We were recently invited to the Cambria Hotel & Suites Magnificent Mile Chicago to check out the remodeling of the hotel as well as 52Eighty, the tallest rooftop bar in Chicago. As we enjoyed a glass of red wine or two, Lauren Sheets, the Catering Sales Manager, gave us a tour of the new renovated space. We want to share what we learned about this Magnificent Mile Hotel.
We were first shown some of the 3,000 square feet meeting space. Our first stop was 52Eighty, the rooftop bar and lounge. The patio and the lounge could hold up to 110 people for a reception style event. The views that came with the bar and lounge were spectacular, and if you step out on the patio, you could even see a bit of the John Handcock building. The patio is open all year long. That might sound scary during the Chicago winter, but on that chilly November night, we were comfortable.
We also got a taste of what the in-house catering can serve. With a bar that offered red wine, white wine and beer for the event, there were also artisan flatbeds with lamb, chorizo, or mozzarella. Waiters came around with prosciutto wrapped asparagus with cheese, truffle tater tots, and shrimp scallop skewers. If I had to pick my favorite, it would definitely be the lamb. As we thought that the food couldn’t get better, there was dessert. There was cheesecake and caramel apple pie, along with a hot chocolate bar with all sorts of sweet toppings, alcoholic add-ins, and sweet syrups to make any kind of drink you want. It was a sweet way to end the night.
We also got to look around the Superiorer and Michigan meeting rooms. Both spaces provide light and a view of Chicago’s busy downtown on the second level. The Superiorer provides more space, with 1,900 square feet of space that can fit 200 people for a reception setting. If you don’t have an event of that size, you can easily split the room into three rooms known as Superior I, Superior II, and Superior III. Both Superior I and Superior II are 650 square feet and can have up to 60 people for a reception. Superior III is 600 square feet and can hold up to 50 people for a reception. You can even combine two of the three rooms, with Superior I and Superior II making up 1,300 square feet and holding up to 130 people for a reception, while Superior II and Superior III make up 1,250 square feet and hold up to 120 people for a reception. For smaller events and gatherings, there is also the Michigan room that has 840 square feet. It can hold 74 people for a reception and it can be split into two rooms, the Michigan I and the Michigan II. Michigan I has 390 square feet and can hold up to 32 people for a reception, while Michigan II has 450 square feet and can hold up to 40 people for a reception. It’s perfect for small gatherings. Cambia makes it easier to host events or meetings by having in-house AV equipment. That’s one less thing to stress over when planning your conference or reception. You can even use the foyer as a means to extend space for a reception. So whatever the reason, reception for a wedding, a two-day conference for work, or a 10-day incentive welcome dinner, hosting an event at the Cambria will surely be a good choice.
Lauren also took us to see two different guestrooms in the hotel. Each of the renovated 216 rooms comes with high speed Wi-Fi, a custom designed bed, coffee maker, safe, hair dryer, iron, ironing board. A 55” inch TV that comes with Netflix, an executive desk with an ergonomic chair, and large windows for exceptional views of the city. The first was a standard room with enough space to sleep two people. Even the standard room was quite oversized and there was plenty of space to relax. Then we were taken to a King suite which sleeps four. When you first enter the suite, you see the desk on the upper level. Both rooms, as well as other guestrooms in the hotel, contained artwork from a Chicago-based nonprofit called Project Onward, an organization for professional artists that have mental and/or developmental disabilities. As much as we love the sleek modern redesign of the rooms, the eclectic artwork really makes the Cambria unique. So many hotels have the mod looking going for them, but this artwork keeps the rooms from feeling cold. Not to mention that this art work helps those with disabilities make a living. Even if you were to get sick of your room, the Cambria is in the perfect location. Right by the Magnificent Mile, let Chicago be your playground as you eat, shop, and party in the Second City. If you would rather stay in, there are still things to do. You can visit the Barista+Bar for a bite to eat or a craft beer, or even visit the fitness center for those who are health conscious. Of course, you can always visit 52Eighty for a drink and a bite to eat, with happy hour starting at five pm and ending at seven pm every day.
To hold your next event at Cambria, let Global Management Services make all the arrangements for perfect meeting or incentive program.
