What's New

Aggressive growth and progressive leadership are the hallmarks of the Greater Chicago area in 2006. For starters, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority announced that it will open the doors of the new McCormick Place West Building in July 2007, eight months earlier than the original target date.

Next door in Schaumburg, Ill., the long-awaited Schaumburg Convention Center is scheduled for completion even sooner — by July 2006. And in nearby Hoffmann Estates, the Sears Centre Arena will be completed this fall.

Chicago's hotel inventory is keeping pace with its meeting space. It's projected to grow by 10 percent over the next three years. According to the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, Chicago's current downtown hotel inventory of more than 30,000 rooms is poised for an aggressive growth spurt that will add 3,000 new hotel rooms by 2009. (Compare this to 5,000 rooms added over the last 10 years.) Additionally, the MPEA recently announced it is exploring the possibility of adding as many as 600 rooms to the existing 800-room Hyatt Regency McCormick Place adjacent to the convention center.

Two new Chicago-area leaders step into place. Tim Roby, a veteran hospitality industry sales and marketing executive, has been named president of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. Roby is filling the position left open last August when the CCTB's previous top executive, Chris Bowers, departed. And, after having devoted nearly 21 years of his career to heading the Rosemont Convention Bureau, Peter Lombardi retired in February. Grant Bailey, assistant executive director of sales and marketing for the Donald E. Stephens Convention and Conference Center, has been named acting executive director of the Rosemont Convention Bureau.

Facilities Update

Chicago

• Construction has begun on McCormick Place West. This expansion will add more than 800,000 square feet to the campus, including approximately 470,000 square feet of exhibit space and 250,000 square feet of meeting space in more than 60 meeting rooms, including a 100,000-square-foot ballroom. The five-level facility will have a central concourse on each level that puts meeting rooms, the exhibit hall, business services, and common areas in close proximity. Key features include flexible meeting space, a rooftop garden with covered terrace, and a centralized transportation center. Completion is scheduled for July 2007.

• The 250-room Mandarin Oriental is scheduled to begin construction near Millennium Park this year. Set for an early 2008 completion, the property will also house restaurants, retail shops, a spa, and 300 condominiums. Meeting space will include a 10,000-square-foot ballroom and four additional private meeting rooms.

• The 286-room Trump Tower Chicago Hotel is under construction on the Chicago River. The $750 million building is slated for a 2008 completion.

• The 183-room Elysian Hotel & Private Residences is scheduled to open in 2007. It will feature restaurants, boutiques, an 18,000-square-foot spa and health club, a private screening room, and views of the city and lakefront.

• The Hotel Blake opened in January 2006. The facility is a 161-room condominium-style hotel. The units are available for rental when not occupied by the owners.

• The Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro Hotel celebrated its grand opening in May. Located in the West Loop near the Sears Tower, the 398-room facility features more than 8,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space.

• The Four Points by Sheraton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile opened in June 2005. Located one block from the Magnificent Mile, the 246-room facility has 3,000 square feet of meeting space and an outdoor terrace for private functions.

• The 362-room all-suite Renaissance Chicago O'Hare Hotel opened for business in February 2005. The 15-story hotel features more than 21,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 5,000-square-foot ballroom and up to 26 meeting rooms.

• The 305-room Millennium Knicker-bocker Hotel Chicago will be undergoing full guest room renovations in 2007.

• Adjacent to the Magnificent Mile, the 415-room Sofitel Chicago Water Tower features a ballroom and 10 meeting rooms for up to 330 people.

Rosemont

• Ramada Plaza Hotel has undergone an extensive renovation, converting to a Holiday Inn Express. The property reopened in April, with a grand opening scheduled, at press time, for June.

• The 300-room Sofitel Chicago O'Hare is connected to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The hotel's conference center has 15 meeting rooms (for up to 300 people), five function rooms, and a grand ballroom for up to 1,000. Stays include complimentary shuttles to O'Hare International Airport.

Chicago Southland

• The Hilton Garden Inn — Tinley Park opened in March 2005. The 137-room hotel has 1,700 square feet of meeting space that includes a 15-seat boardroom and a 1,350-square-foot meeting/banquet room. A 24-hour business center and restaurant/bar are also on site.

Suburban Chicago

• The Schaumburg Convention Center is scheduled for completion in July. It will include a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 28,000-square-foot ballroom, and 20,000 square feet of meeting space. Supporting the convention center will be a 500-room Marriott Renaissance hotel, with two boardrooms, eight meeting rooms, and a 28,000-square-foot ballroom. The complex will feature free parking for 1,600 vehicles.

• The 242-room Wyndham Lisle-Chicago Hotel and Executive Meeting Center will add a 7,000-square-foot, IACC-approved executive meeting center to the facility's existing 21,000 square feet of meeting space. By completion at the end of this year, the conference center will also feature a fully refurbished lobby, restaurant, and 11,000-square-foot ballroom. It will have a full-service business center, and both wired and wireless Internet throughout the property.

• The 411-room Westin Hotel North Shore will open this fall with 40,000 square feet of meeting space, a club-level lounge, business center, and kosher kitchen. It will be located 15 minutes north of O'Hare International Airport.

• The Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates is scheduled to open in October 2006. The 12,000-seat multipurpose arena includes 40 suites and 1,000 club seats. It can accommodate a wide range of events.

• A 162-room Courtyard by Marriott opened last August in Schaumburg with 3,100 square feet of meeting space in five conference rooms.

• In spring 2005, the 312-room Hyatt Lisle completed its meeting space expansion. The facility now has 20 meeting rooms, including two executive boardrooms, a 4,140-square-foot ballroom, and a 2,100-square-foot outdoor pavilion. The facility's meeting space now totals 14,000 square feet.

• The 269-room Hotel Orrington in Evanston opened its new 12,000-square-foot conference center in January 2005.

• The 383-room Marriott Hickory Ridge Conference Hotel has added 10,000 square feet of meeting and breakout space to its conference center. The facility now offers 70 meeting rooms in 60,000 square feet of meeting space. In addition, the hotel has partnered with the adjacent Seven Bridges Gold Club to offer door-to-door golf cart service and special rates for hotel guests.

Ask the CVB

Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau
(312) 567-8500
www.choosechicago.com
Total Hotel Tax: 15.4%

Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau
(708) 895-8200
(888) 895-8233
www.visitchicagosouthland.com
Total Hotel Tax: Averages 10% in Southland communities

Chicago's North Suburbs, Prospect Heights CVB
(800) 955-7259, (847) 577-3666, ext. 304
www.chicagonorthsuburbs.com
Total Hotel Tax: 11%

DuPage CVB
(800) 232-0502, (630) 575-8070
www.dupagecvb.com
Total Hotel Tax: 7% to 15%

Lake County Illinois CVB
(847) 662-2700, (800) 525-3669
www.lakecounty.org
Total Hotel Tax: 11% to 12%

Lisle CVB
(800) 733-9811, (630) 769-1000
www.stayinlisle.com
Total Hotel Tax: 11%

Rosemont Convention Bureau
(847) 823-2100
www.rosemont.com
Total Hotel Tax: 13%

Greater Woodfield CVB
(800) 847-4849, (847) 490-1010
www.chicagonorthwest.com
Total Hotel Tax: 9% to 17%

Phantom Planner

• Looking for a good deal on public transportation? Consider a Chicago Transit Authority Visitor Pass. These unlimited ride passes are available in one-day ($5), two-day ($9), three-day ($12), and five-day ($18) increments. For advance sales, visit www.transitchicago.com. Visitor Passes can also be purchased at vending machines located at O'Hare, Midway, Chicago/State, Cumberland, and Rosemont rail stations and at the Water Works Visitor Information Center.

• Need a hand planning your downtime in Chicago? Check out Chicago's Information Centers, located in the Chicago Cultural Center (77 East Randolph Street) and the Chicago Water Works Building (163 East Pearson Street at Michigan Avenue). The Centers are open daily and provide friendly, knowledgeable ambassadors who are ready to answer questions and assist with planning visitors' itineraries.

• Navigating downtown Chicago can seem intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Because Chicago is laid out in a grid pattern, it is easy to navigate. Starting at the intersection of State and Madison streets, blocks increase by 100 in each direction.

Morton Arboretum

The Morton Arboretum (www.mortonarb.org) in Lisle, Ill., is one of the world's foremost public gardens, noted for its exceptional plant collections from all over the world. Open year-round, the arboretum features a 36,000-square-foot Visitor Center with two pavilions joined by a covered gateway. In 2005, the 1,700-acre arboretum added a new Maze Garden, featuring seven different “plant rooms” for visitors to explore, and a four-acre, interactive Children's Garden opened for children ages two through 10.

Special Venues

Search the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau's Special Event Venue Search Engine at www.choosechicago.com. And consider these highlights from all over the Greater Chicago region:

• The International Museum of Surgical Science offers an elegant setting — with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan — for lectures, meetings, receptions, and dinners for up to 200 guests. Architectural highlights include Italian marble floors and fireplaces, 14-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, and a gilded metal grand staircase. All events are focused on the second floor's Hall of Immortals and Hall of Murals, while guests have the opportunity to stroll through the exhibits on the other floors at their leisure. (312) 642-6502, ext. 3130; www.imss.org/hostevent.htm

• In the mild months, a great venue for your lakeside reception or black-tie gala is one of the pavilions at Buckingham Fountain. Adjacent to the Grant Park Rose Gardens, Buckingham Fountain is one of the largest and most majestic fountains in the world. With your choice of either the North or South pavilion, you're guaranteed the perfect backdrop (the city skyline or Lake Michigan) to an event. As many as 4,760 people can be accommodated. (312) 742-4838; www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

• At Chicago Indoor Racing in Buffalo Grove, Ill., you can hold your meeting in the morning and gear up for unforgettable teambuilding in the afternoon. Meeting facilities, accommodating up to 450 people reception-style, include built-in LCD projectors, wireless Internet access, and award-winning catering. But it's the racing your group will most remember. After donning race jumpsuits, they'll compete against one another to reach that checkered flag. (847) 941-9400; www.chicagoindoorracing.com

• It wouldn't be a trip to Chicago without attending Tony ‘n’ Tina's Wedding (where the bride and groom are celebrating 13 years). Private showings can be customized to your group — down to the engraved napkins. Visit in July, and you might even see Frankie Avalon as part of the cast. He's made a tradition of performing during the last week of the month. 312) 664-8844; www.tonyntina.com

• Nurture your group's competitive spirit at the Factory Paintball Arena in North Chicago. Located in a 50,000-square-foot historic building, the retro-industrial décor will help to make a unique event — but it's the messy, high-intensity fun that will give your group an adventure to remember. During the event, staff will teach participants how to play arena paintball. Then it's off to one of three indoor arenas for a heated battle. Book your event for up to 200 people any day of the week. (847) 473-2400; www.factorypb.com

Take a Break

The Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced the “Take a Break” meeting program. Groups booking new meetings through the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau will receive a $500 incentive for holding their meetings in the region.

For more information or to take advantage of the savings, call Mary Patchin at (888) 895-8233.

New in Rosemont

The Rosemont Entertainment District will soon be joining the recently expanded Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., making the city a site to watch. The Rosemont Entertainment District will feature a variety of restaurants, hotel accommodations, and shopping. The 840,000-square-foot convention center completed its 40,000-square-foot meeting space addition in 2004.

Visit www.rosemont.com for updates.