Archive for ◊ February, 2009 ◊

24 Feb 2009 Be our guest. A night in the Ambassador East Hotel
Author: Emily |  Category: Properties, Road Trip  |  Tags: ,  | One Comment

When I was given the opportunity to stay at the Ambassador East hotel I immediately jumped at the chance! With the hotels famous back catalog of celebrities that have walked the halls and have stayed in the rooms at the Ambassador East was an exciting feeling itself and to be able to enjoy the same feeling they got when they stayed here. Pulling up to the hotel, I was greeted right away with a friendly “hello” from the car valet and immediately felt the star treatment had begun. more…

18 Feb 2009 Timeless tales & historic happenings at the Ambassador East Hotel
Author: Emily |  Category: Properties, Road Trip  |  Tags: ,  | 45 Comments

Byfields Lounge

Byfields Lounge

 Since 1926 The Ambassador East Hotel has been an important feature in Chicago’s ‘Gold Coast’. Originally a two hotel complex consisting of the Ambassador East and West, this unique set up meant that sometimes when guests checked into one Ambassador hotel they would discover their room was located in the other Ambassador hotel! To solve this problem the hotel had underground tunnels built beneath the road that lead from one hotel to the other allowing guests to avoid the hustle and bustle of the streets of downtown Chicago. Two tunnels ran parallel to one another. One was the servant’s tunnel and the other, the guest. This tunnel was known as Sarah Siddon’s Walkway, the woman famed for bringing theatre to America. more…

14 Feb 2009 Stepping back in time: History of the Pump Room
Author: Emily |  Category: Chatter at work, Properties  |  Tags: , ,  | 41 Comments
Pump Room Bar

As much a landmark as the famous skyline of Chicago, The Pump Room at the Ambassador East Hotel has become an integral part of the history of the city.  Built in 1938 along with the hotel itself, Ernie Byfield, Hotel Manager and owner created a legend. The restaurant, named after a famous location at the resort town of Bath, England, where Queen Anne and high society would go to relax after a busy day. The name the Pump Room is derived from the fact that the drinks were pumped into the guests cocktails. The Pump Room wan an instant hit with the Chicago social scene where both Chicago socialites and celebrities mingled. more…

03 Feb 2009 InterContinental Chicago O’Hare in The New York Times
Author: Emily |  Category: Uncategorized  | 2 Comments
A suite at the InterContinental O'Hare in Chicago

A suite at the InterContinental OHare in Chicago

I just had a friend email me over the weekend with some news. Our new InterContinental Chicago O’Hare Hotel which opened in September - check the archives for more on that story - was mentioned in The New York Times. The story is called “Airport Hotels That Invite Lingering” and talks about new hotels that have recently opened around the world and how they are changing the image of airport hotels.

To read the full story, click here. To learn more about our hotel, click here or go to www.icohare.com and tell them Emily sent you.
02 Feb 2009 Get the scoop on your Monterey stay
Author: Emily |  Category: Announcements, Properties  |  Tags: , , , , ,  | Leave a Comment

Here is a hotel blog site that gives some great information on hotels based in Monterey California such as Hotel Pacific, Monterey Bay Inn, Victorian Inn, and the Spindrift Inn. The site offers tips on things to see and do along with ideas on where to go to eat along with many more interesting facts. This blog is definitely of interest to travelers planning spring break or getting an early start on their summer vacation plans!

Click here to view the Inns of Monterey http://www.innsofmonterey.com/