CONTENTS 10 REASONS TO MEET EXPLORE CHOOSE CHICAGO IS HERE TO HELP WHAT’S NEW CONVENTION FACILITIES FESTIVALS & EVENTS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS FEATURED PARTNERS ACCESSIBLE CHICAGO RESOURCES TAP INTO CHICAGO’S DIVERSE BUSINESSES FUN TEAM BUILDING IDEAS DINING IN CHICAGO’S NEIGHBORHOODS ICONIC CHICAGO EVENT VENUES MEET SUSTAINABLY SEE CHICAGO IN 24 HOURS CHOOSE CHICAGO IS SALES HERE TO HELP • Source the availability of Chicagoland’s approximately 200 hotels, representing 50,000 guest rooms. • Qualify leads without mass distribution. • Assist in developing bid strategy. • Provide up-to-date information on new properties and renovations. • Share important details on airlift, conventions, and community events that could impact designated meeting dates. • Ensure proposals meet deadlines. • Arrange well-organized hotel and venue site inspections. • Assess and source availability at McCormick Place, the largest and most flexible convention center in the Western Hemisphere, housing four state-of-the-art buildings with 173 meeting and ballrooms, 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, an arena, and a theatre. Choose Chicago’s experienced and award-winning Sales and Client Services teams are available to assist planners with meetings, events, conventions, and conferences of any size. We look forward to having you meet in Chicago! CONTACT US To connect with Choose Chicago’s Sales and Client Services teams, call 312-567-8500 or contact one of our helpful team members directly . For a wide range of useful information accessible 24/7, including dates that have the best availability and more, visit meetinchicago.com . Dustin Arnheim Senior Vice President, Sales & Services Rose Horcher Vice President, Client Services CLIENT SERVICES • Provide attendance-building services via the Connecting to Chicago program. • Source venues, speakers, entertainers, transportation, decor companies, special event spaces, caterers, and more. • Act as a liaison with city departments. • Assist conventions in navigating hundreds of dining, private event, tour, shopping, and entertainment options throughout the city of Chicago. • Support client equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. ONLINE RESEARCH TOOLS • Go to meetinchicago.com and use the venue search tool to find meeting space, special event venues, restaurants with private dining, convention and conference centers, and more. • Tap into domestic and international visitor statistics for multiple years. DIGITAL MARKETING RESOURCES & TOOLS Promote your event with our comprehensive online marketing tools , including: • Virtual McCormick Place tour • Virtual partner tours • Photos and videos • Chicago press kit and logos • Print and digital banner ads • Visitor guides and maps • Social media tips Choose Chicago’s Connecting to Chicago initiative helps clients tap into our area’s vast intellectual capital to help build attendance. We connect clients with Chicago’s civic and corporate communities to help increase attendance, activate innovative branding and marketing ideas outside of the convention center, increase student participation, assist in finding local industry speakers, and more. Using expert knowledge of the city and our vast network of contacts, Choose Chicago serves as the conduit between clients and Chicago partner organizations. A convention’s success is Chicago’s success! Check out our interactive Chicago hotel map. Scan to download the Chicago OEMC app for safety alerts. • Chicago postcards • Find restaurants, things to do, and venues with our digital concierge
Chicago Meeting Professionals Guide 2025: Page 8
