Newbuild Riu Plaza hotel lined up for prominent Chicago site
by Lauren Jade Hill | 02 Jan 2022 | Projects

RIU Hotels & Resorts has snapped up a well-located plot in the heart of the Windy City with a view to creating a four-star property with a showstopping sky bar on the 26th floor.
Chicago’s vibrant hospitality scene will soon be boosted by the addition of a striking urban hotel close to the city’s Magnificent Mile.
A new landmark building
As part of its ongoing expansion efforts, Riu Hotels & Resorts has acquired a plot of land at 150 East Ontario Street in the bustling Streeterville neighbourhood, which has been earmarked for a major development. It’s envisaged that the four-star Hotel Riu Plaza Chicago will be housed within a newbuild skyscraper rising up to 28 storeys and comprising more than 350 guestrooms in total.
Construction is expected to begin in spring 2022 and take approximately two years to complete. The building will be designed according to the Chicago School architectural style developed in the city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, said: “We have been working to make this opportunity a reality for several years. It’s a dream location for any investor, right in the heart of the city.
“That’s why I’m so delighted to present this project, which has gone ahead despite numerous difficulties. Chicago is a great tourist destination that complements and enhances our range of urban hotels and strengthens RIU’s commitment to the United States, where we are about to open our fourth hotel, the Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square.”
A growing network
The hotel will cater for both business and leisure travellers, offering a broad range of services in line with the rest of Riu Plaza’s portfolio. Its classic façade will be complemented by modern interiors and venues including a standout 26th-floor sky bar that’ll no doubt deliver impressive views across the Windy City.
Riu Hotels & Resorts will also soon open Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square, increasing the size of the collection to nine properties. The brand currently has sites in Madrid, Panama City, Guadalajara, Berlin, Dublin, Miami, San Francisco and New York.
Moreover, the brand’s gearing up to enter the UK and Canada over the next few years. The group has acquired a building next to London’s Victoria station with plans to open a 435-key property there in 2023, while a 350-key hotel is on the horizon for Toronto.
Related Articles
Mercure books Bucharest for latest Romanian rise
Mar 29, 2023
Mercure Bucharest Cantemir will open in autumn this year following the conclusion of a franchise agreement with local company Sab Serv Expres. City centre refurb The 40-key hotel will operate in a fully refurbished building on Dimitrie Cantemir Boulevard, close to...
IHG expands Saudi Arabia portfolio with Hotel Indigo signing
Mar 29, 2023
This signing is representative of IHG’s ongoing support for the Saudi Vision 2030, which includes the endeavour to bring new hospitality experiences to developments across the Kingdom. Growth across Saudi Arabia The new Hotel Indigo Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City...
Hilton to debut DoubleTree in Nagpur
Mar 28, 2023
DoubleTree by Hilton Nagpur is the result of a signing with Abhijit Realtors and Infrastructure Private Limited and marks the brand’s entry into Maharashtra’s third-largest city. Contemporary offerings Scheduled to open in early 2026, the upscale hotel will aim to...
Project of the Week: Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai
Mar 27, 2023
Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai will occupy floors 16 to 38 of the 64-level luxury skyscraper. Top tower Wasl Tower will consist of 229 residential units, 258 rooms as part of the Mandarin Oriental hotel, 185,345 sq ft of office space, and 11 parking floors. The...
Ennismore moves Maison Delano into Asia
Mar 27, 2023
Maison Delano Seoul is being styled as a ‘bustling cocoon’ and will be located in the affluent Gangnam district. Going global Delano, which first appeared in Miami in 1995, was a pioneer in redefining the lifestyle resort concept. Ennismore is now taking the brand...
Hilton’s luxury Orlando resort on track for Q4 completion
Mar 24, 2023
Conrad Orlando will be within the Evermore Orlando Resort, becoming the latest addition to the hotel group’s high end Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand. Comprehensive redevelopment Developed by Dart Interests, the 1,100-acre resort complex is a comprehensive...
ABOUT THE CHAIN
RIU Hotels & Resorts was founded in Mallorca, Spain in 1953 as a small summer business for the Riu family, and is currently owned by TUI and the Riu family, and run by the third generation of the family.
-
US group travel hotel line rebrands
29 Mar 2023 -
Mercure books Bucharest for latest Romanian rise
29 Mar 2023 -
IHG expands Saudi Arabia portfolio with Hotel Indigo signing
29 Mar 2023 -
Deep dive with Yuthachai Charanachitta, CEO, Onyx Hospitality Group
29 Mar 2023 -
Marriott undertakes senior leadership reshuffle
28 Mar 2023
Newsletter
Subscribe to receive hotel industry news you can use!