CHICAGO, IL (June 18, 2018) – Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, located at 1 W Wacker, announces today the appointment of Russell Shearer as Executive Chef. With over a decade of experience working in hospitality kitchens across the United States, most recently at JW Marriott Chicago, Shearer will oversee the hotel’s culinary operation, including one of Chicago’s hottest rooftop destinations, Raised.
“Russell’s strong background and experience working in a variety of cities will aid in bringing a fresh new perspective to the food and beverage program at Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel,” says Hassan El-Neklawy, General Manager of Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel. “We are excited to welcome Russell to the team and look forward to his continued success in providing guests with top level culinary experiences.”
Following his graduation from Western Culinary Institute Le Cordon Bleu in 2007, Shearer got his start in the culinary industry at Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront as a Cook. From there, he worked his way up from Lead Cook to Sous Chef at Denver Marriott Tech Center Hotel. In 2012, Shearer made the move to Chicago and began working at JW Marriott Chicago as a Sous Chef. He was then promoted in 2014 to Senior Sous Chef. During his time as Senior Sous Chef at JW Marriott Chicago, Shearer focused his industry expertise on embracing seasonality, locality, and sustainability to create luxury crafted culinary experiences for all guests.
Set against the dramatic skyline on the banks of the Chicago River and just minutes from downtown shopping, theaters and restaurants, Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, 1 West Wacker Drive, is the perfect location for visitors to enjoy their stay in the Windy City. Their chic rooftop bar, Raised, puts a spin on the city’s booming rooftop bar scene. Located on the 3rd floor of the hotel, the indoor/outdoor destination invites the vibrant energy from the city streets below, and is a great place to raise a glass to the holiday weekend. Staytion Market & Bar, the hotel’s lobby bar and restaurant, is one of the city’s hottest new eateries, providing a trendy and distinguished nightlife scene. Featuring an energetic and intriguing atmosphere, Staytion’s eclectic menu features unique street food with a Chicago flair, specialty handcrafted cocktails and local hops. Merging the business of the Loop with the pleasure of State Street shopping and Chicago’s Theater District, the hotel invites discovery at every turn.
