Chicago’s Landmark Hotel: The Peninsula Celebrates 20 Years in the Windy City

Chicago’s Midwestern hospitality is known nation, and even worldwide. Whether you’re a local who just needs an insider tip, someone from a neighboring suburb, or a visitor from a far off place, Chicagoans love to showcase all their town has to offer. This is especially true for the city’s hotels, who strive to create a home-away-from-home feeling for their guests. A deep dedication and genuine kindness are at the heart of the success of hotels like The Peninsula Chicago {108 East Superior Street, Chicago; 312.337.2888}, which is currently celebrating its 20 year anniversary.

This Fall, every visitor to The Peninsula can partake in unique celebratory experiences, including those at the hotel’s famed food and beverage destinations: Shanghai Terrace, Z Bar, and The Lobby. Visitors can embark on a culinary journey that highlights the past 20 years with a selection of Peninsula “Culinary Classics”! Try the bespoke 20th anniversary dim sum dumpling, featuring 20 ingredients, which is available at Shanghai Terrace, and you can always toast with The Pen20 at Z Bar, a specialty cocktail embodying The Peninsula’s cultural influences.

For the last two decades, the team at The Peninsula Chicago has been providing spectacular service for everyone who walks through its doors - whether just for a drink or for a memorable stay - and they’re gearing up to make the remainder of 2021 an extra special one. To get ready for all this excitement, Andrea Azara, Executive Assistant Manager, Food & Beverage at The Peninsula Chicago, invites us into the iconic destination for a celebration with The Peninsula team...

DI4W: How did you come to join The Peninsula team? 

Azara: I started my hospitality career in Europe and had a variety of experiences abroad following extensive training in hospitality. The Peninsula Hotels are known as the best hotel company in the world and I wanted to work for the best. 

I joined The Peninsula Shanghai as Beverage Manager in 2009 and then moved to The Peninsula Beijing as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage in 2015. In 2019 I moved to The Peninsula New York as Director of Food & Beverage and finally, I just moved to The Peninsula Chicago in June of this year as Executive Assistant Manager, Food & Beverage.

The hotel has a big birthday this year! What can we expect for this milestone? 

Reaching this milestone is meaningful on multiple levels for our team. Not only have most of our food and beverage team worked for The Peninsula Chicago for years, but they have also developed relationships with our guests and continue to find unique ways to surprise and delight our customers. Many of our guests return regularly due to the connection and relationships they have built with our staff. 

We’re all about taking care of our community, and always have been. For example, starting back in July of 2020 through this summer, The Peninsula Hotels provided a meal for a meal donation for a person in need for every meal purchased at every hotel. This was arranged to benefit each hotel community’s primary food bank, including The Greater Chicago Food Depository here. At The Peninsula Chicago, this donation represented more than 26,000 meals provided to people in need within the last year. 

Now, in honor of the hotel’s 20th anniversary, The Peninsula Chicago has revived some favorite menu items from the past 20 years as well as created some new highlighted items in honor of this milestone. For every purchase of a ‘Culinary Classic’ menu item, anniversary dim sum appetizer and Pen20 cocktail, the hotel is continuing to donate to the community, in this case with money to provide meals for those in need through December 2021. This donation is expected to provide an additional 20,000 meals from this extended commitment. We’re so honored to be able to continue to give back to this city, both to our guests and beyond.

What is your favorite item on the anniversary menu at The Peninsula Chicago?

While I love all the ‘Culinary Classics’, my favorite anniversary item is Shanghai Terrace’s Anniversary Dim Sum appetizer. The dumpling wrapper is very celebratory, with multiple pastel colors, all made from a variety of vegetables. The filling includes 20 ingredients (providing the connection to the number 20) and was the winning dumpling at the first ever “Dumpling Fest” in Chicago a few years ago. A ‘winner’ all the way around!

How are Chicago and The Peninsula intrinsically linked in the world of hospitality? 

The Midwest is known for being friendly and welcoming to visitors—Chicago residents are no exception. It is not uncommon for locals to offer advice on directions or simply share good morning greetings with strangers and passersby. I’ve experienced this first hand as a newcomer to the city. Their pride is refreshing and contagious.

The Peninsula Hotels have become known worldwide for providing exceptional, attentive service. The key for our brand is that our service is customized to the type of experience each of our guests expects.  We may provide a more hands-on experience for one guest and a reserved, discreet service level for the next. Its about understanding what each guest wants and anticipating their service expectations in advance. It is a very intuitive approach to providing service. 

At The Peninsula Chicago, since we opened 20 years ago, we have characterized our service as, ‘Midwestern Hospitality, combined with Far Eastern Graciousness’, which is described as the warm, friendly, caring nature you find in Midwesterners blended with the reserved, discreet, refined, subtle type of service one would find in Asia. It is a very special approach to service that is sophisticated and yet very approachable. We can bring a little of the Chicago spirit, mixed with the expertise and attentiveness our hotels are known for.

What are you looking forward to most for the remainder of the 20th anniversary year? 

I’m looking forward to a busy fall followed by a very full festive season. As this is my first time experiencing The Peninsula Chicago during the holidays, I understand I’m in for a real treat! The décor is colorful and bountiful and brings the hotel to life! Plus there are numerous event and celebratory offerings here including Breast Cancer Awareness initiatives with donations from afternoon tea; Halloween and Ugly Sweater parties in Z Bar; Thanksgiving and Christmas Brunches; and festive holiday afternoon tea (benefitting Chicago Public Library Foundation). I can’t wait! I look forward to welcoming and meeting our Chicago fans. 

By Kaleigh Glaza | Market Editor