Memorial Day Weekend in Chicago and Beyond: Where to Go, What to Do, and Where to Stay
Memorial Day weekend is a time to celebrate, relax, and enjoy the beginning of summer. Whether you're in Chicago or looking for a quick getaway nearby, there’s no shortage of exciting activities, delicious food, and memorable experiences. From indulging in Chicago’s...
Social Media Content Ideas for Hotels, Restaurants, Venues & Event Vendors
In today’s digital-first world, a strong social media presence is essential. Whether you're a hotel, a restaurant, a venue, a caterer, or an event vendor, how you show up online influences how potential clients and customers view your brand. With so much noise on...
Event Planner Pricing Guide: How to Set Your Rates and Charge What You’re Worth
Deciding how much to charge as an event planner can feel tricky, especially if you are just starting out. Even if you are a seasoned planner, it’s still wise to revisit your pricing to make sure you remain competitive while also being compensated appropriately. No...
ILEA Spark Awards 2025 Winners
Each year, the ILEA Chicago Chapter Spark Awards honor the creativity, innovation, and excellence of the city’s event and hospitality professionals. From breathtaking décor and immersive culinary experiences to powerful fundraisers and corporate celebrations, this...
How Wedding Planners Can Successfully Design Destination Weddings, Micro Weddings, and Elopements in 2025
Weddings have never been a one-size-fits-all affair, and in 2025, that truth has never been more apparent. The modern wedding landscape is defined by flexibility, personalization, and intentionality. Couples are breaking free from traditions, opting instead for more...
Memorial Day Weekend in Chicago and Beyond: Where to Go, What to Do, and Where to Stay
Memorial Day weekend is a time to celebrate, relax, and enjoy the beginning of summer. Whether you're in Chicago or looking for a quick getaway nearby, there’s no shortage of exciting activities, delicious food, and memorable experiences. From indulging in Chicago’s...
Social Media Content Ideas for Hotels, Restaurants, Venues & Event Vendors
In today’s digital-first world, a strong social media presence is essential. Whether you're a hotel, a restaurant, a venue, a caterer, or an event vendor, how you show up online influences how potential clients and customers view your brand. With so much noise on...
Event Planner Pricing Guide: How to Set Your Rates and Charge What You’re Worth
Deciding how much to charge as an event planner can feel tricky, especially if you are just starting out. Even if you are a seasoned planner, it’s still wise to revisit your pricing to make sure you remain competitive while also being compensated appropriately. No...
ILEA Spark Awards 2025 Winners
Each year, the ILEA Chicago Chapter Spark Awards honor the creativity, innovation, and excellence of the city’s event and hospitality professionals. From breathtaking décor and immersive culinary experiences to powerful fundraisers and corporate celebrations, this...
How Wedding Planners Can Successfully Design Destination Weddings, Micro Weddings, and Elopements in 2025
Weddings have never been a one-size-fits-all affair, and in 2025, that truth has never been more apparent. The modern wedding landscape is defined by flexibility, personalization, and intentionality. Couples are breaking free from traditions, opting instead for more...
How To Keep Planning Your Wedding During COVID-19
Many couples are unsure of how to move forward with their wedding plans during COVID-19. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track throughout the process.
Stella Artois is Giving $30,000 towards the Wedding of a Lucky Couple Affected by COVID-19
Photo by @Wedding_Photography Times are tough, and COVID-19 has caused countless couples to be heartbroken over delays and cancellations of their weddings. Knowing this, Stella Artois is hoping to add a silver lining for one lucky couple with their "Far From You, But...
5 Tips for Booking Celebrity Talent
This past Sunday marked one of the biggest events in the US: The Oscars. We still have celebrity fever, and so we got some great tips from entertainment and event industry expert Brett Ihde, CPCE, on how to add celebrities to your next event. Brett has managed tours...
Build Up Your Resources: Add V.I.P. Valet Services to Your Vendor List
There are many aspects to planning events, and some are more obvious than others. But what sets good planners apart from the best planners is the ability to manage and be prepared for more than just the space, food, music and decor. The best planners know that...
Creating Beautiful Invitations and Save the Dates for a Wedding with basic invite
*Sponsored Content from basicinvite.com As many of us in the events industry know, it's engagement season and there are a variety of events are planned around an upcoming wedding. From engagement parties to bridal showers, a save the date for a wedding and even...
Winter 2019-2020 Issue
Where to go for New Year’s 2020, Signature Seasonal Cocktails, Doubletree partners with Diveheart, an organization for adults and children with disabilities…
15 Catering Options $15 or Less
Have to feed your group on a budget? We've found 15 catering options in Chicago for $15 or less before tax and gratuity/delivery fees. Options start as low as $3.63 and include locations for day-of ordering. Click the images to visit their catering websites for more...
Spring/Summer 2019 Issue
The Most Anticipated Hotel Opening of 2019, Industry News, Featured Industry Pros, New Views and More! [googleapps domain="drive" dir="file/d/1brh7Qr2c-use8B12Ll5K4kkhw4JtE8tR/preview" query="" width="640" height="480" /]
Choose Chicago 2018 Annual Meeting Review
We've summarized Choose Chicago's 2018 Annual Meeting Stats that every Chicago Events & Hospitality Professional should know. See below for the quick review or you can read the full report here. [googleapps domain="drive"...
Live Event Review: How to Get More Convention Business
Chicago Planner Magazine’s first quarterly panel with our partner, Convene on Tuesday, April 2, 2019: “How to Get More Convention Business.” Featuring Robert Haas with PCMA, Barb Harris with CTC DMC, Julie Mullins with Choose Chicago, and Benjamin Smock of Chicago Concierge
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Join Us Monday, Dec 15th!
Hear from Rose Horcher O’Connor, VP of Client Services at Choose Chicago and Hannah Loftus, VP of Research at World Business Chicago about the trends, major events and conventions, and economic indicators that will shape Chicago in 2026. Gain insights into demands, growing sectors, opportunities for your business, and what to expect in the year ahead.