Executives of Carlson Hotels and Magellan Development Group recently celebrated the groundbreaking of the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago and a $25,000 donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Thorsten Kirschke, president, Carlson Hotels Americas performs the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago with the first cut of the 4 foot tall Aqua Tower replica cake

Held at the Greater Chicago Food Depository headquarters on Thursday, January 13, 2011, Carlson and Magellan were joined by Alderman Edward M. Burke for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel. The ceremony featured the cutting of a four-foot tall replica cake of the Aqua tower.

The hotel that completes the stunning 82-story Aqua tower designed by Studio Gang Architects will be a full service luxury facility with 334 guest rooms and suites on floors 4 through 18, a 12,500-square-foot ballroom with 20-foot-high ceilings overlooking The Park at Lakeshore East, 27,000 square feet of total meeting space and a 150-seat restaurant and bar.

Radisson Blu Aqua guests will have access to diverse amenities, indoors and out. A distinctive 80,000-square-foot green roof and amenity deck features luxury gardens, gazebos, swimming pools and cabañas, a hot tub, running/walking trail, fire pit and grills.

Indoor amenities include extensive fitness facilities, an indoor lap pool, a spa featuring hot tubs, sauna, steam and massage room, a private party suite with catering kitchen, media room, billiards and game area, business center, and sky garden.

The new Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago will be the first Radisson Blu hotel in the U.S. and is scheduled to open in the fall of 2011.

For additional information, visit the website, www.MagellanDevelopment.com.