A Historic Chicago Building Is Set to Become the First U.S. Outpost of Ruby Hotels

(NEWS) ATLANTA, 2026-Jan-26 — /Travel PR News/ — IHG Hotels & Resorts has confirmed the U.S. debut of its Ruby Hotels brand with a new property planned for downtown Chicago, marking a strategic milestone in the brand’s international expansion. Based on details shared in official announcement, the hotel will be developed and operated by Ruby Group under a 30-year franchise agreement with IHG, and is scheduled to open in 2027 following the transformation of the historic Inn of Chicago building.

Located one block east of the Magnificent Mile, the late-1920s landmark will undergo a comprehensive renovation beginning in the second half of 2026. According to information released by the companies, the project aims to preserve the building’s architectural heritage while introducing Ruby’s design-led, urban lifestyle concept. The reimagined property is planned as a 22-storey hotel with 412 rooms, alongside a redesigned lobby and bar intended to function as a social hub throughout the day and evening.

Plans for the Chicago hotel also include a rooftop terrace and bar overlooking the city skyline, positioning the property as a gathering space for both visitors and local residents. Official project details highlight updated public areas designed around Ruby’s character-rich aesthetic, while guestrooms will feature compact, efficient layouts paired with premium finishes, aligning with the brand’s focus on operational efficiency and value-driven urban hospitality.

The Chicago opening represents Ruby Hotels’ first entry into the U.S. market and comes less than a year after IHG acquired the brand. Based on official updates, the move follows the launch of Ruby’s U.S. development platform and reflects IHG’s broader ambition to scale the brand rapidly, with targets exceeding 120 hotels globally within the next decade and more than 250 over the next 20 years. Ruby currently has 35 hotels open or in its development pipeline across major European cities.

Ruby Group is developing the project in partnership with Berk Properties, an Orange County-based firm with longstanding experience in U.S. luxury residential and hospitality real estate. According to official statements, the Chicago project will also mark the launch of Ruby Group’s operating platform in North America, applying its centralized and automated operating model to deliver efficiency and manage operating risk.

As IHG continues to expand its lifestyle and urban hotel offerings, the Chicago Ruby Hotel is positioned as a flagship entry point for the brand in the Americas, combining adaptive reuse of a historic building with a contemporary hospitality concept tailored to city-centre travellers.