You’re tasked with doing more with less. Costs are rising, but you still need to plan an engaging meeting that builds attendance in a destination that creates a welcoming environment for all. Choose Chicago streamlines your planning process with a “one community” approach that unifies our services, resources, and relationships with our destination’s unique venues, world-class hotels, and local experts.
Learn more about how Chicago’s community connectivity helps you build your plans with ease.
One-stop source for meeting planners
Choose Chicago is your all-in-one resource for planning a successful meeting, committed to providing a comprehensive and collaborative experience for planners. The entire community of Chicago — voted Best Big City in the U.S. for seven consecutive years by Condé Nast Traveler readers — is more agile in working together to provide dates, space, rates, and opportunities for your plans.
Get helpful tips for meetings. Download a free meeting planner guide. Access virtual tours and maps of the city. Utilize tools to promote your Chicago meeting. Search comprehensive lists of venues, hotels, and services. Choose Chicago has compiled all the resources you need during the planning process — from site selection to event completion.
Partners in planning
From citywide conventions to short-term meetings, Choose Chicago’s Sales and Client Services teams help you find the right venues, hotels, speakers, and more for your group — at no extra cost. They’re the ultimate destination experts who provide support and knowledge from a local’s perspective.
The Choose Chicago Meeting and Convention Sales Team is your guide during the destination selection process. The sales team is made up of professionals with backgrounds in hotel sales, general service contracting, convention and visitors bureaus, and more who specialize in planning a meeting that fulfills your and your attendees’ specific needs and embodies Chicago’s warm Midwestern hospitality. The Sales Team arranges well-organized hotel and venue site inspections to make sure your plans are shaping up to meet your meeting expectations.
The Choose Chicago Client Services Team is your primary connection to all things Chicago once you’ve selected our city as your meeting destination.
Strong community relationships
Choose Chicago’s close relationships with McCormick Place, hotels, and meeting facilities mean you’ll have the most up-to-date, insider information. Our Sales and Client Services teams’ community partnerships connect you to local businesses to elevate your event with an only-in-Chicago feel.
Where to meet? The Choose Chicago Sales Team is the liaison to McCormick Place, the largest and most flexible convention center in the Western Hemisphere, and assesses and sources availability at the campus conveniently located just minutes from downtown Chicago. Or suppose you’re looking for an out-of-the-box venue with a stunning lakefront setting or unparalleled panoramic skyline views in our urban oasis. In that case, we’ll help you sort through our hundreds of diverse venue options to cater to your meeting’s size and style.
Where to stay? Our Sales Team sources availability and provides information for more than 150 hotels representing about 46,000 guest rooms in the Central Business District.
Want what’s new in Chicago? These teams can fill you in on the venues, hotels, and restaurants that have recently opened their doors.
Which vendors should you work with? We’ll get you in touch with suppliers who can provide everything from transportation to AV services.
What’s going on in Chicago? These teams let you know important details on airlift and community events that could impact your meeting dates and serve as the liaison between you and city departments.
Connecting to Chicago program
Chicago is home to 36 Fortune 500 companies, universities, hospitals, tech incubators, and more. Chicago is a hub for local thought leaders. Chicago’s intellectual capital knows no bounds. It sets the destination apart and can set your meeting apart.
The Connection to Chicago (C2C) program helps you connect with the city’s civic and corporate communities to find local experts and innovators from Chicago’s industries — from life science and manufacturing to FinTech and food and beverage — to extend value to your attendees.
Dedicated EDI team
Two globally connected airports, 77 communities, more than 100 hotels with multilingual staff, and a dedicated equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) team that promotes cultural awareness in the city make Chicago one of the most inclusive destinations in the county.
As part of our EDI program, Choose Chicago can introduce you to local Women and Minority Business Enterprises (W/MBE) for private events, corporate social responsibility (CSR) opportunities, dining options, Chicago-themed gifts, and more to provide your attendees experiences that they can only have at your meeting in Chicago, giving them a deeper sense of community while supporting diverse small business owners.
Choose Chicago also works to increase attendees’ sense of belonging by working with planners to identify accessibility features at hotels and McCormick Place and special accommodations at the city’s acclaimed attractions.
We know a lot goes into meeting planning. Choose Chicago’s “one community” approach aids in your event’s success and ensures that your attendees will feel a part of our inviting community. Contact us or submit your RFP to build your plans.
