When traveling for business, chances are you’re going to end up in Chicago at some point. The modern metropolis in the Midwest always ranks as one of the top destinations for business meetings and events, for good reason with its two airports, O’Hare and Midway, a major convention center, top-notch accommodations, restaurants for entertaining and interesting options for group outings. Have a look at the business bets.
Matter of Conventions
As the largest and most flexible use convention center in North America with 2.6 million square feet of event space, McCormick Place just so happens to be the choice venue for large scale trade and consumer events from the Chicago Auto Show to world congresses. Minutes from downtown, the center is on the lakefront and offers views of the iconic city skyline. Travelers who come to town to attend a convention or conference at McCormick are within a short distance of hotels, restaurants and attractions.
The Destination for Dining
Finding a place for a business lunch or dinner will never be a problem because Chicago is home to more than 7,300 restaurants including AAA Diamond Five Diamond establishments: Acadia, Alinea and Oriole, and more casual eateries. One way to get a taste is to come out for Chicago Restaurant Week, the annual dining event that takes place every winter (January 24-February 9 this year). More than 400 restaurants around town offer pre-fixe multi-course menus of sumptuous cuisine from Contemporary American to Asian Fusion, Italian, Mediterranean and so much more.
Entertaining Around the Loop
When entertaining clients or colleagues is on the agenda, a night out taking in a Broadway-caliber production at one of the Chicago theaters in the Loop area downtown is always a good idea. Try to snag one of the best seats in the house at the James M. Nederlander Theatre which has the Donna Summer Musical on the playbill in February 2020 or the Cadillac Palace Theatre for My Fair Lady in March, and the CIBC Theatre to see upcoming award-winning productions, Waitress and Dear Evan Hansen.
Seeing the Sights and Teambuilding: Group Outings
Meeting planners or anyone looking to organize an outing for a group in town might consider the Big Bus Chicago Hop-On and Hop-Off Tour. People can explore at their leisure and see iconic Chicago sites, such as the Magnificent Mile, the Field Museum and the Adler Planetarium. For those who want to experience the local flavor, Chicago Pizza Tours serves up a delightful experience and explores the classic pizzerias nestled in the different neighborhoods.
As for fun activities that work well for teambuilding, head to WhirlyBall Chicago for bumper cars, laser tag and games, or 10Pin Lanes to break the ice over pizza, pool and bowling.