Take a Peek Inside Virgin’s Secretive First Hotel

The world’s first Virgin Hotel is set to open in Chicago this month. Although interiors and specific details about the property are being kept tightly under wraps, here’s what we know guests can expect during their stay.

Virgin Hotel’s secretive Chicago development is getting ready to open this month. Guests can begin staying at the hotel on January 15, and early reservations will be the first to see the hotel and room designs that the company has kept hidden. Despite Virgin’s tight lid on the project, some information about the hotel is available now.

Fee-free add-ons are the biggest deal so far at Virgin Chicago. Forget Wi-Fi charges, inflated minibar prices and room service fees. High-quality Wi-Fi is available for free in every room. The price list in each of the hotel’s minibars is meant to reflect real world prices — meaning no more $20 bottles of water! And not only can room service be ordered from the hotel’s app, but arrives with no delivery or service charge.

Virgin is also putting a patent-pending lounge bed in every room. The beds have customized headboards and a lounging station on one corner that makes working and reading in bed significantly more comfortable. Rooms at the hotel are separated into two areas by sliding doors; one area for showering and getting dressed, and the other for sleeping and living.

The hotel builds on its free amenities theme with a nightly social hour, during which guest can enjoy free drinks. Guests can also relax in the Commons Club, which essentially serves as a socializing room/library/bar/lounge. Other spaces include a rooftop bar and restaurant, a coffee and wine bar, and a classic diner.

Virgin has two more upcoming hotels slated for Nashville in 2016 and New York in 2017. Guests looking to personalize their visit and stay “in the know” about hotel offers and announcements are invited to enroll in The Know — a unique hotel preference program.

[Photos: Virgin & Forbes]