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom and the awe-inspiring 6,000-square-foot foot Burnham Ballroom with its original domed ceiling. In addition, the property will feature a 20,000-square-foot world class spa and fitness center, Valeo; and two different dining options -- The Florentine, an Italian steakhouse created by the BLT Restaurant Group, and a lounge serving more casual plates and sushi.

JW Marriott Chicago's 610 guestrooms will offer in-room coffee/tea or nightly turndown service and headboards equipped with reading lights. Double/king rooms will average 455 square feet and suites will average 960 square feet. All rooms have 10-foot ceilings with handcrafted crown molding and bathrooms clad in Italian marble, featuring stand-alone tubs, separate marble showers, expansive mirrors, terry bathrobes and world class toiletries. Forty-two-inch flat-panel high-definition televisions with full IPTV access through the Roomlinx system, Marriott "Plug In Panel" A/V stations and Wi-Fi capabilities are standard, and all guestrooms will offer a well-stocked honor bar. This is the first Marriott branded hotel to feature a full IPTV system with a personal computer that allows each guest full access to the Internet for business use or to stream their favorite TV program or movie.

For guests desiring additional amenities or extra space, the hotel will offer an executive level and three well-appointed specialty suites. Plus, the hotel will feature more than 44,000 square feet of flexible meeting space spanning three floors. For business, two ballrooms -- 8,500 square feet and 6,000 square feet -- are paired with 36 breakout rooms of varying sizes, including five boardrooms. Wireless high-speed Internet and videoconferencing capabilities will be available in all rooms. In addition, a Virtual Meetings by Marriott system featuring Cisco TelePresence technology will enable small groups to meet with colleagues around the world in real time. Other notable features include the availability of green meeting packages and customizable menus for meetings and events. The Burnham Ballroom offers 6,000 square feet of continuous space with no pillars or airwalls, plus the domed ceiling from the original bank building.

Valeo is the hotel's 20,000-square-foot spa and features its trademarked Clarity Chamber -- a modern approach based on ancient Greek and Roman bathing rituals or Turkish baths. Inside the stone-appointed space, guests enter an atmosphere of complete warmth, where heat radiates through a working fireplace, warm benches and a central marble "belly" stone. Visitors are invited to lie down to fully absorb the radiant heat. Valeo's fitness center will feature all of the amenities expected from a world-class spa including cardio and circuit training equipment from Life Fitness and Hammersmith. Attached to the fitness center, Valeo will feature a large pool for laps or casual bathing as well as the most therapeutic whirlpool in the Midwest. JW Marriott Chicago's whirlpool features multiple stations of 90-PSI water jets to massage various orthopedic positions from the lower back to the neck. In addition to traditional therapeutic and Swedish massage therapy treatments, Valeo will offer its exclusive GeMessage services featuring corresponding crushed gemstones and herbal energy oils tailored to particular needs. For those days when a quick manicure, pedicure or massage is needed, Valeo will also offer a 3,000-square-foot street-level space located directly above the spa featuring more than a dozen unique hair, nail, skin and massage services available in under 30 minutes. A full array of exclusive products and merchandise will also be sold.

The Florentine, the hotel's 125-seat, three-meal-a-day restaurant and the newest concept from BLT Restaurant Group, offers a seasonal and substantial menu of Italian-American fare with a distinct Chicago sensibility. An adjacent, upscale bar will serve fine spirits and specialty beers as well as handcrafted fresh juice cocktails and an extensive list of wines from around the world. For a more casual experience, the JW Marriott Chicago will offer a lobby lounge, catering to hotel guests and financial district business types alike. In all venues, menus will include a variety of light and healthy choices. Individual room reservations will be available beginning Nov. 11, 2010, with introductory rates from $179 to $329. For more information, call 312-660-8200 or visit www.jwmarriottchicago.com.