Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546515
B M & T ••• September/October 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 18 ILLINOIS Illinois commands the Midwest with two interna- tional airports – O'Hare (ORD) serving 230-plus nonstop destinations and Midway (MDW) connect- ing 80-plus routes – placing Chicago within two hours of nearly every major U.S. city. Summer through early fall opens the strongest planning win- dow, with spring running a close second. Aurora brings accessible suburban energy through the Fox Valley region, while Peoria and Springfield deliver fully equipped venues that give planners serious space without Chicago price tags. The Great Migration left its mark here permanently - Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood and the DuSable Black History Museum, the nation's oldest independent African American museum with 15,000-plus works, carry that story forward. The Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce connects planners to a thriving com- munity of Black-owned vendors who know how to make an event land. Aurora, Chicago, Peoria, and Springfield together give planners four distinct mar- kets and one powerful state. C Aurora B Aurora sits 40 miles west of Chicago - close enough to leverage the city, smart enough to skip the cost. Metra BNSF service gives planners direct rail access into Chicago. RiverEdge Park delivers 7,000-capacity riverfront space for evening events. The Paramount Theatre, a National Historic Landmark, seats 1,888 with 23,000 square feet of event space and the Meyer Ballroom for breakout sessions. Marriott Aurora holds 61 guest rooms and 1,500 square feet of meeting space. Hampton Inn Aurora offers 127 guest rooms and 3,652 square feet of event space. Touché French Creole and Vibez on the River bring Black-owned dining steps away. Aurora gives planners real rail access, real space, and a dining scene worth the detour. C Chicago B Chicago doesn't host meetings – it commands them. McCormick Place spans 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space across four interconnected buildings, featuring a 100,000-square-foot Skyline Ballroom and 173 meeting rooms - the largest con- vention campus in North America. O'Hare International Airport serves 200+ nonstop destina- tions, ranking among the busiest airports in the world, with direct Blue Line rail service into the downtown core. Marriott Marquis Chicago holds 1,114 guest rooms, 93 suites, and 93,000 square feet of meeting space, connected to McCormick Place via enclosed skybridge. Hyatt Regency Chicago holds 2,032 guest rooms, 123 suites, and 240,000 square feet of event space, situated 3.5 miles north of the convention complex. When the sessions end, Chicago opens up. From live jazz and R&B at M Lounge to comedy at Comedy Bar Chicago to the celebrated Congo Square Theatre, planners have a full week of distinct evenings without repeating a venue. Ain't She Sweet Cafe and Pearl's Place bring Bronzeville's dining tradition into the attendee experience -– Pearl's Place draws corporate groups with Southern hospitality and dedicated buffet space. Chicago gives planners the Midwest's largest meeting campus, a Black cultural evening scene, and Bronzeville dining that carries the full weight of the South Side's history and hospitality. Aurora, Illinois skyline