Pamela J. Tolson
CAE; Executive Director; llinois Society of Association Executives (ISAE); Springfield, Ill.
Describe your event. Each year ISAE hosts an event called Summer Session, which features a premier meeting site in Illinois. The ISAE member CVBs bid on hosting Summer Session, creating an agenda of fun venues for us to visit over a three-day stay. Usually we have 20 to 30 association meeting planners attend the event and visit the venues to become familiar with what the area has to offer for association meetings and events. The Chicago Southland CVB was our host, and we stayed at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Tinley Park Convention Center. The itinerary included golf and having fun at some top entertainment facilities in the area.
What surprised you the most about Chicago Southland? Being from Central Illinois, we tend to think of the Chicago area as a large venue covered by concrete, but the number of outdoor venues and things to do outdoors surprised us.
What did your attendees seem to enjoy the most? We went to a ball game and had a lot of fun. We also went to Irons Oaks Adventure Center for team building, but unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate. We were surprised, though, to find this venue, learn about its program and enjoy the environment.
Was anybody particularly helpful at a venue or property? Everyone was very helpful. Because ISAE is bringing members to venues where they can hold their future meetings, we tend to be very pampered! However, Mary Patchin of the Chicago Southland CVB was the person we depended on to coordinate our event and make most of the arrangements. I give her lots of credit.
What other types of groups would fit well with the property? The hotel with its convention center is great for association meetings that need space for a trade show and educational breakouts. Usually small associations have difficulty finding a facility that will give them as much space as they need when they don’t take a very large percentage of the sleeping rooms. Often these associations can’t afford a convention center venue separate from their host hotel. The Holiday Inn Tinley Park offered both sleeping rooms and extensive meeting space.
Did you incorporate any interesting activities into the agenda? We played golf at the University Golf Club. We certainly had lots of good food and adult beverages! All the properties rolled out the red carpet for us.
Do you have any advice for other planners who might bring a meeting to Chicago Southland? Yes, look at all the venues. There are the usual hotel names, but there are also some great boutique venues that offer a special experience with all the amenities. It’s a great place to hold a meeting and very affordable. Don’t overlook this great meeting site in Illinois.