Chicago continues to shine as a premier destination for meetings and events. Chicago was again voted Best Big City in the U.S. for an unprecedented eight years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler readers. While Chicago O’Hare International Airport was named Best Airport in North America for the 20th consecutive year by Global Magazine. Plus, the city welcomed a slew of exciting venues and hotels. Check out what’s new and coming up in Chicago.
New and upcoming developments
All airline passengers can enjoy The Club MDW, a modern new lounge at Chicago Midway International Airport. The Club MDW is open daily from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Make a reservation to take advantage of amenities like snacks and beverages, free Wi-Fi, spacious seating, dedicated restrooms, and flight information screens.
While the highly anticipated opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park is scheduled for spring 2026, its Home Court athletic and conference center is expected to open in fall 2025. The 45,000-square-foot multipurpose center, which boasts an NBA-sized basketball court, will host a range of events while also serving as a community gathering space. The 19-acre campus will feature a promenade and great lawn, and will also include former President Obama’s library, forum, and museum.
Bally’s Chicago Casino opened a temporary location in 2023 at the former Medinah Temple in River North, featuring casino gaming and Asian fare. But visitors can look forward to fall 2026, when Bally’s flagship casino opens along the Chicago River in a 34-story hotel, featuring 500 rooms, a 3,000-seat theatre, pool, spa, fitness center, and rooftop restaurant and bar.
New venues
The Salt Shed, a spacious indoor-outdoor event and entertainment space on Goose Island, has unveiled a new venue. The Three Top Lounge cocktail bar sits at the venue’s highest point, offering sweeping views of the city skyline from inside or out on the deck. In addition to libations, the bar offers a menu of small bites like focaccia, short ribs, and spicy tater tots. Reserve the Three Top Lounge for up to 200 guests.
A luxury Record Row venue within the private 22Thirty9 event space, bassline offers a 2,200-square-foot loft located above a recording studio, close to McCormick Place and Wintrust Arena. It’s an ideal option for hosts seeking perfect acoustics for performances and presentations, with A/V specialists providing on-site assistance. Among the amenities are a stage, bar, and lounge that are available for events ranging from 20 to 500 people.
Reserve your dates well in advance for the popular Wildman BT venue, located in the 1900s Wildman Boiler & Tank building, that offers over 11,000 square feet of flexible space. Whether you’re hosting a corporate meeting, brand pop-up, or reception, a floor plan can be customized for up to 500 guests. A marble bar, tables and chairs, a projection and A/V system, prep kitchen, and valet parking for 60 cars are also available.
Renovated venues
Celebrity co-owners Chance the Rapper, Jennifer Hudson, and the late Quincy Jones orchestrated the revamp of the historic Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport. Opened in 1929 as a movie theatre, the reimagined two-level space is now a music venue. A full buyout can accommodate up to 650 people seated or 1,800 standing. For smaller events, spaces include the Ramova Loft for 100 guests seated/200 standing, or the Ramova Grill and Taproom for 100 attendees.
Guests will be amazed by the Lake Michigan and skyline views at the renovated Castaways Beach Club (formally Castaways Bar & Grill) at North Avenue Beach. Consider booking a dining deck, one of the bar areas, a patio, or a cabana for a private event ranging from sit-down dinners to standing receptions with entertainment. The 22,000-square-foot, boat-shaped venue can accommodate from 25 to 500 guests.
New hotels
In the Loop, L7 Chicago by Lotte offers 169 rooms and 22 suites, dedicated event planners, and three private meeting spaces. The 2,700-square-foot Ballroom accommodates 300 guests, the 960-square-foot Athens Room has room for 80, and the 487-square-foot Seoul Boardroom is perfect for 20. The hotel’s modern PERILLA steakhouse beautifully showcases Korean flavors and architectural design. Arrange for a private dining experience with table-side grilling or opt for their catering service.
The 28-floor, boutique-style Hotel Riu Plaza Chicago overlooks Michigan Avenue and offers 390 contemporary rooms, plus the convenience of nearby Streeterville venues and attractions. During their time away from meeting sessions, attendees can enjoy hotel amenities that include a breakfast buffet, 24-hour gym, and the thrill of the glass-floor balcony at the seasonal Rooftop Bar.
Choose from 10 event rooms to host meetings and banquets at Residence Inn Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile. The total square footage is 8,150, with the largest room accommodating 230 people and the smallest conference room hosting 16 in a U-shape design. Choose from 289 guest rooms for your attendees. Arrange for a private gathering at 101 Sky Terrace, a covered rooftop bar that serves small plates and drinks 21 floors above The Magnificent Mile. Other 101 Club event spaces are available on the 19th floor.
Group bookings are welcome in the apartment-style one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites at The Neighborhood Hotel, opening a West Loop location in 2026. Guests will feel like they’ve landed in another era at the former 1928 bank building. Most of the structure’s historic details, like vaults and marble lobby pillars, remain intact. With its Fulton Market locale, the hotel is close to some of the city’s hottest restaurants and nightspots. The Neighborhood Hotel’s other Chicago locations include Little Italy and Lincoln Park.
Construction began in 2024 for The Duke of Wells, Hyatt Unbound Collection, which will offer Old Town neighborhood elegance in 203 guest rooms. Eight-foot windows, balconies, and terraces add classic charm to blend with the historic area. A rooftop lounge will provide spectacular views of Lake Michigan and the cityscape. A spa, fitness center, and restaurant are planned.
Renovated hotels
The Sonesta ES Suites Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile is within easy walking distance of Chicago’s top attractions and venues. Group rates are available for the 221 spacious suites. A 496-square-foot meeting space accommodates 20 people, and off-site catering is permitted. Royal Sonesta also operates two other Chicago locations — the Downtown hotel was renovated in 2021, and River North opened in 2020 in the former Hotel Palomar building.
With renovations due to be completed in 2025, plan a meeting in one of the 15 spaces available at the Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile. In addition to 347 guest rooms and suites, the stylish boutique hotel offers 20,000 square feet of meeting space plus catering services featuring a variety of packages for meals and snacks. The largest space, the Grand Ballroom, accommodates 300 for a banquet or 500 for a reception, and the Ohio room can be used as a boardroom for 15 attendees.
Exquisite renovations were completed in 2024 at the Loop’s 610-room JW Marriott Chicago, which opened in 2010. The luxe hotel offers 41,973 square feet of flexible event space in 37 rooms — the capacity of the largest space is 972 people. Meeting planners can reserve blocks of guest rooms for attendees. Catering services range from afternoon breaks to full breakfasts and sit-down galas. Private dining is also available.
The lively Toro by Chef Richard Sandoval debuted at the newly renovated, 687-room Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, which offers 63,000 square feet of meeting space. The Imperial Ballroom can accommodate up to 2,000 people, but spaces are also available for as few as two people conducting a meeting. Create custom menus for occasions of all sizes. Toro features the celebrated chef’s signature Latin American cuisine.
Tavern on Rush steakhouse now occupies the first and second floors of the Thompson Chicago, by Hyatt, a Gold Coast boutique hotel that’s just one block from the iconic Magnificent Mile. Book your meetings at the hotel with a total of 12,225 square feet of flexible space, which includes exhibit spaces, a room that accommodates 250 people, and private dining rooms. The restaurant, a neighborhood staple for 25 years, features a main dining room, lounge, bar, outdoor patio, and private event spaces that can accommodate 450 people.
Keep up to date on what’s new in Chicago.