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B M & T ••• May/June 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 59 CHICAGO AREA GUIDES CHI-TOWN: BIG SHOULDERS, BOLD MEETINGS, BRIGHT IDEAS BY PATRICE A. KELLY Chicago has collected a few nick- names over the years. Some know it as the "Windy City," due to the city's politi- cal history, poet Carl Sandburg immortal- ized it as the "City of Big Shoulders," a testament to its industrial roots, but the locals mostly call it "Chi-Town." Whatever name you prefer, Chicago delivers exactly what meeting planners need: a city built to host big gatherings, bold ideas, and memorable experiences. With massive convention infrastructure, globally recognized dining, and a cultural landscape rich with Black history and a vibrant artistic community, Chicago makes it easy for you to design a meeting that feels productive by day and unforget- table by night. At the center of it all is McCormick Place, North America's largest convention center. Set along Lake Michigan just south of downtown, the campus spans four interconnected buildings with more than 2.6 million sq. ft. of exhibition space and approximately 600,000 sq. ft. of meeting rooms across more than 170 spaces. Large ballrooms, Wintrust Arena, and the 4,000-seat Arie Crown Theater allow you to design trade shows, general sessions, and live events all on one campus. The scale is impressive, but what makes it practical is how easily it connects to the rest of the city. McCormick Place sits minutes from Chicago's cultural highlights, with access to public transit and both international airports. The surrounding McCormick Square district adds another layer of con- venience, with hotels like the Hyatt Regency and the Marriott Marquis, restaurants, and entertainment venues linked by pedestrian bridges and transit lines. That proximity means less time coor- dinating logistics and more time shaping the attendee experience. Beyond the meeting room, Chicago offers cultural experiences that are easy to add to your agenda. The Art Institute of Chicago underpins the city's visual arts scene. Nearby neighborhoods like Bronzeville and Hyde Park allow immer- sive exploration of the city's intellectual, artistic, and cultural legacy. Just east of Hyde Park sits the Obama Presidential Center, due to open June 19, 2026. The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry delivers large-scale, interactive exhibits while the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center pro- vides essential context on African American history. So, it's simple to design off-site programs that feel pur- poseful rather than add-on. Chicago's dining scene is one of the clearest expressions of the city's cultural depth. Shaped by decades of migration, it provides the flexibility to curate meals that feel elevated yet rooted in community. Hyde Park's Virtue Restaurant has earned national recognition for its refined approach to Southern cuisine. In nearby Bronzeville, Pearl's Place remains a trusted destination for soul food and brunch, while Truth Italian Restaurant brings a contemporary perspective to Italian dining in a vibrant setting. As the day transitions into evening, Chicago's music traditions take center stage. Jazz and blues continue to shape the city's nightlife, offering planners a nat- ural way to extend the experience. Buddy Guy's Legends remains a cornerstone of the blues scene, while The Green Mill pre- serves the ambiance of a historic jazz lounge. Kingston Mines delivers high- energy performances across multiple stages, and Norman's Bistro pairs live jazz with a globally inspired menu. Each venue provides a different entry point into Chicago's sound, giving attendees a sense of place that goes beyond the meeting room. No matter what you call it, Chicago delivers big productive gatherings, bold ideas, and memorable experiences to make your meeting unforgettable. McCormick Place photo credit: McCormick Place C.C. • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Hyatt Regency McCormic Place 1,258 rooms Marriott Marquis Chicago 1,205 rooms Hiltons at McCormick Place 466 rooms EXHIBITION FACILITIES McCormick Place Convention Center Total Meeting 2.6M sq. ft. Largest Hall 840,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 173 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Choose Chicago – (312) 567-8500 www.choosechicago.com