The Peninsula Chicago is Merry and Bright...And Your BEST Holiday Destination
The stockings might be hung by the chimney with care, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of time to celebrate the holiday season! Chicago is still full of spirit, with delicious holiday meals you can still order to-go plus plenty of gifting destinations ready for last-minute shoppers. And if you’re really short on time (but high on Christmas spirit), you can head to The Peninsula Chicago {108 East Superior Street, Chicago; 312.337.2888} to fill all your holiday needs just in time for Santa’s upcoming visit.
The Peninsula Chicago’s Director of Catering and Style, Gregory Hyder, has worked with the whole hotel team to create a one-stop destination for all your holiday needs both big and small 🎄 They’re showing off the best the city has to offer in terms of Christmas magic, and are here to help you every step of the way….
We hear you’re often called the "Mr. Holiday" for The Peninsula! What does your role entail this holiday season?
I think of myself as ‘Mr. Holiday’ in real life, so I’m lucky to participate in helping make special experiences possible for our hotel guests. This has always been a key part of my role, but especially this year we are thinking of more fun and creative ways to help people celebrate. In my role, I help with ideas on how to decorate the hotel for the festive season, making sure guests that want a holiday experience receive a special, memorable moment custom created by the hotel, and helping guests celebrate at home. We partner across all our departments to have a seamless experience. This year we even created a special video where I was able to play Santa and read our seasonal children’s book. No matter what the circumstance we also find a way to have fun and make it unique.
via The Peninsula Chicago
How is the hotel welcoming people in your doors right now while still keeping us all safe?
The Peninsula Chicago is committed to ensuring the safety and health of our guests and employees remains our top priority.
These protocols include but are not limited to: taking guests’ and employees’ temperatures upon arrival; all staff and guests being required to wear masks in public areas; hourly sanitization of high touch point surfaces in public areas; flexible and contactless check in/check out and a contactless room service delivery option; 24-hour delay between last guest and housekeeping servicing room and next guest arrival; reservations being required for fitness facility and pool access to limit capacity; and so much more!
During the early stages of the pandemic our hotel manager sought professional advice from Rush and Northwestern Hospitals regarding their standard of safety protocols. The hotel subsequently implemented the hospital protocols following their guidelines!
Our team has become accustomed to the health protocols and in doing so, has put our guests at ease, ensuring their confidence in the hotel’s implementation of the state’s health and safety guidelines. (You can download a full copy of the protocols here).
And how can we take that Peninsula magic home with us too?
Shanghai Terrace and The Lobby continue to offer food To-Go so you can enjoy a wonderful meal in the comfort of your own home! Entertaining At Home is another way for guests to take the Peninsula magic home. This program includes a variety of menu options for intimate gatherings this winter!
For the holiday, Christmas To-Go offers guests the option of large full dinners for six to eight people with entrée choices of prime rib, spiral ham or roasted whole turkey. Individual dinner options are available as well with prime rib or turkey. Plus we have Afternoon Tea To-Go on select weekends in December!
The hotel has become a one-stop shop for a variety of holiday gifting and experiences. What are some we might not already know about?
There are a variety of last-minute gifts available for purchase at The Peninsula Chicago, including gift certificates that can be applied toward hotel stays, restaurant and spa experiences and even parking. Also, in The Spa, we carry several product lines including Subtle Energies and Biologique Recherche (the Peninsula is the only location in Chicago to sell these products). There is a selection of athletic wear, candles, throws and more available in The Spa too!
The hotel is also selling holiday ornaments featuring characters from the annual ‘Stories from the Tree’ holiday campaign. This year’s featured character is the Red Robin. What’s most important is that $5 from the sale of each ornament is being donated to the Chicago Public Library Foundation.
The House of Krigler Boutique is located on the hotel’s main Lobby Level on the fifth floor. Based in France, this unique shop offers a wide selection of fragrances and candles. And last but certainly not least, The Holiday Shoppe, a pop-up shop located on the ground level at the corners of Rush and Superior Streets, is offering numerous festive gift and houseware items, including Christmas trees, wreaths, centerpieces, garlands and much more. If you haven’t finished your shopping list yet, we are here to help!
You're also giving back to the Chicago community! Tell us how we can all help.
Working at this amazing hotel for so many years and seeing all the hotel has done for our community and area organizations is really something that makes me proud.
This holiday season, we are supporting the Chicago Public Library Foundation with a financial donation from the sale of holiday ornaments and are collecting new and gently used children’s books. Anyone is welcome to donate (there is a special drop off vessel adjacent to the front desk).
We’re continuing our Meal One-for-One program too, where for each meal purchased from The Lobby or Shanghai Terrace, the hotel is paying for a meal for a person in need via the Greater Chicago Food Depository. We launched this program in July 2020, when the hotel reopened. We anticipate underwriting the cost for 20,000 meals by the end of the year and this will continue into June 2021.
Why is giving back and standing together so important for our city?
Maria Zec, regional vice president and general manager for The Peninsula Chicago, has always believed in supporting and giving back to our local community. The hotel supports a variety of organizations annually focused on these beneficiaries: elderly, children and the under-privileged. We’ve been able to raise funds for these organizations as well as our staff volunteers at events. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to give back, especially this year.
How have you been impressed by all the good work the Chicago hospitality industry has done in this tough year?
I’ve been impressed with restaurants that are open and struggling, yet they rise to meet the need of feeding fellow restaurant and hospitality colleagues. Sunda is a good example! They offered free meals to the hospitality community and sold out with 800+ meals. It warms and breaks my heart at the same time. With such generosity, it makes me be very proud to be a part of this incredible, caring industry.
What is the best part of Chicago during the holidays?
I love the unexpected moments I encounter in the city. Of course The Magnificent Mile is illuminated from Oak Street beach to the Chicago River. The holiday spirit is more than evident on Michigan Avenue. But no matter where I am, I love the resiliency of Chicago residents (they brave the cold and elements—and they won’t miss an event just because of weather); The warm, generous, caring and pride-full nature found in Chicagoans. This is evident even in small ways, like a resident helping a visitor find their way to their destination in the city.
via Michigan Avenue Magazine
What is making you feel "merry and bright" this holiday season?
I feel especially festive this year primarily as I have had more time at home to pull out all the stops to decorate for the holiday. One tree was not enough, so I decorated four trees on our main living level! I know there is a fresh Christmas tree shortage as more people expect to be home for the holidays this year. The tree shortage is not due to me over buying trees for my home I promise. We all want to help everyone smile and get through this together.
What does the hotel have planned for 2021?
Planning for 2021 is already underway at the hotel. We are looking forward to welcoming our guests back for leisure, business trips as well as a return to hosting meetings, weddings, business events, and making special memories for guests. It will be so wonderful to have guests dining in at Shanghai Terrace, The Lobby and enjoying a cocktail at Z Bar again.
The hotel is celebrating its 20th birthday in 2021 so we are excited to have another reason to raise a glass! I hope all of Chicago will join in our year of festivities!
There is so much to love about the holidays in Chicago 🎄 Make last minute holiday plans by checking out one of our favorite spots in the Culinary Guide or hitting up on of these festive event spots!
Interview by Kaleigh Glaza | Market Editor