Jan. 26 Designated ‘Concierge Day in Chicago’
Posted on January 5th, 2012 by Amber Holst
By official proclamation from Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the City of Chicago will celebrate its second annual “Concierge Day in Chicago” on January 26, 2012.
Concierge Preferred’s President & Publisher Tim O’Malley worked with the mayor’s office to create a day dedicated to all concierge – from residential and corporate to hotel and other types – as a way to formally pay tribute for all they do to make Chicago the world class destination it is.
“Chicagoland’s concierge are behind the scenes orchestrating a variety of activities and are true ambassadors for our city,” says O’Malley. “They are centerstage answering questions and coordinating important functions that enable tourism to thrive in Chicago and are constantly creating memorable experiences for their guests.”
The impact of concierge on Chicago’s visitor market is undeniable. Almost five million referrals are made by Chicago’s 750-plus city and suburban concierges with over 1.3 million dining recommendations; 1.1 shopping suggestions; advice on 658,000 nightspots; and almost 1.2 million referrals to the Chicago area’s various cultural attractions being made each year.
“We are happy that people are recognizing the various types of concierge and the things that we do in our wonderful city,” says Kathy McClanathan, President of the Chicago Hotel Concierge Association.
Sheryl Novak, President of the National Concierge Association’s Chicago Chapter and Concierge Event Services World Wide adds: “It is going to be a special day for Chicago’s concierge community.”
To help spread the word about “Concierge Day”, Concierge Preferred developed the following ways in which the city and visitors can show their support:
- Visit Concierge Preferred’s Facebook Page and use the official “Happy Concierge Day Chicago” logo as your Facebook profile picture leading up to January 26, 2012 or “Concierge Day in Chicago”
- Post a picture of yourself hugging, high-fiving, or just with a concierge and post it to Concierge Preferred’s wall
- Post your favorite concierge tip or give a shout out to a particular concierge on Concierge Preferred’s wall
- On January 26 write “Happy Concierge Day in Chicago” as your Facebook Status Update
- Follow @CP_Chicago and use the official “Happy Concierge Day in Chicago” logo which you can download from our TwitPic account (which CP_Chicago will be tweeting) and/or click on CP_Chicago’s logo, save as, and then upload to your personal Twitter profile
- Use the hashtag #conciergeday in all related tweets promoting “Concierge Day in Chicago” and make sure to @reply others who are using it as well to help spread the word and show the world that we support our city’s concierge.
Does Your Business Have a Concierge?
We encourage you to work with your marketing and PR teams to develop creative ways to show your support for all that your concierge do for your property. Whether it’s disseminating a press release about Concierge Day and highlighting your concierge team members and the services they provide, including information in your e-newsletter, or promoting via your social media channels – help spread the word and create awareness about all that Chicago’s concierge do to make our city – and businesses – great.
Tags: 2012, chicago concierge, Chicago Concierge Favorites, Concierge Day in Chicago, Hospitality Industry News, January 26, Mayor Rahm Emanuel
Ritz Concierge Laurel Gray Named Illinois’ Guest Services Employee of the Year
Posted on December 19th, 2011 by Amber Holst
The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, a Four Seasons Hotel, announced today that one of its concierge, Laurel Gray, was named Illinois’ Guest Services Employee of the Year by the Illinois Hospitality and Lodging Association.
Gray, who received the honor for the Chicagoland area in November, was named the state’s Guest Services Employee of the Year on Friday at the IHLA Stars of the Industry Awards Luncheon in Chicago, which honors outstanding talent and performance of hospitality employees who provide extraordinary service.
From setting up a top-secret hair dye appointment for a rock band member so he would not be recognized to fulfilling the most unique guest requests, Gray is a 15-year member of the Ritz’s Concierge team and has an impeccable reputation of going above and beyond for the hotel’s guests.
She has even played tour-guide for a couple from overseas who rented a limousine to tour the North Shore, going along with them and narrating the entire itinerary that she put together.
Gray, a resident of Chicago, is a member of the prestigious Les Clefs d’Or USA and the Chicago Hotel Concierge Association.
Tags: Concierge, Illinois Hospitality and Lodging Association, Laurel Gray, Ritz Carlton
Concierge Preferred to Donate $1 for Every Facebook ‘Like’ to Kids in Need
Posted on December 8th, 2011 by Amber Holst
‘Tis the season of giving! Concierge Preferred is running a promotion on their Facebook page for local Chicago charity One for the Kids.
For every “Like” that Concierge Preferred receives, we’ll donate $1 to help benefit deserving kids. This promotion will run through December 31, 2011, or to the equivalent of $1,000. It’s just another way that Concierge Preferred is continually proving its commitment to the Chicagoland area.
About One for the Kids
Established in 1993, One for the Kids is a Chicago-area charity that has raised over $400,000 for a number of different charities and causes. While they contribute to many different organizations, including The Heart Institute for Children, the primary beneficiary of their fundraising efforts is Special Children’s Charities of Chicago, which is the fundraising organization for Special Olympics Chicago. Truly, this is a worthwhile charity that promotes causes that are near and dear to many people’s hearts throughout the city of Chicago and Concierge Preferred is honored to help them raise funds this holiday season.
So, are you going to join us in the spirit of giving?
Tags: Charity, Christmas in Chicago, Holidays in Chicago, One for the Kids, special children's charities, special olympics chicago, The Heart Institute for Children
The Tortoise Club to Open in Spring
Posted on December 5th, 2011 by Mike Chamernik
A new throwback restaurant is coming to Chicago. The Tortoise Club, at 350 N. State St., will be introduced next spring, and the restaurant hopes to be reminiscent of the Prohibition Era with a certain spirit and intimacy popular for dining clubs back then.
Tortoise Club restaurateur Keene Addington sees his new establishment as a Crickets or 21 Club, referencing a famous Gold Coast restaurant that was popular among the elite that began in the 1920s.
The Tortoise Club will serve American food in a sophisticated atmosphere. Along with an extensive spirits menu featuring cocktails and wine, the club will also prepare dishes like Dover Sole, Pheasant Pie, Steak Tartar, and Maine Lobster Roll.
The dining room will be decked out with red leather booths and tables with white tablecloths, and original Chicago paintings, sketches and artifacts will line the walls. Other antiques on display will be original mahogany millwork from the old Pump Room and an antique ballot box.
And to complete the Prohibition Era effect, live music from either a pianist or jazz trio will be offered nightly.
The establishment hopes to attract everyone, from business and community leaders, to the average Chicago citizen, to visitors coming from elsewhere. “We will provide an approachable experience that is uniquely Chicago,” said Addington in a press release, “and hope to draw a clientele seeking a neighborhood dining/club experience they can consider their own.”
Tags: Chicago Dining, Chicago restaurant, Hospitality Industry News, Tortoise Club
‘Hort Couture’ on Display at 2012 Chicago Flower & Garden Show
Posted on November 18th, 2011 by Mike Chamernik
The Chicago Flower & Garden Show (March 10-18, 2012, at Navy Pier) has announced its theme: “Hort Couture.” Five models, Dani, Ana, Sophie, Spencer and Natalia, will literally set the tone for the show.
The models each represent a different color. Dani is yellow, Ana is pink, Sophie is purple, Spencer is blue, and Natalia is green. The models will appear in CTA ads, on street pole banner signs and in other advertising and marketing media, and they will represent the colors and styles of aesthetically pleasing flowers and gardens.
“Flowers and fashion have a lot in common: vibrant colors, rich textures, the power to inspire – and make jaws drop,” Tony Abruscato, director of the Chicago Flower & Garden Show, said in a press release. “Just as gardens have unique personalities, so does the look of this spring’s hottest event-of-the-season.”
While the models and the mantra are designed to get people intrigued in the event, the Chicago Flower & Garden Show seeks to teach all people interested in gardens a thing or two about the craft.
“A beautiful environment is important to our health and well-being – that’s the ultimate message we’re delivering – yet this show’s not all about the glam,” Abruscato said. “While our brand speaks to a largely feminine demographic, the Chicago Flower & Garden Show’s mission is to motivate people of all ages and skill levels, to create or improve their own personal green space in a way that’s practical, makes sense and is doable.”
About the Chicago Flower & Garden Show
People attending the show could participate in cooking demonstrations, seminars, and renovation and maintenance tips for any size lawn, patio or deck. Children’s activities are also scheduled.
The Chicago Flower & Garden Show is expecting 60,000 visitors. Weekday tickets will be sold for $15, and weekend tickets will be $17.
Tags: 2012 Events in Chicago, Chicago Flower and Garden Show, Events, Navy Pier, Things to do in Chicago
EXPO Chicago debuts at Navy Pier in Sept. 2012
Posted on November 17th, 2011 by Mike Chamernik
Chicago is introducing a major art fair scheduled 10 months from now.
From Sept. 20-23, 2012, EXPO Chicago will be held in Festival Hall at Navy Pier. The International Exposition of Contemporary/Modern Art and Design will host the expo, and it will showcase a list of the world’s premier galleries. The fair’s goal is to kick off the international fall arts season and to establish Chicago as a chief art fair and cultural destination.
EXPO Chicago is aiming to have many famous and renowned exhibitors, but they will limit the total number to 100 in an effort to ensure the highest standards of exhibitors.
Expected partners of the exposition include the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, Threewalls, Experimental Sound Studio, ArtTable, the Smart Museum of Art, and the Union League Club.
Many top international dealers have commitments as well. David Zwirner, Richard Gray Gallery, Galerie Hans Mayer, Barbara Mathes Gallery, Annely Juda Fine Art, CRG Gallery, D’Amelio Terras and Galerie Karsten Greve are expected to be there.
Studio Gang Architects, led by MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang, will join the Expo’s creative team in an effort to make the backdrop of Navy Pier – Lake Michigan and the skyline – part of the total art experience. Also, Vernissage, an opening night preview and meet-and-greet, is returning to Chicago and is slated to be held on Sept. 19, 2012.
EXPO Chicago: The excitement is building already
“The groundswell of support that we have received since our initial announcement of Expo Chicago has been tremendous,” Art Expositions, LLC President and Director Tony Karman said at a press preview earlier this week. “To have world renowned galleries, cultural institutions and museums joining us at this stage is truly extraordinary. I believe strongly that the art world will be marking their calendars to be in Chicago next September.”
Tags: Art in Chicago, Events, EXPO Chicago, Festival Hall at Navy Pier, International Chicago, Navy Pier
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago Announces Plans For New Restaurant In February 2012
Posted on November 11th, 2011 by Mike Chamernik
As if the Four Seasons Hotel wasn’t swanky enough, the luxury hotel will be adding a new restaurant in 2012.
A new, modern American restaurant is scheduled to open in February 2012. The new eatery is, in a roundabout way, replacing Seasons Restaurant, which is closing on January 1.
“For us at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, it is a time of exciting transition,” said General Manager Denise Flanders, “We now look forward to introducing a fresh vision and concept that recognizes the more relaxed turn that dining has taken in recent years. The new restaurant will be an approachable yet exciting destination for food-lovers.”
Executive Chef Kevin Hickey will stay on as the executive chef at the new restaurant. He was awarded a Michelin star rating in 2010 for his work at Seasons Restaurant.
The new restaurant, which has yet to be named, will be located on the seventh floor of the hotel, next to the lobby that contains the Seasons Bar and Lounge. The current Seasons space will be made into a private event space. The new private area will provide floor-to-ceiling views of Lake Michigan and Michigan Avenue, and the Seasons Bar and Lounge will also be remodeled. The structure of the bar will remain intact, but all the décor will be altered to present more of a “warm, approachable, and more modern aesthetic,” according to a press release.
Seasons Restaurant’s swan song will be on December 31, serving up their last meals that night. Until then, the restaurant will continue to serve dinner on from Wednesday to Saturday and brunch on Sundays. The Seasons Bar and Lounge will also remain open as well.
Tags: Four Seasons Chicago, Restaurant News, Seasons Restaurant
Convention Biz in Chicago Continues to Grow
Posted on October 28th, 2011 by Mike Chamernik
Chicago recently passed labor reforms in terms of exhibitions and trade shows, and the city is already experiencing its benefits.
Solar Power International will be holding its annual trade show in Chicago in 2013 and 2015, and according to show officials, the event will have a $40 million impact on the Chicagoland economy for both years. SPI expects 27,000 people to attend for each.
“Throughout the process we said that the labor rules must be changed so McCormick Place could be the No. 1 destination in the world for the convention and trade show industry,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. “This is proof of that.”
The annual expo was in Dallas this year, and will be held in Orlando in 2012 and Las Vegas in 2014. Before this year’s show in Texas, the Solar Power International convention was traditionally held in California.
“We are thrilled that Solar Power International will be coming to Chicago,” said MPEA Trustee Jim Reilly in a statement. “There is no doubt that the recent work rule reforms had a clear impact on Solar’s decision to make Chicago their home and we anticipate others will follow.”
Also, Blackstone, the largest commercial real estate investor in the country, will spend $125 million in capital improvements on three Chicago hotels – Hilton Chicago, Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport and Wyndham Chicago.
Tags: Conventions, Growth, McCormick Place, Solar Power International
Pinkalicious Gives “Day of Pink” to Child Battling Pediatric Lymphoma
Posted on October 27th, 2011 by Amber Holst
Broadway In Chicago and Emerald City Theatre are excited to be partnering with Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation for a “Day of Pink” on Sunday, Nov.6, for 4 year-old Carli Highberger, who is currently battling pediatric Lymphoma. Carli will receive the pink-carpet treatment at Pinkalicious: The Musical as her “Bear Hug” from Bear Necessities. Carli is being treated at Advocate Lutheran General Children’s Hospital.
Carli’s Pinkalicious Experience
A pink limousine, compliments of Exotic Coach, will pick Carli up from her Lombard home and drive her downtown to the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place to see Pinkalicious: The Musical. Upon arrival, she will be greeted with a pink carpet and photographed by “paparazzi” from Club Photo Booth. Following the show, the limo will take Carli to Heavenly Cupcakes (Elmhurst, IL) to decorate her very own pink cupcakes.
When asked what she wanted as her “Bear Hug” from Bear Necessities, Carli answered, “Ride in a pink limo to Pinkalicious and then eat pink cupcakes!”
The Bear Hugs Program supports cancer patients (ages 0 –19), as well as their immediate families that face the many challenges that accompany the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cancer. Our outreach serves both in state and out of state children that are being treated at one of the nine major Chicago area hospitals with pediatric oncology departments. A Bear Hug is a customized experience that brightens the life of a child going through cancer. The Bear Hugs Program also provides immediate family support for financial burden and essential needs.
Pinkalicious: The Musical is the story about Pinkalicious Pinkerton who eats one too many pink cupcakes, and catches a serious case of “Pinkititis” and turns pink from head to toe! Will her broccoli-eating brother be able to help cure her before it’s too late? Find out in the colorful musical adventure, remounted from Emerald City Theatre’s sold out production at their Chicago home at The Apollo Theater. This heartwarming musical’s Gateway Theme of healthy eating is sure to strike a chord among parents and picky eaters alike.
Tags: Bear Necessities, Broadway in Chicago, Charity, Emerald City Theater, Pinkalicious
Historic Change Shows Bright Future for Convention Biz
Posted on October 21st, 2011 by Mike Chamernik
Big news about McCormick Place, conventions and trade shows was made this morning. According to Crain’s, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Pat Quinn announced agreements with two McCormick Place labor groups that will preserve work rule changes.
Under the agreements with the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters and Teamsters Local 727, several reforms will be solidified on November 1, 2011.
Among the new rules, managers and exhibitors can do their own work in any size booth, using their own ladders and tools; Key Expanded Straight-time (Monday through Friday) is restored, and provisions reduce double-time pay for several major holidays; exhibitors can operate, load and unload their own vehicles at the McCormick Place docks; and two-person crews can work at McCormick Place, rather than three-person crews that were previously required.
The new agreement also had some items survive from its June 2010 genesis, such as reforms to significantly lower food prices and the ability for exhibitors to choose their own electrical service provider.
These changes are not only expected to drive down costs, but also save customers money and provide more options for businesses.
The drive to get a deal done was spurred on by the threats that several big trade shows and conventions were going to leave Chicago for rival host cities. After today, though, Chicago will remain a top-notch convention city, with a bright future.
“We made changes last year in direct response to what our customers demanded,” Jim Reilly, trustee of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, said in a statement picked up by Crain’s. “Now, working in partnership with labor, we have overcome some of the biggest obstacles to our efforts to lure new shows to the city.”
Tags: Convention Business, Historic Legislation, McCormick Place
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