Chicago Meeting Professionals Guide - 2025

One-of-a-kind venues, globally inspired caterers, and gifts your attendees will love — work with some of the city’s best-in-class LGBTQ+, minority-, women-, veteran-, and disability-owned vendors. 

VENUES

Tucked inside a boutique department store, The Lunchroom at SPACE 519 blends California style and farm-fresh Chicago ingredients. Host an intimate seated dinner or reserve the restaurant and store for a larger cocktail reception.

Bring some glam to your gathering at Northalsted’s Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club. This LGBTQ+ institution serves elevated comfort food, and their glittering drag shows will be the highlight of your event.

Founded by famed Chinese American artists and brothers, the Bridgeport Zhou B Art Center will add a dash of culture to your event. Mix and mingle among modern art by nearly 50 resident artists in this sophisticated space.

Under the leadership of Yvette Moyo, a 2023 Leader for a New Chicago, The Quarry Event Center is dedicated to the South Shore community. Two event rooms, in-house catering, and bar packages make planning simple.

Women-owned ERIS Brewery and Cider House is named for the Greek goddess of discord, but you’ll find a warm welcome in this handsome space. Menus are inclusive with robust vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

Multilingual groups can reserve a private room at King Karaoke to sing in a dozen languages, from Korean to Russian to Spanish. Snack on Asian-inspired fare like buffalo chicken bao and crab rangoon.

CATERERS

Fuel the team for a day of creativity with a cup of joe from woman-owned necessary & sufficient coffee. Their third wave specialty coffee is a local favorite, and they can also provide pastries, donuts, and savory empanadas. 

Black woman-owned Nicole Jordan Catering can do everything from boxed lunches to snacking spreads to full buffets. Expect thoughtful menus with dishes ranging from shrimp and grits to fresh summer salads.

Family-owned restaurant Saigon Sisters caters authentic Southeast Asian dishes from Chicago’s West Loop. Savor Vietnamese and Thai fare like bánh mì sandwiches, pho, and Thai curries — plus French macarons for dessert.

Food For Thought has been feeding Chicago since 1991. Their specialized Workplace Solutions include drop-off food delivery, full-service catering, and creative events that can incorporate your event branding.

Atzimba Catering & Events specializes in authentic Mexican and pre-Hispanic dishes, like sweet mole short ribs and Michoacán corundas (a type of tamale). Owner Atzimba Perez is also the chef for the Mexican consulate in Chicago.

Black woman-owned Two Sisters Catering puts a lighter spin on comfort food like oven-baked catfish and ground turkey meatballs. Save room for banana pudding and peach cobbler for dessert.

Marina’s Bistro & Rum Bar brings Puerto Rican flavors to the Uptown district. Choose slow-roasted pork sandwiches on sweet pan sobao (a soft bread) and arroz con gandules from this LGBTQ+-owned restaurant.

Justice of the Pies offers delectable dishes and desserts from James Beard Award finalist Maya Camille-Broussard. Treat your team to savory chickenand- biscuit pot pie, plus dessert pies that include bourbon pecan and strawberry-basil-Key lime.

GIFTS

The chocolates at Chocolat Uzma highlight the flavors of chef Uzma Sharif’s South Asian heritage. Wow event guests with sweet bites boasting notes of Kashmiri chai and Lapsang tea.

Share delicious artisanal foods curated by Here Here Market. Their mission-based boxes are packed with goodies from female founders, AAPI creators, and Black-owned brands in the Chicago area.

Love Cork Screw is a women of color-owned wine brand that aims to make wine fun and inclusive. Their approachable bottles from Michigan and California are crowd pleasers for oenophiles and casual sippers alike.

The themed gifts from woman-owned BasketWorks make ideal event or hotel welcome gifts, ranging from chocolate to charcuterie to Chicago sports. They can even create custom packages to fit your brand.

Outfit your guests in hip merch from Latino-owned CHICAGOMIDWESTMADE, with hoodies and tees that rep Chicago pride. Get custom apparel with your logo or branding in colorful screen prints or embroidery.

Give the gift of Tubby’s Taste vegan cookies. This woman-owned Jamaican bakery makes decadent treats in tropical flavors like mango-coconut-lime and grapefruit-pineapple-hibiscus.

For a carefully curated collection of home goods and gifts, look to Blacklion. This luxurious woman-owned store is packed with thoughtful pieces for colleagues and clients that show off your good taste.

Thrill dessert lovers with their own individual cheesecake from Schweet The Original Homemade Chicago Cheesecake. The artisan cakes are made from a family recipe using fresh fruit, whipped cream, and the company’s signature batter. Flavors include banana pudding, pecan, and mixed berry.

SERVICES

LGBTQ+-owned Kehoe Designs will make your event shine. Their stunning florals and plantscapes, custom furniture, entertainment design, and technical production can transform any venue into a masterpiece.

B2B event specialists PC Events and Experiences (PCXP) are dedicated to your business’ success. Their strategic approach aims to foster engagement and attendee participation to help achieve your goals.

Let the minority/women-owned team at MOTR GRAFX help with your marketing. They can create large-scale signage, print and digital marketing materials, and even augmented reality to create engaging real-world experiences.

Allow Fellowship Fleet Limousine & Bus Company to handle the logistics. This Black-owned transportation expert provides airport shuttles, VIP limo travel, and large-scale bus transport to get everyone where they need to be.

Minority-owned CHOP CHOP Mobile Salon & Barber offers hair, nail, and makeup services from their luxury trailer or pop-up salon. All sales help fund complimentary services to underserved Chicago communities.

Your imagination is the limit at Custom Color 3D Printing. Get custom 3D printed souvenirs to give away, visual aids for a presentation, or a prototype for your next major creation.

Look to SpeedPro Chicago Loop to make a major statement. This veteran-owned shop specializes in large-format printing like window graphics, wall murals, and trade show displays — just three blocks from McCormick Place.

TOURS

Local historian and TikTok star Shermann “Dilla” Thomas blends history, humor, and storytelling through Chicago Mahogany Tours. Learn about the city’s vibrant south and west side neighborhoods from Choose Chicago’s 2022 Chicago Tourism Ambassador of the Year.

Take a deep dive into Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood with the all-ages Pilsen Public Art Tours. Explore Mexican culture and creativity in Chicago while viewing some 200 colorful murals dotted throughout the area.

Climb aboard woman-owned Chicago’s First Lady Cruises to see the sights by boat. Explore the city’s iconic architecture from the Chicago River by day or view the twinkling skyline on an evening cruise.

Chicago Food & City Tours can customize a tasty itinerary for your entire team. Get access to some of Chicago’s best chefs and most exciting kitchens with this woman-owned experience.

Connect with Choose Chicago’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion program to ensure every attendee feels included. Discover rich local history, important attractions, and authentic dining in Chicago’s neighborhoods with our Black, Asian, and Hispanic & Latino cultural guides.

Looking for a little pick-me-up before or after your meeting? Grab a cup of joe at one of Chicago’s diverse coffee shops, including the West Loops’ VietFive Coffee, Cafe Jumping Bean in Pilsen, or AndySunflower Café in the Beverly neighborhood.