Disclosure: Thrillist paid for our travel and expenses to tag along for their Hotel Thrillist party.
At 81 floors, the building that houses the new Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in downtown Chicago looks like a wave rising into the sky, with curving balconies that make the hotel seem to ripple.
The hotel lives up to its four-star ranking with clean, modern rooms, friendly concierge service, countless amenities, and spectacular views.
The Radisson Blu is the chain's first in North America, and opened it doors in November to the public. The first 18 floors are for the hotel (there are 334 rooms), and floors 19-81 are for residential use.
With three weddings being hosted there this past weekend and Thrillist throwing its annual Hotel Thrillist event, the lobby, pool, and restaurants were bustling, but the staff seemed to handle the influx effortlessly.
The rooms are "fashion inspired" and start at about $200 a night. Inside the hotel is very dim, as if trying to impress a very posh crowd.
The hotel has a gym that spans 8,000 square feet and even has a basketball court. Outside, there is 80,000-square-feet of space with a fire pit, outdoor-running track, a pool, and cabanas.
From every balcony at the hotel, there is a 180-degree view.
In the lobby, a huge wall of mirrors is shrouded by a patterned gold metal sheet.
The fireplace in the lobby looks like candles, but gave off a lot of heat.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider