Happy in the News

We’re proud to share two articles that recently featured Hotel Felix. Green Building and Design showcased Hotel Felix in their January 2012 magazine as the “premier eco-friendly boutique hotel in downtown Chicago”. One of our favorite lines from the article came from our very own general manager, George Jordan, “Choose Felix, Choose Earth”.

For Little Bits of Green, “Hotel Felix is our Happy Place” – we couldn’t agree more! The writers at Little Bits of Green thoroughly appreciate our green efforts. They loved our use of organic materials and renewable resources as well as our fun green touches like our all-natural H2O Plus bath amenities.

Thank you to both Green Building and Design and Little Bits of Green for featuring Hotel Felix! We hope to see you again soon.

East Meets East Super Bowl Package

The Patriots and the Giants face off at  Super Bowl XLVI next week. If you were lucky enough to score tickets to the big game but haven’t booked a room yet, you won’t find one in Indy. All rooms in the Indianapolis area have long since been booked solid, but with Chicago a mere three-hour drive away, we have the perfect solution for you. The Hotel Felix East Meets East Super Bowl package.

For Super Bowl weekend, February 3-5, purchase our special East Meets East package starting at $119/night. The package includes:

• - Team t-shirt
• - Late checkout until 2 p.m.
• - Tailgate-for-Two boxed lunch (for the trip to Indianapolis)
• - $25 Gas card
• - Printed directions from Hotel Felix to Lucas Oil Arena

Call 877-848-4040 to book now or make your reservation online.

Super Bowl Super Deal

Giants vs. 49ers

Ravens vs. Patriots

Who will make it to the championship? Either way, the Indianapolis hotels are already booked for the Super Bowl. Challenge flag! Chicago is only three hours from Indy and we’re announcing a special Super Bowl package. More information coming soon… stay tuned!

Snowed in Special

The first major blizzard of the winter is currently taking Chicago by storm. Why fight the snow? We’re offering a special $75 rate tonight only. Let us be your refuge from the storm – you can cozy up in front of our lobby fireplace and enjoy a hearty meal at Elate, the upscale restaurant adjacent to Hotel Felix, all from the comfort of the indoors. Join us to watch the snow fall through our floor to ceiling windows and take advantage of this extremely limited rate. For information on how to book please drop us a note on Facebook or send us a tweet.

Green Resolutions for the New Year

Interested in reducing your carbon footprint or living a green(er) lifestyle? Here are some resolutions to help you in the New Year:

1. Avoid waste and recycle, recycle, recycle.  According to The Daily Green, the energy saved from recycling a single aluminum can will operate a television for three hours (and it is super easy)!
2. Give up plastic bags. While shopping, use reusable bags — cotton and nylon are a great alternatives.
3. Shop local. There are many benefits from eating and shopping locally. The food is fresher and will keep longer than chain grocery stores’ food, it contains fewer chemicals used to prolong the life, and of course, you would be helping your local economy.
4. No more bottled water! The price of bottled water is up to 10,000 times the cost of tap water (click here for some astounding facts about bottled water). You can buy a tap water filter ranging from $10- $40 and save yourself hundreds of dollars in the long run.
5. Start a compost pile. It improves soil quality physically, chemically and biologically. It also reduces the estimated 1.3 pounds of food scraps that Americans throw away daily!
6. Surrender the paper towels. Try microfiber towels, they pick up dirt, grim, and are reusable. You will save yourself money and reduce waste, a win-win.

For more ideas on how to be eco-friendly this upcoming year, check out The Daily Green.

Green Gift Guide

‘Tis the season for giving! We love being green at Hotel Felix and wanted to showcase several of our favorite eco-friendly gifts for you this holiday season. Don’t forget to bring your reusable shopping bag with you on your shopping trip!

For the Wine Lover

Eco Cork Wine Charms, $11.95 for set of 6, Greenheart Shop (1911 W. Division St.)

These unique wine charms are made right here in Chicago. They come in pretty packaging ready for gifting.

For the Chocoholic

Theo Chipotle Spice Sipping Chocolate, $12.50, Greenheart Shop (1911 W. Division St.)

Support Fair Trade and indulge in delicious chocolate at the same time.

For the Eco-Friendly Baby

IPlay Organic Footie Pants, $17.95 each, Be By Baby! (1654 W. Roscoe St.)

Banish cold toes the eco-friendly way. Be By Baby! has a full line of organic products and also carries vegan items.

For the Traveler

Erbaviva Bath & Body Travel Kit, $30, Green Genes (5111 N. Clark St.)

An delightful combination of certified organic bath salts, refreshing spray, body lotion and body wash.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Traveling Green This Holiday Season

When traveling, it is always challenging to forecast what to pack for the trip. The weather is unpredictable, you may be unsure on the amount of walking you will do, or how many outfits you will need. The website Green Travel lays out some basic tips to pack green for your next trip:

First, pack multipurpose items. For example, pack versatile shoes that are comfortable; make sure they can be worn with several outfits and are appropriate for different occasions. Different clothing items can be versatile as well, such as a pair of pant or a sweater. Be sure to bring reusable items such as cloth shopping bags, it will create less waste during your trip. Another great tip for green traveling is to cut down on the nonessential items. By cutting down, you will reduce weight in your bag and in most cases you will find that you can function without them.

For more in depth tips for traveling green, head to Green Travel. They also offer great advice on preparing your home before you travel and transportation options.

We’ve Been Dotted

We want to thank the team at Dotting the Map for staying at Hotel Felix and sharing their experience on their website. We’re flattered! We love the gorgeous full-color photos and intricate descriptions of our amenities, decor and location. We also appreciate their acknowledgement of our green efforts, “… things like low flow toilet seats and shower heads, carpet made of recycled materials and motion activated temperature control systems are a sign that they’re trying to appeal to the eco-conscious,”. For the full review, please check out the article here.

Photo Credit: Dotting the Map

Thanks again and we hope to see you again soon!

Magic in Millenium Park

Today, November 18, Millenium Park transforms into a winter skating wonderland for all to enjoy. The McCormick Tribune Rink, in it’s eleventh season, is located on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison Streets. Whether you’re experienced or a novice, everyone is welcome to lace up a pair of skates and hit the rink for some wintertime fun.

Photo Credit: Dan

Open through March 11, the rink draws more than 100,000 skaters annually and is free and open to the public. Skate rental is available for $10. For rink hours, check out the official website here. Be sure to bundle up; as one of downtown Chicago’s most popular winter attractions there is often a line to get into the rink. The upside? While you’re waiting you can watch other skaters work their magic, sip on some hot chocolate and take in the festive, wintery scene.

Rock the Vote

We’re thrilled to be nominated as the Greenest Venue for the 2011 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Awards. As Chicago’s first LEED Silver Certified hotel, we would be honored to win the prestigious title of Greenest Venue but we need your help! Please cast your vote here for Hotel Felix (item #9). It’s as easy as checking a box and clicking ‘submit’! You are able to vote once per day until the voting period ends November 27.

Loren says: “Thanks for your support!”