Virgin Hotels Chicago Named #1 Hotel In United States By Condé Nast Traveler's 2016 Readers' Choice Awards

The World's Best Hotels, Resorts, Cities, Islands, Airlines, And Cruise Lines

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Oct 18, 2016, 08:00 ET

MIAMI, Oct. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its 29^th annual Readers' Choice Awards with Virgin Hotels Chicago recognized as the #1 Hotel in the United States and Chicago, with a score of 98.1. To celebrate this honor, Virgin Hotels Chicago will offer a special deal for travelers with a 48-hour sale for 25 percent off their stay.*

Virgin Hotels sister company Virgin America, the California-based airline known for reinventing flying, also took the top spot in its category for the ninth year in a row as "Best U.S. Airline." To thank its loyal flyers, Virgin America today launches a network-wide fare sale, with Main Cabin fares as low as $39** (taxes and fees included, restrictions apply) at www.virginamerica.com and at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN*** and must be purchased today by 11:59pm CT.

"It means so much to be named the #1 hotel in the United States by those we care about most -- our guests," said Raul Leal, CEO of Virgin Hotels. "As we celebrate our first year in business and look to the growth of our brand, this award is a true testament of our teammates' hard work to provide guests with a hotel experience they've been missing."

Over 300,000 dedicated readers – nearly twice as many as last year -- cast votes for 7,394 hotels, 606 cities, 500 cruise ships, and 236 islands, in an average survey time of 8.4 minutes. The result? The 1,402 best travel experiences in the world.

Launched in 2015, Virgin Hotels Chicago offers the same excitement, heartfelt service and smart innovation the Virgin brand is known for. Located in the heart of Chicago's Loop district, Virgin Hotels Chicago has racked up critical praise for its brilliant service and unique design that make traveling for business or leisure an easier experience, including a full vanity, make-up desk and mirror, an extra-large shower with a bench, and closets built for two. Virgin Hotels has also taken working from bed to another level with the brand's patented, ergonomically designed bed, making it the ideal space for setting up shop working, recharging or playing.

The Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry and are commonly known as "the best of the best of travel." Under Editor in Chief Pilar Guzmán, the Readers' Choice Awards have become more selective and specific to the passions that inspire today's travelers.

The Readers' Choice Awards are announced in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler, on newsstands nationwide on October 25, 2016. The full list is published exclusively online, at www.CNTraveler.com/rca

Photos of Virgin America's unique aircraft and broadcast quality b-roll can be found here.
Photos of Virgin Hotels Chicago can be found here.

About Virgin Hotels
Virgin Hotels is a lifestyle hospitality brand that combines heartfelt service, straightforward value and a seamless, personalized hotel experience with the track record of innovation and smart disruption that Sir Richard Branson's global Virgin Group has pioneered for over 40 years. Each property will intermix a passion for food and beverage with music and culture, fusing with the local landscape and providing a vibrant and inclusive environment for travelers and locals alike. Virgin Hotels Chicago is now open, with Nashville, Dallas, Palm Springs, New York, Silicon Valley and others to follow. For more information, please visit www.virginhotels.com.

About Virgin America: Known for its mood-lit cabins, three beautifully designed classes of service and innovative fleetwide amenities — like touch-screen personal entertainment, WiFi and power outlets at every seat, Virgin America has built a loyal following of flyers and earned a host of awards since launching in 2007 — including being named both the "Best U.S. Airline" in Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards for the past nine consecutive years. For more: www.virginamerica.com

About Condé Nast Traveler
As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen's bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel. Condé Nast Traveler is the most trusted and celebrated name in travel with 6 National Magazine Award wins and 26 nominations in its 28-year history. Advertising Age named Pilar Guzmán Editor of the Year in 2014 and CNTraveler.com attained 4 Webby Awards since 2015. www.cntraveler.com

*Based on availability. Blackout dates apply. Book by 11:59pmCT on Thursday, 10.20 and stay before February 28, 2017. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

**Main Cabin tickets must be purchased by 11:59 pm CT on Tuesday, October 18, 2016. Fares for SEA, PDX, AUS, ORD, DEN, DAL, JFK-FLL, LAS-SFO, LAX-SFO, LAS-LAX, PSP-SFO, SAN-SFO, and HI are one-way and require a 14-day advance purchase where travel must occur between November 1, 2016 and March 8, 2017. All other markets require a 21-day advance purchase where travel must occur between November 8, 2016 and March 8, 2017. Non-stop service for JFK-PSP begins on November 19, 2016. Lowest sale fares are only valid for travel on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. For Hawaii, lowest sale fares are available Monday – Thursday. Lowest sale fares are available only on certain itineraries. 2016 Blackout dates include: 11/10, 11/14, 11/22–11/28, and 12/22 – 12/31. 2017 Blackout dates include: 1/1 – 1/3, 1/16 and 2/20. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. Flights may not operate daily. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. For travel solely between points in the Continental Western Region (LAS/LAX/PDX/PSP/PVR/SAN/SEA/SFO/SJD only), DEN-SFO and DAL-LAS, changes or cancellations can be made for a $100 fee per guest through all channels, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. For all other itineraries, changes or cancellations can be made for a $150 fee per guest through all channels, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. Any remaining balance will be placed in a guest's travel bank, good for travel on Virgin America for one year from date of issue. Changes or cancellations of a booking made with Elevate Points will be subject to a $100 redeposit fee per guest. Guests who no-show without a change or cancellation prior to the scheduled departure time will forfeit the amount of this fare. In addition, any future flights booked in the same reservation will also be canceled and the fare will be forfeited. Tickets purchased from Virgin America through our reservation call center will cost an additional $20 per guest per itinerary. Any added cost associated with purchasing tickets from Virgin America through our reservation call center will be non-refundable. Fares will not be honored retroactively or in exchange for any wholly or partially used ticket. Fares, routes, fees and schedules are subject to change without notice. Virgin America will accept up to ten pieces of checked baggage, up to 50 pounds each, per ticketed guest traveling within the U.S. The fee for each piece of checked baggage up to 50 pounds is $25. Additional fees apply to baggage exceeding these weight limitations, and other baggage restrictions may apply.

***Any guest calling within the United States has access to a complimentary telecommunication relay service by dialing 711. For more information, go to: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/telecomm.asp

SOURCE Virgin Hotels