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...
Event Industry News Updates for Friday, April 25, 2025: New Venue Openings & Events Starting Today
Here's what's new in event industry news this week around Chicago. AMC Roosevelt Collection 16 Opens Today in the South Loop AMC has purchased the ICON Theater located in the Roosevelt Collection Shops and will open some of its theaters today. The most exciting...
The Ultimate Venue Walkthrough Checklist for Event Planners
As an event planner, one of the most common things you will do is tour venues. Whether you’re planning a corporate gala, a wedding, or a private social celebration, the walkthrough is your chance to uncover all the details that can make or break your event. Every...
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...
Event Industry News Updates for Friday, April 25, 2025: New Venue Openings & Events Starting Today
Here's what's new in event industry news this week around Chicago. AMC Roosevelt Collection 16 Opens Today in the South Loop AMC has purchased the ICON Theater located in the Roosevelt Collection Shops and will open some of its theaters today. The most exciting...
The Ultimate Venue Walkthrough Checklist for Event Planners
As an event planner, one of the most common things you will do is tour venues. Whether you’re planning a corporate gala, a wedding, or a private social celebration, the walkthrough is your chance to uncover all the details that can make or break your event. Every...
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
How to Get More Convention Business: A Live Panel Event
Register Here Join us on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019 from 5Pm-7PM for our Panel on How to Get More Convention Business. EVENT DETAILS Tuesday, April 2, 2019 | 5PM-7PM | 16 W. Adams St. Chicago, IL 60603This event will be moderated by Chicago Planner Magazine...
Our Top 25 Picks for Chicago Restaurant Week 2019
With nearly 400 options for restaurant week, Chicago Planner Magazine is sharing our Top 25 go-to spots for Restaurant Week 2019. Aba 302 N. Green St. 3rd Fl. Chicago, IL 60607 | (773) 645-1400 | Dinner @ $48 Aba is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Chicago,...