CONTENTS 10 REASONS TO MEET CHOOSE CHICAGO IS HERE TO HELP EXPLORE WHAT’S NEW FESTIVALS & EVENTS CONVENTION FACILITIES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS ACCESSIBLE CHICAGO FEATURED PARTNERS TAP INTO CHICAGO’S DIVERSE BUSINESSES RESOURCES ACTIVE TEAM BUILDING IDEAS UNMATCHED PRIVATE DINING IN CHICAGO ICONIC CHICAGO EVENT VENUES GUIDE TO THE McCORMICK PLACE AREA MEET SUSTAINABLY CHICAGO HOTEL COLLECTIONS SEE CHICAGO IN 24 HOURS The Paramount Group MEET VENUES/ PLANNING Loft on Lake ’s peachy brick walls and oak bow trusses set the stage for a more intimate affair. Overhead, a 65-foot arched skylight reduces daytime electricity needs, while a robust recycling program and eco-friendly cleaning products minimize environmental impact. The Paramount Group can manage your event from planning to catering to staffing. Their commitment to composting and donating excess helps minimize waste. Schedule a tour of the organic greenhouse at their campus restaurant Eden , growing fresh produce year-round. Versatile event venue Larkin Hall is landfill-averse, composting food waste, paper products, and plant-LEFT TO RIGHT: MCCORMICK PLACE; PARAMOUNT EVENTS Make a big impact on your attendees — and a small impact on the environment. These Chicago venues, hotels, and transit providers will help put some green in your gathering. based cutlery. On-site Blue Plate Catering is a Certified Green Caterer, sourcing 60% of their produce and dairy locally during peak season. The consultants at Purpose can help plan your sustainable event strategy. Educate your team through their comprehensive trainings. Or enlist their experts to set sustainability goals for your events and create a roadmap for reaching them. SUSTAINABLY On the rooftop, beehives and herb gardens support local pollinators. Virgin Hotels Chicago brought new life to a 1928 bank building. Now LEED Gold-certified, the hotel uses smart thermostats to conserve energy and recycles soaps through Clean the World. Guests can donate $1 per night toward forest preservation in Indonesia. Once the largest hotel in the world, the 1927 Hilton Chicago is now among the greenest, with waste reduction programs and a rooftop garden. Their LightStay initiative can offer suggestions to reduce your event’s carbon footprint and provide a post-event impact report. HOTELS Green Seal Silver-certified Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park keeps sustainability front and center. Water-conserving fixtures and high-efficiency HVAC systems tackle waste, while vegan bath products are clean and cruelty-free.
Chicago Meeting Professionals Guide 2026: Page 54
