LEADERS

ONLINE

One bedroom Suite Living Room.tif

A suite living room in the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago


311 O'Callaghan.tif

T. Colm O’Callaghan

Chicago’s New Build,
from the Ground Up

Editors’ Note

Prior to assuming the roles of Hotel Manager of The Peninsula Chicago in 2002 and General Manager of Conrad Chicago in 2005, Irish native Colm O’Callaghan worked at hotels throughout Europe and the United States, including New York’s renowned St. Regis Hotel. In November 2006, he was hired into his current position as Vice President and Managing Director of Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago.

Property Brief

Located in downtown Chicago, Trump International Hotel & Tower (www.trumpchicago.com) offers private residences, including 486 studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, and two-, four-, and five-bedroom penthouses, in an elegant hotel-style setting. Residences feature floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of Lake Michigan, the Chicago River, and the city skyline; 10-foot ceilings, with 13- to 16-foot ceilings in the penthouses; hardwood floors and solid wood interior doors; spacious walk-in closets; washers and dryers; fireplaces; and individually controlled air-conditioning and heating.

How will the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago be positioned in the Chicago market?

Our location sets us apart from the other luxury players. The hotel, just north of the Chicago River, is ideal for both the patron who wants to stay near historical Water Tower Place and the luxury customer who wants to experience the cultural attractions that are located a short distance south of the river, in addition to the appeal of the river itself. The Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago is a new build, from the ground up. The second-tallest building in the city after the Sears Tower, it’s going to sit 92-stories tall. Located near the Tribune Tower and the historical Wrigley building, it’s stunning architectural appeal will change an already dramatic skyline.

I think how we’re positioned in the luxury market is determined by our location, product, and service. As a hotel, our minimum room size is 600 square feet, which is the largest in the city. Our rooms have fireplaces and kitchens or kitchenettes, which make us an ideal spot for extended-stay guests. On top of our special amenities, we have an Attaché service. The sole job of our Attaché team is to customize the experience of our guests and to provide them with everything they need for the perfect stay, including requested groceries to fully stock their in-room refrigerators. It’s a service that will be available only at our hotel, along with many other special features.

When it opens, will there be separate hotel and residential components?

Yes, the hotel will be on levels 14 through 28, and levels 29 through 92 are high-end residential. There will be one entrance and two separate lobbies, one for hotel use and one for the condominiums.

Some of the trends in the luxury end of the industry are focused around food and beverage, celebrity chefs, and restaurants. What’s your main focus in this area?

Some of the most distinctive features of the building are on the food and beverage side. At a time when many hotel operators are backing away from the food and beverage business, we truly believe that our space and personnel will be second to none in the city. Our banquet space will have 28-foot floor-to-ceiling windows in the ballroom – the views will be spectacular. Our restaurant Sixteen just so happens to be on the 16th floor, with a terrace that overlooks the Chicago River, Lake Michigan, and the Wrigley building, providing a fabulous panoramic view of the area. It will be run by Chef Frank Brunacci, who spent many years running some of the finest kitchens in the Ritz-Carlton group. He is talented and passionate. Plus, it’s going to have an extraordinary wine gallery. There will be another lounge/bar on the mezzanine level that somewhat sits atop the Michigan Avenue bridge. The lower position of this restaurant will allow patrons to experience the dynamism of pedestrian traffic on the bridge and boats on the river. So like the upper-level restaurant, it affords a very unique perspective of the city.

What space is being created for high-level meetings and conferences?

We have 20,000 square feet of what is truly the most remarkable banquet space in the city. We have a large ballroom that accommodates 300 people, as well as a second ballroom for 180 people. It’s a space that’s perfect for smaller groups, especially exclusive weddings or high-powered meetings and conferences.

What type of spa do you have planned?

It’s going to be 23,000 square feet, outfitted with a private membership health club, 11 treatment rooms, and a 75-foot-long swimming pool that also overlooks the Chicago River. Each of the treatment rooms will be oversized and furnished with state-of-the-art equipment. Kate Somerville is our signature skin care line, and its signature DermaLucent treatment can be found at the Spa at Trump.

Do you feel that it is imperative to offer such luxuries to be successful?

Absolutely. We’ve got to be creative in what we offer and remarkable in the services we provide. It’s no longer good enough to have a standard hotel restaurant or a modest gym. The luxury consumer needs to be impressed and entertained in an area in which he is equally comfortable finding relaxation. We believe our hotel is uniquely designed to satisfy all those divergent needs.

Some say hoteliers like either to run hotels or build them, but not both. Do you enjoy the development part of the business, and how did you know it was the right opportunity for you?

I was excited about this project from the beginning, and I knew I’d be well suited for the challenge it presented. I’ve got some great people on board that share my passion and drive, and the sense of camaraderie is truly tangible. Everything about this project has lived up to my expectations, and along with my team, I cannot wait to bring it all to life.

As a businessman in an age of e-mail and wireless mobile technology such as cell phones and BlackBerrys, have you mastered the ability to turn it off?

Not at the moment. Ask me again in about six months when I’ve entered the cooling off phase because, right now, it’s just purely exciting and tough to get away from. Then again, that’s what I enjoy most about it, and I would hate to miss out on any part of this experience.