Visit our directory for corporate holiday party venues and services in Chicago.

Featured Holiday Party Venues 

  The Vibe.  The Versatility. The Venue!

Crobar - The Elite special event facility in Chicago.  A true full - service event space for holiday parties:

Crobar Chicago has 10,000 square feet, 28 foot ceilings, 6 bars, world class lighting effects, specialized catering, video production, themed decor, live band capability, creative and customized talent including aerial artists.   Contact Arona Martin, Special Events Director at (312) 266-1990 or email her at arona@ddde.com.  Visit Crobar holiday parties webpage for more information.  Mention you saw this holiday party announcement on Hereschicago.com and receive a 20 % discount on your next holiday party. 

Chicago—Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, Illinois, announces a special Winter Escape Package from November 16 through December 30.  Guests will receive 20% off the rate of the day for deluxe accommodations for two in one of the hotel’s luxurious guest rooms, along with complimentary self-parking. For reservations, call 312.567.1234, and ask for the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place “Winter Escape Package.”   Hyatt Regency McCormick Place holds the prestigious honor of being recognized as a AAA Four Diamond property.  AAA describes Four Diamond properties as accommodations that are “progressively more refined and stylish,” and maintain a “high degree of attention to detail.”    Hyatt Regency McCormick Place has 800 guest rooms, 43,000 square feet of function space, and a 12,000 square foot Grand Ballroom.  A newly renovated 6,600 square foot contemporary dining venue offers three unique dining experiences; Shor, a 210-seat Chicago Grille, Forno, a 50-seat Italian trattoria, and M/X, a sleek, high energy bar and lounge featuring “large spirits and small plates”.  The hotel also includes Daily Grind coffee shop, a lobby bar, a full service Business

Center with Wireless High Speed Internet and an indoor pool and health club facility.  Featuring stunning views of the city skyline, the hotel is situated directly next to

McCormick

Place

Convention Center, minutes from U.S Cellular Field, and near downtown Chicago’s many attractions including Lake Michigan, the

Field

Museum and the Magnificent Mile.  Complimentary shuttle transportation is available to downtown

Chicago.  Hyatt Regency McCormick Place is only 10 miles from

Midway

Airport.    For reservations or more information, call 312.567.1234 or visit www.hyatt.com. Global Hyatt CorporationGlobal Hyatt Corporation, one of the world’s premier hotel companies, offers today’s travelers over 735 hotels and resorts (over 136,000 rooms) in more than 44 countries. The company’s affiliates own, operate, manage and franchise Hyatt branded hotels and resorts under the Park Hyatt™, Grand Hyatt™, Hyatt Regency™, Hyatt Resorts™, Hyatt™, Hyatt Place™ and Hyatt Summerfield Suites ® brands. In April 2007, Hyatt launched its newest global brand, AndazÔ.  Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc. operator of the Hyatt Vacation Club and fractional residential properties and U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc, which franchises Hawthorn Suites and Microtel Inns and Suites.  From the U.S. and Canada, reservations for any Hyatt hotel worldwide may be obtained by calling 1-800-233-1234 or logging onto www.hyatt.com. 

Our new restaurant concept is the culmination of decades of world travel, research and restaurant excellence and sets a new standard for distinctive fine dining.  We are taking the best of what we have seen and experienced and are elevating it to the next level to create this new concept where, quite simply, we give guests what they want in an experience closer to what people feel in our homes than what they typically feel in restaurants. 

We strive for a balance between providing comfort and offering an opportunity for discovery. The food, drinks, music and design all offer comfortable elements, but there is always something new, something unique, even edgy, to provide the guests with a little discovery and adventure.
From the time they are seated guests control the dining experience. Most start with a visit to our Harvest Table featuring homemade soups and inspired salads made with fresh seasonal ingredients. Fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared salads, meats, cheeses, and artisan breads ensure something to please every palate. For many of our guests, this alone makes the perfect meal.

For the ultimate experience as many as a dozen chefs prepare and grill a variety of fresh fish, chicken, beef, pork, and lamb dishes over an open charcoal fire. As each item is prepared that chef will visit your table and share with you their unique grilled specialty. A variety of side dishes, mostly classics with a few unique twists, pair beautifully with the main courses. Our exceptional desserts, quality wine list, seasonal signature cocktails will complete you. As guests in our home, you are welcome to enjoy as much as you wish of any or all our chefs’ offerings. Our focus is to share with our guests the best we have to offer - comfortable tastes and opportunities for discovery - with items both from around the corner and from the around the world. 

Our service model is unique in that guests do not need to order and there is no waiting time for food to be delivered.  This service-in-the-round style enables each guest to control the variety, pace and portions of their dining experience. The guest response is extremely positive in this “360 service” environment where, as it should be, not one or two, but every staff member is working hard to ensure their satisfaction.  This superior delivery model combined with our passion for the guest experience provides service that is gracious, knowledgeable and builds unsurpassed guest loyalty. The focus on making emotional connections, story-telling and a high level of guest recognition has been refined in our other fine-dining restaurants across the country and is at the heart of our ability to consistently deliver an unparalleled guest experience.
 
Our guests will dine amidst a contemporary internationally inspired design highlighted with earth elements. We call it “groovy organic”. By hiring award winning architects, designers, and sound company, we are ensuring that the atmosphere as well is elevated to the next level.

Check out our website at www.zed451.com or contact us at (630) 810-9403

For a directory of Chicago Suburban Restaurants, visit Hereschicago.com.

 

Sponsor a child for Breakfast with Santa at Hard Rock Cafe Chicago!  Once again, local charities have beeninvited to bring less fortunate children to Hard Rock to enjoy a Breakfast Buffet with Santa.  Each child will also have a picture taken with Santa and as a keepsake, receive a Hard Rock souvenir photo holder to display the memory.  As an early gift, kids will be given a party bag filled with rockin’ holiday goodies.  Sponsors will receive a picture of the child with Santa and most importantly, the amazing feeling of making a child happy this holiday season!  Corporate sponsors will also receive recognition via press release to local media.  

This event takes place on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at: 

Hard Rock Cafe Chicago

63 West Ontario (Clark & Ontario)

Chicago, IL

60610 About Hard Rock International  With 124 high-energy Hard Rock Cafes, seven Hotel & Casinos and one stand-alone Casino in 43 countries, Hard Rock International is one of the world’s most globally-recognized brands.  Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe.  Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website.  Hard Rock International, Inc. is owned by The Rank Group Plc (RNK.L).  For more information on Hard Rock, visit www.hardrock.com. Hard Rock Cafe Chicago is a Planner Preferred Vendor on Hereschicago.com.

WHEN YOU NEED ANOTHER YOU… CALL A DMC!

Author: Association of Destination Management Executives

You’re a busy professional who knows what’s required for every type meeting for which you are responsible. You also know it is not really possible for you to personally handle every detail on some of your projects: the meeting is too large; the time frames between sessions and events are too short; there is not enough staff available. What you need is another you!Well, there is no other you, but there is something out there that may come close. No matter where your meeting or project is scheduled, help is as close as your nearest Destination Management Company. The newest association in the meetings management field has begun to take some of the mystery out of the most invisible component of the invisible industry of meetings. “Destination Management Company” is a relatively new term, but the companies carrying this descriptor are anything but new. Some 30-something years ago, transportation companies started to see an increase in the number of clients wishing to rent equipment of all types: buses, vans, limousines, etc. This increase was in direct relation to a proliferation of more meetings and larger conventions. When this occurred, some clients started to request services other than transportation equipment. These companies attempted to meet the need, and the name “ground operator” came into being.In the early 1980s, some segments of the

U.S. economy were struck by a recession, which resulted in downsizing (sound familiar?) by some organizations. They let their meeting professionals go, but they still needed the services performed by them. What to do? Hire them back as an independent contractor on a short-term basis. That was fine for the company, but it did not fully meet the needs of the meeting professional. To be able to continue in the profession they had chosen, these professionals would need to work for more than one company or organization. They also recognized the need to know everything there is about the destination in which they perform their services. Which company has the most reliable buses? What entertainer is available for that special evening? Do we need a permit to hold a picnic in that park? Where do we get the permit? How much will it cost? What are the other rules and regulations related to holding this picnic (or ball game, or concert)? What is the history of this area (destination)? Are there sufficient, well-versed guides to take people to see the areas of interest? What restaurants can handle this size group? Should box lunches be an option, and if so, where do we get them?These questions are only a few that faced the early practitioners of destination management. Not only did they need to know all the foregoing, but they also needed to determine how to set up a small business; because that, indeed, is what they were becoming. Do we hire every person who works on these events? How much office space and staff will I need? What about insurance? What type company–corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership?Marketing, networking, which organizations are best for the company, all were questions needing answers. Because many had come from the meetings management segment of the industry, they understood the need to stay current in that segment of the industry and joined MPI, PCMA, ASAE, and the other meeting-related organizations. And all had and have one thing in common — a “can-do” attitude. Even if they had not performed a particular service before, if the client needed it, they found the way to do it!Now the destination management component is maturing, and meeting professionals have come to rely on these mainstays to get them through some challenging projects. Many times, the meeting manager does not have the luxury of time to research all the answers for various projects and components. The destination management professional knows he/she is obligated to know about the peculiarities of their specific destination. They become locale-specific logistic and event experts for their respective destination. They research what new locations are available, what the cost of various sites are, whom they contact, and how to make everything work. The staff is continually educated on all aspects required. Quality independent contractors with special skills and talents are investigated and recruited. Most use only people who have been personally recommended by someone who already has performed outstanding project work. For a large event, it is not unusual to draw on a pool of 150 contractors. Care is taken to match the project staff with the needs of the meeting professional.An additional sign of coming of age for this segment of the industry is that of forming an educational association to raise the level of professionalism, to explore the best ways of doing business and serving customers, and to educate those customers as to what they can expect from a destination management company. To this end, the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME) came into existence on June 24, 1995. The fledgling organization held its first Annual Conference in January, 1996, and of course, among the first-ever speakers were meetings professionals from both the corporate and association fields.Destination management companies are architects and general contractors for meeting professionals. They outline ideas via proposals, and once the decision is made, set out to make the desired component happen. Just as convention services managers in hotels and Decorating Companies in the exhibit hall become extensions of your staff, your ultimate outsource partner outside the education sessions and exhibit halls, is your destination management company.Depending on the company and the staff specialists in the company, they offer, but are not limited to, the following:

• Creative proposals for special events within the meeting,
• Guest tours,
• VIP amenities and transportation,
• Shuttle services (including statistics) to assist with future planning,
• Staffing within the convention center,
• Picnics and other outdoor activities, such as team building,
• Entertainment, both headlines and talented locals, and sound and light professionals
• Decor and theme development,
• Ancillary meetings management professionals,
• Advance and onsite registration services,
• Housing,
• And whatever else the meeting professional might need to insure his/her event is successful.

Where do you find the ultimate outsource partner for your needs? Whether in or out of town, begin with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, or if there is not one, the Chamber of Commerce. Serious destination management company professionals belong to one of these organizations. Ask a colleague if they can recommend one in the locale. If you have successfully used a company in the past, ask if they can refer you to someone in the next city. Some companies belong to marketing groups which have stringent requirements for the individual companies. Inquire if the company belongs to ADME, as this organization has membership criteria to hopefully insure reliability of the members. Prepare an RFP and send it to the companies being considered.

And don’t hesitate to use a DMC, even in your own backyard! The time and effort saved can make it extremely cost-effective to use this type of partner no matter where you are. They will have the most current information on sports events, cultural activities, festivals, and just plain fun and facts to help you be the best you can be for every meeting and event you manage. Your staff can then concentrate on the organization-related details that only you can handle.

For a complete list of Chicago Destination Management Companies, visit our Directory of Chicago Destination Mangement Companies.

There are several things to think about when planning a corporate event, private party, group gathering or wedding on a yacht or boat on Navy Pier. If you are seeking tips on booking a private yacht charter in

Chicago, click here for tips.

For a directory of Chicago boats, cruise boats, charter boats and vessels on Lake Michigan for your next private, corporate, wedding or social event, visit Hereschicago.com.

If you are seeking a place to hold your next Corporate Holiday Party in Chicago, visit Hereschicago.com. Chicago restaurants and unique venues in Chicago await your call or email for your next holiday party or event. It’s not too late to book your party in Chicago for the holidays!

Dear Industry Colleagues and Friends,The SITE Chicago Chapter is excited to announce our annual fundraiser and networking event, Tuesday, November 6th from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. at he Adler Planetarium, located on Lake Michigan. Click here to register or get more information.

The highlight of the evening will be the Annual Live and Silent Auctions providing all of you a great opportunity to shop for gifts for the holidays. There will be many outstanding packages and gift items. Invite colleagues, clients and friends who may not be SITE members yet.The advance registration for this event will be $35.00 for Suppliers & Guests, Buyers/Planners are complimentary &$50.00 at the door for Suppliers & Guests. Click here to register or get more information. If you are interested in donating airlines tickets, hotel packages, travel items or money, you may send your donation directly to either of us by October 15th. We’ll need to know of any restrictions, expiration dates and other special conditions. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to seeing you on November 6th and thank you in advance for your assistance and support of this most important event. Kind regards, SITE CHICAGO AUCTION CO-CHAIRS

Julie Hedlund
THE LEADING HOTELS OF THE WORLD, LTD.
Tel (312) 263-7155 / Fax (312) 263-5045
Email: Julie.Hedlund@lhw-offices.com
www.sitechicago.org

Adam Lawhorne
MEETING INCENTIVE EXPERTS INC.
Tel (312) 842-3600 / Fax (312) 873-4263
Email: adam@miexperts.com
www.sitechicago.org

October 16, 2007

A Travel & Leisure/CNN Headline News poll ranked the top 25 cities for a business trip that’s secretly fun and Chicago topped the list. Embattled New Orleans came in second, and surprisingly, super glitzy

Las Vegas came in at what must be considered a disappointing eighth place. Low scores in culture, museums and overall intelligence of the locals were just some of the culprits that kept Las Vegas from scoring higher, while

Chicago received high marks for it’s skyline, ease of transportation and neighborhoods.