Toni Roberts, award winning executive pastry chef at theWit Hotel Chicago, is satisfying everyone’s sweet tooth this holiday season with the reintroduction of an exclusive Thanksgiving to go dessert menu. Whether you’re currently embracing everything pumpkin spice or a self-proclaimed chocolate connoisseur, the menu features a little something for everyone.
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Illinois M+E Best of 2020 Finalists
POSTED February 20, 2020
Congratulations to all of the finalists for Illinois Meetings + Events Best of 2020 readers' choice awards! We look forward to celebrating and announcing the 2020 Best of winners and finalists as well as our 2020 Hall of Fame inductees in the upcoming Summer 2020 issue! Check out a full list of this year's finalists below.
Best Audio-Visual/Visual Presentation Provider
A/V Chicago
FROST
PSAV
Best Boats/Cruises/Charters
Chicagoline Cruises
Chicago's First Lady Cruises
Odyssey Chicago River
Best Brewery/Winery/Distillery
City Winery
Lagunitas Brewing Company Chicago
Revolution Brewing
Best Catering Company (On- or Off-Site)
Blue Plate
Catering by Michaels
Food for Thought
Best Conference or Resort Venue
Eaglewood Resort & Spa
Lincolnshire Marriott Resort
McCormick Place
Best Convention + Visitors Bureau – Outside Chicagoland
Greater Galena Marketing Inc.
ILLINOISouth Tourism
Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau
Best Convention + Visitors Bureau – In Chicagoland
Choose Chicago
Meet Chicago Northwest
Rosemont Convention & Visitors Bureau
Best Destination Management Company (DMC)
360 Destination Group
CTC Destination Management
Revel Global Events
Best Entertainment (Performer or Talent Agency)
BeatMix Music
Fig Media Inc.
Magnificent Events
Best Event Décor/Florist
HMR Designs
Kehoe Designs
Revel Decor
Best Historic or Cultural Venue
Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago History Museum
The Field Museum
Best Holiday Party Venue
The Drake, a Hilton Hotel
The Geraghty
The Walnut Room
Best Hotel with Meeting/Event Space - Less Than 350 Guest Rooms
Chicago Athletic Association Hotel
The Rose Hotel
theWit Chicago - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
Best Hotel with Meeting/Event Space - More Than 350 Guest Rooms
The Drake, a Hilton Hotel
LondonHouse Chicago
Palmer House Hilton
Best Meeting/Event Venue No Hotel
Bridgeport Art Center
Lincoln Park Zoo
Theater on the Lake
Best New Venue
The Hoxton
RPM on the Water
Starbucks Reserve Chicago Roastery
Best Nightlife Event Space
ROOF on theWit
Tao Chicago
Three Dots and a Dash
Best Outdoor or Rooftop Venue
Chicago Botanic Garden
Cindy's
ROOF on theWit
Best Photography/Videography
Edward Fox Photography & Video
Jennifer Girard Photography
Rick Aguilar Studios
Best Private Club Venue
Chicago Yacht Club
Soho House
Union League Club
Best Private Dining Space in a Restaurant
City Winery
Girl and the Goat
The Signature Room at the 95th
Best Renovation
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
InterContinental Chicago
ROOF on theWit
Best Rental Service Provider (tables, linens, tents, etc.)
BBJ Linen
Halls Rentals
Marquee Event Rentals
Best Team-Building
Bad Axe Throwing
Topgolf
WhirlyBall
Best Transportation (limo, motorcoach, taxi, shuttle)
Aries Charter
Signature Transportation Group
Windy City Limousine
Best Venue Outside Chicagoland
The Abbey Resort
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
Best Venue on the Water
Beatnik On The River
River Roast
RPM on the Water
As with most facets of the meetings and events industry, the art of managing an event budget is a true balancing act. And while it’s easy to get wrapped up in the nitty-gritty, Eventbrite revealed a pleasant surprise in its 2018 Pulse Report (which surveyed 1,200 planners), finding that event budgets overall appear to be on the rise. But where exactly are those budget dollars going these days and how can planners best spend to craft memorable moments?
According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, about 1.5 million Illinois workers are employed in the food and fiber system, ranking it as one of the top states in dependency on agriculture. The state’s 72,500 farms utilize 75 percent of Illinois land, including some of the most fertile soil in the world. While nicknamed “The Prairie State,” Illinois is truly a land of plenty and a hub for agritourism—with some of the largest agriculture-focused events (holding the potential for major economic impact) taking place inside its borders.