A Chicago Conference Itinerary Your Employees Will Love
by Emily Rubin, Writer
Planning a corporate Chicago conference or offsite event can be both time consuming and daunting — so we’ve done the work for you. Our Windy City itinerary will wow your employees or stakeholders with its Chicago-centric backdrop and ease of planning and customization.
Start by reserving a room block at Hotel Zachary, a gorgeous new boutique hotel which offers unparalleled accommodations in Wrigleyville right next to Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. Welcome attendees and foster connections over summer cocktails on the patio of the hotel’s restaurant, Mordecai, or host a winter gathering inside at The Bar at Hotel Zachary. With varied spaces and amenities, Hotel Zachary is able to customize options for the perfect kickoff event.
Images Courtesy of Hotel Zachary
The following day, cross the street to meet at the American Airlines Conference Center at Gallagher Way. The spot offers four spaces, with the largest — aptly named the “Home Plate Room” — featuring an open-air, second-floor terrace with terrific skyline and ballpark views. The Home Plate Room is perfect for larger meetings and presentations or awards ceremonies recognizing individual contributions to your company’s performance.
Set up the space in classroom or conference style, and send attendees out to the other conference rooms for breakout sessions, smaller group powwows, or team strategy sessions. Top-notch A/V capabilities include projectors, drop-down screens, and wireless internet access, which makes it easy to plan a productive day in spaces that trade banquet room vibes for a clean, modern, and well-located experience.
Serve lunch on the terrace or enjoy private spaces at on-site restaurants such as Big Star for elevated Mexican street food or Smoke Daddy for slow-cooked BBQ fare — perfect for managers or salespeople to meet and strategize over a delicious meal.
Images Courtesy of American Airlines Conference Center
Transition your day of meetings into a night of fun by gathering at Gallagher Way’s open air space that unofficially functions as the backyard to Wrigley Field. Offer attendees some deserved downtime by treating them to bites and sips catered by Chicago mainstay, Levy Restaurant Group, then head over to Wrigley Field for a concert or Cubs game. The historic ballpark is sure to wow out-of-town attendees, and baseball lovers will savor the memory of the evening forever.
Image Credits (clockwise starting from top left)
Images 1,2,3: Courtesy of Gallagher Way
Image 4: Heidi Zeiger Wedding Photography
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