MPI Chicago Area Chapter
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June 2024
IDEA INSIGHTS
Adorned in colorful parades and lively music, Pride Month is a time to celebrate diversity and self-expression. Pride Month creates a sense of liberation as people openly express themselves surrounded by a community that supports and celebrates them. During Pride, cities across the world ignite with waves of colors, music, and festivals that inspire both participants and onlookers to remember what defines this month: Love.

 

Discover the exceptional meeting and conference facilities at Lake Lawn Resort, where professionalism meets relaxation, just 90 minutes from Chicago and less than an hour from Milwaukee and Madison!

  • Flexible Meeting Spaces for Every Need: Lake Lawn Resort offers an impressive 32,000 square feet of versatile meeting space spread across 22 rooms, capable of accommodating groups of up to 400 attendees and designed to meet your needs with state-of-the-art technology and adaptable layouts.
  • Unique Meetings Aboard the Lake Lawn Queen: Imagine holding your next meeting on the tranquil waters of Delavan Lake aboard our majestic 76-foot cruise boat, the Lake Lawn Queen.
  • Enhanced with Premier Catering and Customizable Packages: Our comprehensive meeting packages are tailored to enhance your event with options including cocktail receptions, gourmet catered meals, and more. 
  • Engaging Team-Building Activities: Boost morale and foster teamwork with our engaging Team Building series. Let our facilitators help you customize a program that aligns with your group’s objectives and boosts performance long after your meeting concludes.

Ready to plan your next event with us? Contact our dedicated meeting planners at 262.728.7950 or visit our meetings page for more details.


Sioux Falls, SD – Experience it Differently
Experience Sioux Falls ®
A destination that is never the same with unexpected experiences around every corner. Visitors are welcomed by clean city streets and clear blue skies. Whether your group will be driving or flying, getting to South Dakota’s largest city is easy. From the flowing waters of the falls in the heart of a vibrant downtown to outdoor recreation and world-renowned art exhibit, there is no shortage of things to do.
Go somewhere different. Somewhere new
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
18
Jun 2024
 
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Odyssey Country Club
Tinley Park, IL
7
Aug 2024
 
The Dalcy
26
Nov 2024
 
Marriott Marquis Chicago
Chicago, IL
Chicago's First Lady Cruises
Providence Warwick CVB
EXPERT ADVICE
  
Whether you are a buyer or seller of goods and services, people will always do business with those they know and trust. The fastest way for people to get to know you is to be published in an industry journal where your colleagues search for new information and industry trends. The To the Point publication from MPI and the Publications from PCMA and Association Forum reach the people who should know you.

We put the fun in FUNction!
Record-A-Hit Entertainment®
Record-A-Hit Entertainment is a full-service special event company, that provides entertainment and attractions to cities, colleges and universities, corporations, trade shows, park districts, schools, weddings, mitzvahs, and many more occasions! We travel nationwide.
 
To view our inventory, please visit our website
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GRANT WINNERS

Aimee Specker

 

Aimee Specker is a Chicago-based Account Manager with Hilton Worldwide Sales who has been in the Hospitality Industry since 2018. She started on-property with hotel sales teams from Cambria Chicago Loop and Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown N Loop to theWit Chicago – A Hilton Hotel, and she also has a background in Marketing from her time with Broadway In Chicago and C-4 Analytics agency. She joined Hilton corporate on the National Sales side in 2023 and acts as a trusted advisor for her clients' group meeting and event needs, providing support on behalf of Hilton's global portfolio of hotels. Through MPI, she is most excited to get further acquainted with more local Chicago area industry experts, along with attending networking and educational events to continue to learn and grow as a hospitality professional.

Antoinette Gonzalez

 

Antoinette is a jack of all event industry trades and couldn't detail all her experience even if there were hours to do so. In addition to her 30 years of experience in transportation, as well as experience as a corporate concierge and running a special event venue, she is a member of multiple event associations and has crossed paths with quite a few people in the industry. 

When she’s not finding every opportunity to hype up promotions and help teams grow, get to know each other, and give back to the community, she basks in the glory of being a multiple National Champion Ballroom Dancing title holder! Which keeps her feeling great as she gardens, reads, dances, and enjoys home repair, crime shows, and being the Mizzer Mom of her Siamese fur babies.

 Heather Warthen

 

Heather Warthen is the associate corporate communications manager for Topco Associates, an 80-year-old food cooperative headquartered in Itasca, and co-leads the company's employee engagement group. Through the group, she plans several internal associate events throughout the year. A former MPI-CAC board member and two-time President's Award Winner as well as two-time Committee of the Year winner, Heather has been a member of MPI-CAC for seven years. 

"I'm so grateful to be a recipient of MPI-CAC's membership grant. This organization has been a great way to expand not only my event planning skills but also my network through volunteering on committees. It's the best way to get the most out of your membership!"

Melissa Autullo

 

For over 10 years, Melissa has excelled in the events industry, working on everything from initial concepts to flawless execution. Prior to joining the team at NHS Global Events, Melissa fine-tuned her professional skills while holding such positions as Group Sales Manager for DoubleTree by Hilton in Oak Brook, and Event Sales Manager at City Winery in Chicago.

The deadline for the next Membership Grant is July 15! Apply today: https://www.mpi.org/chapters/chicago-area/about-our-chapter/membership-grants


Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants
Greensboro Area CVB
INDUSTRY NEWS
 
Source: Associations Now
A new report from Cvent reveals that leaders prioritize in-person staff meetings despite a shift to hybrid work, expressing a desire for meaningful gatherings and metrics to gauge effectiveness.
 

 
Source: Skift Meetings
The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) unveils 2024 incentive travel trends, highlighting preferences for destinations, experiences, and attendee motivations, including shifts from previous years.