venue report

Chicago’s Public House lets guests have their cake and eat it, too … in shake form.

With new facilities opening soon, organizers will have more venues to choose from than ever before.

More Than a Last Resort

Though the Chicago Athletic Association hotel has become one of the hottest new properties in Chicago, the history of the building goes back more than a century. The original CAA was established in 1890 with a mission of “providing a setting for athletic, business and social activities.” Founding members included AG Spalding, Cyrus McCormick and Marshall Field.

It’s a cold and dreary Monday in the city, but Chicago Cubs Director of Ticket Sales Andy Blackburn sounds wide awake and full of pep when he gets on the phone. “The vibe at Wrigley Field just feels different this year,” he says with more enthusiasm than a Monday deserves.

Yes, a true blue Cubs fan.

The Chicago area is gaining not one but two new Loews Hotels, marking the brand’s debut in Illinois. First is the Loews Chicago Hotel, a new development two blocks east of North Michigan Avenue that rises 52 stories with 400 guest rooms and 25,717 square feet of meeting space. It’s slated to open in early 2015 and will be the sixth member of Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) within Chicago providing support, expertise and sales services.