The In Inn
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Dating back to 1894, the Bismarck was quintessential Chicago, catercorner from City Hall and a favorite hangout of local politicos. But few people familiar with the increasingly dowdy Bismarck will recognize it as the Allegro. At the direction of California designer Cheryl Rowley, guest rooms have been repainted an eye-opening grapefruit pink; suites are a slightly softer yellow flecked with star bursts. Ho-hum desks have been replaced by sleek oval tables, and each room comes stocked with its own boom box and CDs of Chicago jazz and blues. The Allegro doorman will perform a trumpet call every morning, and the staff will wear black–Calvin Klein designs for the men, Ellen Tracy for the women.
As general manager of the Triton, another Kimpton property, McCormick displayed a flair for the dramatic: one weekend he transformed the San Francisco hotel into a giant art fair, inviting galleries to display their work, and on another occasion he closed down the street in front of the hotel to stage a fashion show. His staffing of the Allegro reflects the Kimpton Group’s approach to the hospitality business: McCormick held “casting calls” for 325 employees who would radiate a positive, welcoming attitude. “We wanted people who could be more theatrical, more entertaining,” he explains. About half of the Allegro’s staff have previous hotel experience; the rest took a three-week training course.
Cannibal Cheerleaders on the Street
