The Peninsula Chicago Awarded #1 Large City Hotel in US and Canada by Readers of Travel + Leisure

CHICAGO, July 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Peninsula Chicago is honored to be named the # 1 Large City Hotel award for the Continental US and Canada in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2011 readers' survey, announced today.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110707/CG31553)

Recently celebrating its 10th anniversary on June 1, 2011, The Peninsula Chicago features 339 luxurious and spacious guestrooms and suites furnished in a magnificent classical style, four distinctive restaurants, a popular bar and a world-class spa.  The staff is committed to providing each guest with a flawless and personalized experience, with 'Far Eastern Graciousness combined with Midwestern Hospitality' signifying the hotel's approach to service, which pays homage to the hotel's Asian roots.

"We are extremely honored to welcome such loyal guests, and our staff works diligently to meet and exceed their expectations every day," said Maria Razumich-Zec, General Manager and Regional Vice President – USA East Coast.  "We are delighted to receive this recognition for a second time, especially in this, our anniversary year, having first been named #1 Hotel in the Continental US and Canada in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards readers' survey in 2004.  It is a true testament of our staff and the outstanding service they provide."

About Travel + Leisure awards

The results of the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2011 readers' survey revealing their favorite hotels, cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines, car-rental agencies, spas and tour operators and safari outfitters are featured on www.TravelandLeisure.com/worldsbest now and will be the cover story of the August issue of the magazine, on newsstands July 22, 2011.  

Hotels are rated by readers on a number of characteristics including rooms/facilities, location, service, restaurants/food and value. The complete survey methodology is on TravelandLeisure.com. The Peninsula Chicago award category is 'Large City Hotels,' which is defined as urban hotels with 100 guestrooms or more.  This is the 16th year that Travel + Leisure has conducted the World's Best Awards readers' survey.

About The Peninsula Chicago

Set in the heart of the "Magnificent Mile," The Peninsula Chicago is ideally situated for visitors to experience all that the city has to offer. On the doorstep of Chicago's premier business and shopping district, the hotel is located in the center of the city's most exclusive shops and steps from the historic Water Tower.  The hotel has received numerous awards and accolades including: AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star awards for the past nine years; '#1 Hotel in the U.S. by the reader's of Conde Nast Traveler; '#2 Hotel in the World' in Zagat's World's Top Hotels, Resorts and Spas Survey; and Avenues was awarded Two Stars from the coveted Michelin Red Guide.

About The Peninsula Hotels

The Peninsula Hotels operates nine luxury hotels with a total of 3,016 rooms in key gateway cities of Asia and the USA.  The legendary Peninsula Hong Kong, opened in December 1928, was built with the vision of being "the finest hotel east of Suez". From the moment the first guest arrived, The Peninsula has been synonymous with Hong Kong, welcoming the rich, the famous, the titled and the tycoon, with an embrace of unsurpassed luxury and warmth, for over eight decades.    

From one hotel, The Peninsula Hotels has grown to encompass nine award-winning properties in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Beijing, New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills, Bangkok and Manila, with The Peninsula Paris opening in 2013.  Now as then, all efforts are dedicated to providing luxurious comfort, modern facilities and intuitive technology combined with exceptional, personalized service.  

The Peninsula brand of hotels around the world reflects the company's success in setting the highest standards of service and hospitality in the industry as it continues to realize the vision begun by the launch of its Hong Kong flagship over eight decades ago.

About The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH)

SOURCE The Peninsula Chicago