Today we’d like to introduce you to Simona Blaugh.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The Metropolitan Club was one of the first tenants in the Sears Tower when it first opened in 1974. It prides itself on being exclusive, but not exclusionary. The company’s founder, Mr. Dedman, was a visionary in the industry and developed a network of what is now 300 clubs nationwide, called ClubCorp. The Metropolitan is unique, as it was the first club in Chicago to allow women and minority members back in 1974, and it continues the tradition of relevance and being a leader in the industry in 2018. My name is Simona Blaugh, the current general manager, the first woman to manage the club since its inception and one of the most successful managers in all of ClubCorp. Silvia Prickel, managing director at United Airlines, serves as chairwoman of the board, as of January 2018, and is the first woman to serve as board president since the club’s beginning. In 2018, The Metropolitan turned its eye on understanding the Chicago market and the Chicago way of doing business. The business plan is to support local communities and projects, give back philanthropically and to work with partners based in Chicago.
Has it been a smooth road?
No business is without its struggles, and we’ve had our fair share. From truck and dock delivery accommodations, to playing a constant chess game of moving around member spaces in the club to accommodate all of our amenities. However, if it had not been for the struggles, we would not have had the subsequent successes. The Metropolitan is currently experiencing record-breaking membership satisfaction scores (highest in the whole company across the first six months of 2018), membership growth, membership retention and profitability. These achievements are somewhat unexpected, as parts of the club were regularly closed for renovations.
The reason why we are able to grow the club is due to the meaningful connections and relationships our members make. This will always be the case for members of The Metropolitan no matter how the club looks. A beautiful chair can only excite a member for so long, and at a certain point, the physical asset takes a back seat to the true member value. Every day, we hear repeatedly from members about a big deal they made with another member, how a member was able to refer another member to a new position or promotion, business referrals, mentorships and friendships. The value of the member experience has been worth every single struggle along the way. Our team does what it does because we believe your network is your net worth. The long nights designing the menu layout, assembling an optimal staffing plan or the countless trips out into the city to develop partnerships beyond our walls has been extremely rewarding.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Metropolitan story. Tell us more about the business.
The Metropolitan is an urban business and social club. From working spaces, daily offices and tech-enabled conference rooms to elevated restaurants and urban bars with panoramic views, The Metropolitan is the location for Chicagoans to host events, conduct business and enjoy the best the city has to offer, all in one location. We are incredibly proud of our staff, and how the club embodies the Chicago spirit. We specialize in making connections and building relationships for Chicago’s leaders and influencers in order to help them grow their personal and professional network. We are known for our local partnerships and the ties that we have to the community; we work with partners such as Flowers for Dreams, Dearborn Denim, Baker Miller, Foxtrot, Chicago Community Trust, 3 Arts, Junior League and more local organizations. Another differentiating factor is once you are a member of The Metropolitan, you are part of our ClubCorp family, which grants access and benefits to 300 clubs nationwide.
Do you feel like our city is a good place for businesses like yours? If someone was just starting out, would you recommend them starting out here? If not, what can our city do to improve?
Absolutely. Chicago is an ideal location for The Metropolitan. There are an overwhelming amount of local businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals of every type. One of the essential pillars of our club is to support local businesses, and Chicago is the perfect environment for that initiative. Every 30 seconds, our club members receive a Chicago experience, which means they interact with art, furniture, flowers, food and more sourced directly from local businesses at just about every turn. Chicago has nearly every amenity and resource available, which gives any business access to a wide array of tools that can set them up for success.
Pricing:
- Membership at The Metropolitan is customizable; there are options for non-profit rates, access only rates, preferred dining rates, group rates and corporate rates for companies. There is a membership for everyone.
Contact Info:
- Address: 233 South Wacker Drive, 67th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
- Website: http://www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/The-Metropolitan
- Phone: (312) 876-3200
- Email: concierge@themetchicago.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themetropolitanchicago/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMetropolitanChicago/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMetChicago
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-metropolitan-chicago-3
Photographed by Thomas | © 2018 TK Photography | www.tkphotographychicago.com
Photographed by Thomas | © 2018 TK Photography | www.tkphotographychicago.com
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