Anyone who travels to Asia knows that it is nearly impossible to find the same standard of hotels anywhere else. When I first traveled to Hong Kong in 1991, the quality of 4 and 5 star hotels was beyond belief. It felt like the hotels had more staff than they did guests. With Butlers on every floor shining your shoes by simply leaving them in a box that connected the room to the corridor.
Well my recent stay at the Peninsula Chicago certainly took me back to its original roots of their flagship hotel in Hong Kong
Peninsula hotels are one of the most exclusive chains in the world. After the Hong Kong hotel opened they expanded to China, Thailand, the Americas and a few other Asian destinations. But they have never over expanded and are able to keep the Identity of pure opulence. I have experienced their iconic Hong Kong hotel often as well as Bangkok and Beverly Hills.
Arriving at the hotel in Chicago you need to take the elevator up to the lobby area, where there is a lobby restaurant that serves breakfast and tea and feels quite reminiscent of its sister hotel in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
This was all very impressive until I entered the room. I was quite taken aback by the pure plush luxury this hotel offers.
There are iPads that control everything from the television to room temperature and it was so simple to use. As an example, to work the television it had icons of what network you wanted to watch.
Thick plush carpets, spacious marble bathrooms, walk in wardrobe and bed linens that would be fit for royalty.
Talking of which I have never slept so well in my life. I don’t normally sleep too well because I’m constantly on the road with a lot of long-haul travel and working on very strange schedules. This bed just embraced me with layers of high thread count sheets and support. Blackout windows that I love, also helped me in the morning to get that little extra sleep without feeling I have to be up.
The technology in these rooms is quite incredible. You’ve got power stations nearly everywhere. Cords that fit virtually every electronic device and a tea maker with Chinese tea which you would normally only get in Asia.
Housekeeping is as good as it gets. Every attention to detail is implemented. Even after the housekeeper saw my dirty MacBook screen, she had left a new peninsula computer cloth on the side all wrapped up and ready to be used.
Sadly, I was on work and didn’t have very much time to spend in the hotel as I had a lot of meetings and dinners outside of the hotel.
So, this story will have to continue because all I want to do is go back to the hotel, spend more time sleeping and also experience the five-star restaurants they have.
I did try and experience the bar but it seemed to be the hot spot on Michigan Avenue that night so I could not get a seat.
The hotel though was really near to perfection.
It made me want to book a ticket to Hong Kong, well actually I did. It made me miss my favorite city in the whole world so much, that on my last night I called Cathay Pacific and firmed up a trip.
Daniel Green, the Model Cook is a Celebrity Chef known for his healthy approach to food and living well. With TV, books, magazines and live appearances, Daniel spends his time helping fans to cook better, feel better and live better. He’s also an avid traveler and a self-confessed Foodie.
To contact Daniel or learn more visit www.themodelcook.com or follow on Twitter and Facebook.
