Museum of Modern Ice Freezes Windy City With Winter Festival

01-30-2008

Chicago Hotels Celebrate Debut of Massive Ice Art Installation with Packages Offering Cool Rates & Hot Drinks Starting at $139 Per Night

CHICAGO – (January 29, 2008) – This February, Chicago will host its first-ever outdoor winter festival in downtown Millennium Park as the Museum of Modern Ice debuts with an unprecedented, massive colorful ice wall measuring 95 feet long by nearly a dozen feet high.  In celebration of the frosty art exhibition, Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers and The Westin Chicago River North are offering travelers cool packages complete with plush accommodations, hot drinks and valet parking.  Valid throughout the exhibit, lasting until February 29, 2008, nightly rates for the Modern Ice package start at $139 and $159 respectively at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers and The Westin Chicago River North.^*

 

The free exhibit is the first of its kind in the United States and will showcase a masterpiece by Canadian artist Gordon Halloran for the first time in this country.  The centerpiece of the festival is Halloran’s Paintings Below Zero, his largest and most spectacular installation to date.  The artist is inspired by the Canadian landscape and the importance of preserving our natural ice landscapes.  Halloran’s work was highly visible at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino and he is working installations for the 2010 Olympics as well.  The new form of large-scale public art will also boast an embedded abstract ice painting in the park’s ice rink for visitors to glide over the multicolored ice canvas.  Other activities include art projects for kids, treasure hunt, dancing, cultural exhibitions and more.

 

Millennium Park is conveniently located in downtown Chicago and within walking distance from both premier hotels.  With valet parking included in the package, guests can leave car keys in their rooms and head to the free month-long events on foot.  While in town, travelers can also stroll along Magnificent Mile for some retail therapy, head to the Field Museum for some added culture or visit Navy Pier for endless entertainment. 

 

When it’s time to come in from out of the cold, guests can warm up with a complimentary cup of coffee or hot chocolate at the Sheraton’s Java Bar or Westin’s Hannah Lounge. 

 

For reservations at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers please call (312) 464-1000 or visit www.sheratonchicago.com and for The Westin Chicago River North visit www.westinchicago.com or call (312) 744-1900.  When booking, please refer to MOMI rate code.

 

Located in the heart of downtown Chicago at 301 East North Water Street, the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers is ideally situated on the Chicago River, within walking distance of Navy Pier, fabulous Michigan Avenue shopping, Millennium Park, the Loop business district and more. This premier meetings and convention hotel features 120,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space, including a 40,000 square-foot ballroom (the largest hotel ballroom in the Midwest), 34 breakout rooms and a 35,000 square-foot exhibit hall. The hotel’s 1,209 guest rooms and suites feature spectacular views and Sheraton’s ultra-comfortable Sweet Sleeper(SM) bed.  The hotel also features five distinctive restaurants and lounges, including Shula’s Steak House, one of America’s favorites.  Chi Bar, Chicago’s chic new hot spot, was created by renowned designer, Jeffrey Beers.  Chi Bar channels Chicago energy by bringing all the excitement and tradition of the Windy City into one luxe lounge with innovative cocktails, shareable delights and sleek ambiance.  Other amenities include a full-service business center, concierge, health club with massage therapy, sun deck and an indoor pool. 

 

Overlooking the Chicago River at 320 North Dearborn Street, The Westin Chicago River North is centrally located in the heart of Chicago’s business and theatre districts and steps from Millennium Park, fabulous Michigan Avenue shopping and great restaurants. The hotel’s 424 rooms and suites offer beautiful skyline views and feature Westin’s legendary Heavenly Bedâ and invigorating Heavenly Bathâ.  The recently refreshed Westin Executive Club^® Level showcases guestrooms with iMAC computers, iPod docking stations, 32-inch flat-screen televisions, complimentary high-speed Internet access and ample desk space.  The new Westin Executive Club^® Lounge offers complimentary Wi-Fi, 42-inch flat-screen televisions and more.  For distinctive dining there is Ember Grille, Hana Lounge and Kamehachi Sushi Bar.  Other services and amenities include WestinWorkout® Powered by Reebok, massage therapy, concierge services and a state-of-the-art business center.  For further information visit www.westinchicago.com or call (312) 744-1900.

 

###

*Based on availability, double occupancy and does not include tax or service charge.  Complimentary valet parking valid for one vehicle per room, per stay.  One hot beverage per person, per stay.

[Back to Press Releases Main]