Will close in August 2015 for reno
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/reale...ive-renovation
A two-year renovation of the luxury hotel, which opened in 1975, is set to begin in August when the hotel becomes part of the Ritz-Carlton chain, according to the Chevy Chase, Md.-based Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. Despite its name, the hotel currently is part of the Four Seasons chain.
The renovation on the hotel's public spaces and 429 guest rooms will be “extensive,” said Allison Sitch, a spokeswoman for the Ritz-Carlton chain. Details of the renovation have not been finalized.
The Ritz, 160 E. Pearson St., has been operating under the Ritz-Carlton name under a license agreement signed with a predecessor of the Ritz-Carlton chain and was excluded from the chain's reservation systems. After the integration occurs in August, guests will be able to make reservations on Ritz-Carlton's website and participate in the chain's loyalty programs.
“It will be a partner hotel; we will not be managing it,” Sitch said. “We provide the brand standards under which it is to operate.”
Chicago-based JMB Realty will maintain ownership of the hotel, which is managed by Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. Denver-based Sage Hospitality is set to take over management in August, Sitch said.