IHG Hotels & Resorts and Ruby Group have signed an agreement to develop the first U.S. Ruby Hotel in Chicago, expected to open in 2027. The hotel will be developed and operated by Ruby Group under a 30-year franchise agreement with IHG.
The project involves the renovation and repositioning of the Inn of Chicago building into a Ruby Hotels property, housed in a late 1920s landmark located one block east of the Magnificent Mile. The project will result in a 22-story hotel with 412 rooms. Slated to begin in the second half of 2026, renovation plans include a redesigned lobby and bar, a rooftop terrace and bar and updated public spaces.
“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,” said Jolyon Bulley, CEO, Americas, IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Ruby Group will collaborate with IHG and Berk Properties. Based in Orange County, Ca., Berk Properties has more than 25 years of experience in residential and hospitality luxury real estate in the U.S.
“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. Ruby Group’s operating platform will also now be launching in North America, offering extraordinary operating efficiency to investors with a unique operating set-up that utilizes both centralization and automation to drive margins while lowering operating risks,” said Michael Struck, founder and CEO, Ruby Group.
The project follows IHG’s acquisition of the Ruby brand and its availability for U.S. development. Founded in Germany in 2013, Ruby Hotels currently has 35 open and pipeline hotels across major European cities.