4 minute read
EDITOR’S LETTER
Kelsey Ogletree, editor
CONTACT ME AT KELSEY.OGLETREE@TIGEROAK.COM
Set the Table
JUST CALL US FOOD CITY U.S.A. OpenTable lists 10,620 restaurants in Chicago, and hypothetically speaking, if you dined at a different spot every night, you could reasonably go three decades without eating at the same restaurant twice. Expand your dining area to include the entire state of Illinois, and it’s safe to say you could eat like it’s your job your entire life and never visit them all.
The sheer number of options planners have in choosing F&B for their groups is both wonderful and overwhelming. It would surely be easy to keep going back to the same reliable restaurant year after year, without thinking too much about it.
But the old adage, “nothing that’s worthwhile is ever easy,” holds true. You can’t settle for mediocre dining if you want to continue to make your meetings and events attractive to attendees.
A 2017 survey from AAA reports that 75 percent of Americans believe food and dining to be a key part of their travel experience, and four out of five engage in unique culinary activities while traveling. It makes a lot of sense, then, that building incredible F&B and culinary activities into your event agenda helps incentivize people to attend.
In this issue, which we’ve dubbed the Feast Issue, we’ve done much of the legwork for you. From out-there ideas for cocktail events to chef secrets and creative menus at every budget, the stories within these pages will hopefully encourage you to get outside of your comfort zone. (Warning: Don’t read on an empty stomach.)
So serve that kimchi, pour that kombucha cocktail and deliver bites on balloon trays. The time is now to reinvent your culinary strategy, and we’ll be here supporting you every step of the way.
Cheers,
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Packing a picnic and enjoying the Chicago Blues Festival.
il.meetingsmags.com
EDITOR Kelsey Ogletree
I love Chicago’s Run for the Zoo. It’s a race held the first week of June each year, benefits the Lincoln Park Zoo and signifies the beginning of summer.
MANAGING EDITOR Morgan Halaska SENIOR EDITOR Megan Gosch DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR Julianna Fazio
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Belinda Lichty Clarke, Melissa Sersland, Tracy Stuckrath, Brittany Trevick EDITORIAL INTERNS Jenna Barbari, Holly Fritz, Brianna Smiley, Josephine Werni
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Lindsay Arellano, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau • Michelle Castady, DMCP, 360 Destination Group, Chicago • Ana Espinoza, Wagstaff Worldwide • Marla Fleishman, Pinstripes • Sarah Ficek, Heron Agency • Tricia Fusilero, Corporate Event Interactive • Stan Hansen, Sodexo Sports & Leisure • T.J. Johnston, Topgolf Wood Dale • Malaika Martin, Revel Decor • Ken McGarrie, DineAmic Group Hospitality Development Dana Morones, FFT Chicago • Dave Parulo, Meet Chicago Northwest • Tina Reedy, TRAVIS Inc. Shaun Rajah, The Drake Hotel, Hilton Worldwide • Gia Skiba, Entertainment Cruises - Chicago Nicole Zenner, CSEP, LK Events
Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier. It is fun for my whole family!
SENIOR MANAGING ART DIRECTOR Courtney Nielsen ART DIRECTOR Traci Zellmann JUNIOR ART DIRECTOR Taylor Severson
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Dianne Talmage PROJECT COORDINATORS Brittni Dye, Alex Kotlarek
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Jeremy Wieland SUBSCRIPTION MARKETING SPECIALIST Rebekah Gregorich
EVENT MANAGER Kelsey Copeland
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