Affordability, ease of travel and facilities built for small meetings have always been the strengths of the Chicago suburbs. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause organizations to reevaluate the location, size and budget of in-person programs, these dynamic areas outside the Windy City are perhaps in an even more favorable position than before.
Throw in new developments to add to their repertoire, and the scales may be tipped in the suburbs’ favor over their higher-priced big-city counterpart. If you’re considering moving your program to the cities just outside of Chicago, here’s what you should know.
Chicago Southland
The Chicago Southland region is large—it’s made up of 62 municipalities, and the Chicago Southland CVB represents them all. For planners considering the Southland for the first time, the CVB is a useful resource to help parse out the best venues for their group.
“We offer marketing, PR, social media assistance to anyone that would want to book an event in the area,” said Andy Ritter, public relations manager for Chicago Southland CVB. “We always encourage people to look into our incentive programs—there’s usually always something our team can do.”
Ritter noted that in fall 2021, the Illinois Gaming Board announced that a new Wind Creek casino resort will open in 2023 in Homewood-East Hazel Crest. Expected plans include a 64,000-square-foot casino on 24 acres off of Interstate 80 and a $30 million, 21-story hotel with rooftop balconies that will offer views of the Chicago skyline. Meeting space will be available as well, though those details have yet to be announced.
Wind Creek is the first development coming to the Southland since the pandemic started, and it helps diversify the region’s offerings, which already include 38-acre nature preserve Iron Oaks Environmental Learning Center, over 600 holes of golf and multiple conference hotels.
Ritter added that the Southland is a five-hour drive from eight states, is within close proximity to both O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport, has plentiful free parking, and is still within easy reach of downtown Chicago for a more modest price—all of which combine to make it a compelling option for groups moving forward.
“We consider ourselves to be the ideal location for both regional and state programs, in large part because of our interstate system,” Ritter said. “We are best suited for anyone. For example, we have a little boutique hotel called La Banque—very high scale. When rock bands come into town to play at the amphitheater, they will usually stay there. It’s a private area, upscale. [Good] if you had a smaller, corporate, executive type of meeting…We can cater to everybody.”
[Related: These 4 Chicago Suburbs Offer Convenience and Personalization for Meetings]
Chicago North Shore
Well-known for its vibrant suburbs near Lake Michigan and prestigious Northwestern University, the Chicago North Shore area is another great option for planners that want easy access to O’Hare International Airport and downtown attractions like Wrigley Field but need dynamic meeting spaces without the cost that comes with hosting a gathering in downtown Chicago.
For planners eyeing this area, a slew of renovations and openings continues to elevate the North Shore as a meetings and events destination.
In fall 2020, Chicago-based Graduate Hotels opened its 28th property in its home state with the introduction of Graduate Evanston, steps away from the Northwestern University campus and Lake Michigan, in the former Homestead apartment and hotel building. The property, which was originally built in the 1920s, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The renovation unveils a cozy hotel that draws inspiration from both the property’s history and the art and literary culture that Evanston is known for. Small meetings and micro weddings can immerse their groups in this by hosting people in the Tea Room on the first floor or private dining room at onsite restaurant and bar The Graduate Homestead Room, which serves American comfort food and John Hughes-inspired cocktails.
Larger groups can enjoy some new and improved spaces in the North Shore, too. Most notably, Hilton Chicago Northbrook completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of its guest rooms and nearly 20,000 square feet of meeting space in 2019.
In nearby Skokie, the town village board voted this January to enter a development agreement with Chicago-based E&M Strategic Developments to build a 141-room Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotel and Conference Center on the former Sanford Brown Village site, which has sat vacant in downtown Skokie since 2014. The project is one component of a $400 million downtown development plan.
In a recent interview with the Chicago Tribune, economic development manager Len Becker said he expects the property to bring in 47,000 guests annually, many visitors of which he believes will utilize nearby Illinois Science + Technology Park.
[Related: Arts Event Venues and Workshops in Chicago's Suburbs]
Connect
Chicago North Shore
(847) 763-0011
Chicago Southland
(708) 895-8200
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