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IHG Hotels and Resorts is to introduce its Ruby Hotels brand to the US market following a franchise agreement to renovate a historic Chicago property.
The 22-storey hotel will occupy the former Inn of Chicago building located one block from the Magnificent Mile. Ruby Group will develop and operate the 412-room site under a 30-year agreement with the hospitality company.
Renovation work on the late 1920s landmark is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026. The project includes a rooftop terrace, a bar and a redesigned lobby intended to serve as a social space for guests and residents.
The expansion follows IHG’s acquisition of the German brand, which currently has 35 open or pipeline hotels across Europe. Developers intend to expand the Ruby portfolio to 120 properties globally over the next 10 years.
Berk Properties, a firm based in Orange County, is collaborating on the development. The hotel is expected to open in 2027, marking the first time the brand’s operating platform has launched in North America.
Jolyon Bulley, chief executive of the Americas at IHG, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring our first U.S. Ruby Hotel to Chicago, an iconic city with a deep architectural and cultural legacy. This flagship signing underscores the brand’s strong growth potential and momentum in key locations across the Americas and around the world.”
Michael Struck, founder and chief executive of Ruby Group, added: “This project marks a significant milestone for Ruby Group and its international growth. In partnership with IHG and alongside experienced development partner Berk Properties, we are bringing Ruby’s design-led and efficient hotel concept to the U.S. market for the first time.”
