Chicago Southland Meeting Facilities Top Choice for SMERF Market Event Planners

The Chicago Southland region has become a top choice for event planners as they identify venues to hold their religious/fraternal meetings, annual conventions, reunions, team building, retreats, board meetings, and other special events.

Some event organizers are asking, “What make the Chicago Southland meeting facilities unique and why should I reach out to CSCVB?”. The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau can assist event planners in many ways. The CSCVB acts as the primary source of information for the Chicago Southland region. Meeting organizers can rely on the expertise of the CSCVB professional staff to assist in all facets of planning the event. They offer a variety of free professional services to groups booked through the CSCVB including: name badges, welcome banners and corporate social responsibility options, to name a few. Also, a variety of brochures, videos and electronic files for individuals and groups are available upon request to event planners. These brochures contain information on hotels, attractions, cultural organizations, restaurants and activities in the Chicago Southland area.

For the meeting planner looking for assistance with event suppliers, the Bureau has a list of members representing every facet of the hospitality industry including: audio/visual, transportation, decorators, florists, tour companies, specialty items, etc. CSCVB can introduce event planners to the local suppliers who will help make their event a success.

Most event planners would agree they are always looking for new, effective ways to market their upcoming event. If the event is open to the public, it can be listed in the Chicago Southland Festivals & Events Brochure (if deadline is met). It can also be listed on the Bureau’s website, their weekly calendar (which gets faxed to hotels), their event hotline, as well as their social media outlets. The CSCVB can also assist with the event promotion by sending out news releases or supplying a copy of their media list. Please note that The Bureau requires a minimum of 15 business days to accommodate this request.

The convenience of location is certainly one of the best features of Chicago Southland. With six interstates running through the region, it is accessible from any direction, and is just a five-hour drive from eight different states. The Chicago Southland is only minutes away from both Midway International and O’Hare International Airports, has many commuter rail options, and is just 30 minutes outside of downtown Chicago, making it one of the most accessible meeting destinations out there.  

Attractions and Amenities

Chicago Southland offers many different facilities to hold any kind of event, big or small. With six full service hotels and a multitude of select service hotel brands with meeting space, Tinley Park’s 70,000 sq. ft. convention center, and many more unique meeting venues you will easily find the facility perfect for an upcoming meeting, convention or event. All the Chicago Southland facilities also offer free parking, and many of the hotels provide complimentary continental breakfast, making it an affordable option for many.

In addition to their many different meeting facilities, Chicago Southland has a 38-acre nature preserve called Irons Oaks. Irons Oaks offers programs in outdoor recreation, environmental education, adventure education and corporate training. This is the perfect destination for a company retreat to work on team building skills as well as individual skills. Companies that participate in Irons Oaks’ corporate reach training can expect to leave with enhanced skills in collaboration, communication, problem solving and accountability. The skills learned at Irons Oaks will be sure to create noticeable improvements in the work place.

The many attractions and endless activities in the Chicago Southland area are a large reason so many people enjoy holding meetings and other events here. Some of the attractions include Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Navy Pier, several distilleries and wineries, a children’s museum, and Standard Bank Stadium, home of the Windy City Thunder Bolts. On top of all the amazing attractions, the Chicago Southland also has many outstanding restaurants. With award winning breweries, farm to table restaurants, fine dining and more, the only hard part of holding an upcoming event here is deciding where to eat. Chicago Southland is a very lively area that truly has something for everyone.

So, whether it’s an organization looking for team building event venues, an annual event, or a 2,000 person convention near Chicago, organizers should consider Chicago Southland when planning their next event. To find out more or to contact CSCVB, check them out at: https://www.visitchicagosouthland.com/Meetings

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