Chicago is being attacked by yet another superhero action film crew. This time, it is for the shooting of the new Superman movie “Man of Steel” starring Henry Cavill.

Comicbook superhero fans seeking a glimpse of the shooting or the stars will find them in Downtown Chicago until Sept 17. Parking on South Wells Street is on hold until Sunday because of the filming, and the film crew’s trailers are in the 311 South Wacker building parking lot nearby.

Hotel 71, Chicago

Among downtown Chicago hotels in the Loop, the usual suspects that cater to these film crews include Hotel 71 on East Wacker Drive and the Trump Tower across the river.

When “The Dark Knight” was being filmed, Hotel 71 was one of the stars in the hit Batman movie when the ballroom on the hotel’s 39th floor was used as Bruce Wayne’s penthouse.

The hotel started offering a Bruce Wayne package with a stay in a penthouse similar to the one shown in the movie.

Man of Steel star Henry Cavill was in the hotel earlier this year in July, and did a photo shoot on the same 39th floor.

Hotel 71 also offered a ‘Transformers’ package when some scenes from the third installment of the Transformers series were shot outside the hotel on Wacker Drive last year.

Hotel 71, located perfectly for leisure on the Magnificent Mile, has just completed a $15 million renovation, and offers nightly rates from $159. They have guest rooms and suites with views of Downtown or the Chicago River.

Trump Tower has benefited just as much from its role in both movies. In fact, the Transformers stars actually were staying in the hotel too, so it’s a good choice for getting up close to the Man of Steel shooting and the stars.

Just remember the not-so-secret codeword “Autumn Frost” under which the movie is being filmed.

Photo – Hotel 71

More info: 71 East Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60601; (312) 346-7100

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Penthouse at Trump SoHo in New York City

I know the hotel industry is expecting 2011 to be a good year, but I’m still surprised to see how much expansion is taking place in luxury accommodations. Maybe there’s something to this “economic recovery” talk after all.

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Chicago is all set to get a new luxury 5-star Riverfront hotel that will be opening in the landmark IBM building at 330 North Wabash, across the street from the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago.

IBM Building at 330 North Wabash, Chicago

The new 330-room hotel, the Langham Chicago Hotel, will be the third Langham in the United States, after The Langham Hotel Boston and The Langham Huntington, Pasadena.

The hotel will occupy floors 2 through 13 and a portion of the first floor and riverfront plaza in the 52-story landmark building on the north bank of the Chicago River, designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in March 2010.

The 330 guest rooms and suites will range from 525 square feet to well over 2,000 square feet, all with 9.5 foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows providing views of the Chicago River, Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. The standard guest rooms will be 525 sq ft, while 20% of the rooms will be suites, ranging in size from 775 to 2,350 square feet.

The 20,000 sq ft of hotel meeting space includes a 5,000 square foot ballroom with 20 foot ceilings and river views. Also included in the plan is a 9,000 square foot restaurant, a wine room, fitness center, indoor pool and Langham’s signature Palm Court and Chuan Spa.

The property for the hotel was purchased by Oxford Capital Group, LLC from the building’s owners Prime Group Realty Trust for $46 million. Oxford and Langham are jointly developing the hotel, with an opening date set for 2012.

In a statement, Jeff Patterson, president and CEO of Prime Group Realty Trust said that “As Chicago’s newest five star hotel, The Langham Chicago Hotel will undoubtedly be a great asset for 330 North Wabash’s tenants, visitors and guests, and we’re proud to have such a well-regarded luxury brand now a part of this high profile Chicago asset.”

Photo – J. Crocker; More info: http://www.330northwabashavenue.com/

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Every Trump Hotel is unique in its own way, but there is one thing that is common to all of them – they’re tall. Really, really tall. To borrow a phrase from fellow UpTake writer Amandaj – Where There’s a Trump, Things are Always Looking Up! 

Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago - The 92-story Trump Tower looming over the Loop and North Michigan Avenue is the tallest hotel and the second tallest building in the US, after the Sears Tower. The Trump Tower’s roof tops out at 1,170 feet, with the spire reaching up to 1,389 feet.

Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

The 486 residences and 339 guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, the 23,000 sq ft Spa at Trump, and the Sixteen Restaurant on the 16th floor with a terrace overlooking the Chicago River all combine to offer great views.

Seen from outside, the 1.2-acre riverfront park and the hotel’s glittering polished steel and glass exterior stretching up into the sky add a stunning landmark to the attractions in Chicago.  

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