Last year, to celebrate its 30th anniversary, the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago began a hotel-wide, multimillion-dollar renovation. It will be completed this fall, when the hotel reopens. The update included a “reconceptualized” lobby and social lounge; a new restaurant and bar in partnership with James Beard Award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer; newly designed specialty suites and apartments; and enhanced event spaces.

The lobby shifted to a lighter color palette and an open-floor plan. It also received a new day bar and a social lounge with varied seating areas. The hotel is collaborating with Bellosound to curate music programming inspired by Chicago’s music scene. Each track is intended “to make guests feel connected to the city they are in.” Additionally, the lobby will have live entertainment by both local music legends and up-and-coming acts in genres such as jazz, blues and house.

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago has partnered with Food & Wine Magazine “Best New Chef” and James Beard Award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer to open a new signature restaurant and bar. The menu will feature New American cuisine but will also “draw on chef Sawyer’s global experiences,” including from his time living in Italy and France and his travels to Japan and other destinations.

As part of the hotel’s guestroom and suite renovations, the accommodations now have a neutral color palette with blue and gold accents. The top digs—the Presidential Suite—has lake views, a living room with a fireplace, a dining room with seating for eight, a powder room, and two king bedrooms complete with two marble bathrooms. In total, there are 347 rooms and suites.

Additionally, throughout the 7th and 8th Floors, more than 23,000 square feet of event space, including the Grand Ballroom, is being updated with new décor and furnishings.

Good to know: Four Seasons Hotel Chicago will be implementing the brand’s “Lead With Care” health and safety protocols, created in partnership with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, EcoLab and International SOS. Among the new protocols are:

  • An on-property Hygiene Officer focused on implementing enhancements to already stringent procedures
  • Rooms will be disinfected daily with EPA-approved products and will have blacklight inspection by room attendants
  • “Lead With Care” kits will be placed in each guest room, providing masks, hand sanitizer and sanitization wipes, with additional masks supplied on demand
  • Restaurants and bars may operate with reduced capacity to ensure adequate space and socially distant set-up
  • Training focused on educating and empowering employees to deliver the enhanced health and safety program with confidence

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago is led by general manager Stephen Wancha.