Illinois

Planners are putting wellness at the center of events. 

From Peaches to Pyramids

With new facilities opening soon, organizers will have more venues to choose from than ever before.

Greenbuild, the world’s largest green building conference, returned to Chicago for a third time this year. The annual event took place Nov. 14-16 at the LEEDcertified McCormick Place West Building, drawing more than 15,000 attendees and over 350 exhibitors. The U.S. Green Building Council estimates that the conference had an economic impact of $32 million for the city.

For those about to rock. 

Jennifer Dalsbo, recreation sales manager for Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, just north of the Illinois border in Wisconsin, shares her best advice for planning a golf outing for a group.

Z BAR, the globally inspired cocktail lounge atop The Peninsula overlooking Michigan Avenue, offers customized batch cocktails for groups in an upscale, but relaxed atmosphere. The individual responsible for dreaming up and preparing these communal beverages is Vlad Novikov, who’s official title is director of cocktails and culture. Novikov’s travels frequently inform his mixology.

An unusual "glass" makes this drink the hit of any event. 

An empowering approach to leadership makes Jill Torke, director of sales and marketing for The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, a superwoman in the city’s hotel scene.

Think creative F&B always has to be expensive? Think Again. We asked a hotel, a restaurant and a conference center to create three menus at three different price points - and they delivered.