Midwest Meetings | Awards/Recognition News - Midwest Meetings

Meet Chicago Northwest recognizes hospitality industry professionals

5/14/2019

Meet Chicago Northwest, the official destination marketing organization promoting and selling the Chicago Northwest region recognized five industry professionals at its 2019 Annual Partnership Meeting at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel.

The OAG Megahubs US Index 2018 reveals the top 25 most connected airports in the United States.

9/21/2018

Chicago O'Hare Terminal 1

The OAG Megahubs International Index 2018 reveals the top 50 most connected airports in the world as measured by the highest ratio of scheduled connections to the number of destinations served.

Chicago O'Hare airport ranked as the #1 most connected airport in the US, with Detroit at #6 and Minneapolis at #8 in the top 10.

Read more at OAG.com

Historic Hotels of America Announces 2018 Awards of Excellence Nominee Finalists

9/7/2018

Historic Hotels of America® and Historic Hotels Worldwide® are pleased to announce the nominee finalists for the 2018 Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence. The Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence recognize and celebrate the finest historic hotels and hoteliers from across the nation and from around the world.

Read more at Hotel Online News.

Midwest Meetings would like to congratulate and wish the best for the Midwest hotels who were nominated! (see below)

Aurora Area CVB wins sports award

6/6/2018

The Aurora Area CVB and the Aurora Area Sports Alliance are the winners of a 2018 Reader's Choice Award given by Sports Destination Management magazine.

The Aurora Area was selected by readers of Sports Destination Management as a "Favorite Small Market Destination" for its outstanding collection of athletic venues for professional, amateur, and youth sports...

Read more at the Daily Herald.

Jacksonville Area CVB Announces Friend of Tourism Recipient

5/14/2018

Pictured left to right: Michelle Foreman-Smith, GM Hampton Inn by Hilton Brittany Henry, Executive Director JACVB Mayor Andy Ezard

The Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau announced their “Friend of Tourism” award recipient during National Travel and Tourism week at their Chamber Business After Hours event.

Michelle Foreman-Smith, General Manager of the Hampton Inn by Hilton, received this award as a recognition of her passion for area tourism. Foreman-Smith has welcomed and assisted many groups and events outside and within the community all of which have had a positive impact on tourism and the local economy. The “Friend of Tourism” award was created to celebrate the strong, ongoing, personal commitment by the individual who freely gives their time and skill, contributing to the professionalism of our industry and the positive image of tourism in the Jacksonville Area.

For more information about the Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, visit our website at http://www.jacksonvilleil.org .

Susan Terry, Vice President of Culinary and Food & Beverage Operations for Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, Honored as a 2018 Silver Plate Award Winner

5/8/2018

Susan Terry, vice president of culinary and food & beverage operations of Marcus Hotels & Resorts, was named a 2018 Silver Plate Award winner in the hotels and lodging category by The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) (Photo: Business Wire)

Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, a nationally recognized hotel owner and management company, announced that Susan Terry, vice president of culinary and food & beverage operations, was named a 2018 Silver Plate Award winner in the hotels and lodging category by The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA). Terry was one of nine recipients to receive the prestigious IFMA Silver Plate Award, which is bestowed upon those who show outstanding and innovative talents in foodservice operations.

With over 25 years in the food and beverage industry, Terry oversees Marcus Hotels & Resorts’ food and beverage operations, including catering, banquets and more than 40 signature restaurants, bars and lounges across the company’s 20 properties. She is also responsible for strategic planning, financial performance, operations, talent development and restaurant design. During her tenure, Terry has enhanced Marcus Hotels & Resorts’ food and beverage offerings across the country by incorporating sustainable practices, showcasing local flavors and emphasizing healthy options to ensure every guest has an exceptional culinary experience.

“We are thrilled that Susan has been recognized nationally by her peers for her passion, strong leadership and creativity in the food and beverage industry. Susan has an ability to collaborate and communicate across all sectors of our operations, from owners to line cooks, and this translates to how we operate for our guests. She pushes for more innovative food and beverage concepts and creates unique experiences that both surprise and entice our guests. She is very deserving of this honor,” said Gregory S. Marcus, president and chief executive officer of The Marcus Corporation.

Three Midwest Towns Make the Top 10 of Small Business Revolution's – Main Street Season 3

1/11/2018

From thousands of nominations for the town that will be featured in Small Business Revolution – Main Street Season 3, we first narrowed it to our Top 20.

Now, we are excited to announce the Top 10 towns that will continue on and be visited by the Small Business Revolution team in January. This is the second of three exciting phases designed to help us narrow the pool to the right towns that will be up for the public vote.

Congratulations to the selected towns!

Read more at Small Business Revolution.

Marcus® Hotels & Resorts Properties and Restaurants Recognized with TripAdvisor® 2017 Certificate of Excellence

8/10/2017

Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, a nationally recognized hotel owner and management company and division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), today announced that 23 of its hotels and restaurants have received the TripAdvisor® 2017 Certificate of Excellence. The recognition honors top-rated accommodation businesses, restaurants and attractions, as reviewed by travelers on the world’s largest travel site.

Hotel Arista Recognized by Naperville Magazine as “Best Hotel” in the “Best of Naperville Awards” for the Ninth Consecutive Year

8/7/2017

Hotel Arista

Hotel Arista (2139 City Gate Ln), the locally owned and independent 144-room hotel located at CityGate Centre in Naperville, Illinois, has once again been awarded “Best Hotel” in the “Best of Naperville Awards.” Each year, readers of the award-winning Naperville Magazine vote for the best local businesses in 40 categories, covering dining and food, hospitality and entertainment, shopping and retail, personal service and health care, financial and legal services, and construction and real estate. Hotel Arista has brought home first place in the hotel category since the awards’ inception in 2009.

Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch named one of the top 10 lunch places in Illinois

8/3/2017

Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch

Abby's BLT

Best Things Illinois.com, powered by American Towns Media has named St. Charles’s Abby’s Breakfast and Lunch one of 10 best lunch spots in Illinois.

The mention characterizes Abby’s as a “quiet, cozy place to have lunch in the St. Charles area,” accenting the features and benefit of its recent expansion and remodel. Also highlighted was the quality of Abby’s breakfast dishes and uniqueness in the plethora of lunch items.

Founded in the spring of 2015, by owner Rob Mondi, Abby’s provides a provocative twist on fresh, home-style breakfast and lunch each day of the week. The restaurant also features a drink menu of handcrafted cocktails, craft beer, and specialty drinks.

2017 James Beard Foundation Award Winners Presented for Restaurant and Chef and Restaurant Design Categories

5/2/2017

James Beard Foundation Award

Winners were revealed Monday, May 1, 2017 at the 2017 James Beard Foundation Awards at Lyric Opera of Chicago. During a ceremony hosted by Emmy Award-nominated actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, awards in the Restaurant and Chef and Restaurant Design categories were presented, as well as a number of special achievement awards, including Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America, Lifetime Achievement, Design Icon, America’s Classics, and Humanitarian of the Year.

Winners of the Foundation’s annual Media Awards were presented on April 25, 2017, at a ceremony and dinner at Pier 60 at Chelsea Piers in New York City, hosted by James Beard Award winner, chef, writer, and television personality Andrew Zimmern. A complete list of award winners announced on May 1 can be found at the end of this release. Results from both events can be found at jamesbeard.org/awards.

Des Moines Named Finalist for Greatest Midwest Food Town

5/1/2017

Catch Des Moines is proud to announce that Des Moines has been named a finalist for Midwest Living’s Greatest Midwest Town 2017, Food Edition. Des Moines was selected by editors of the magazine as one of the twelve finalists because of the wide-range of food festivals and events that are offered as well as the addition of food trucks, the new Hy-Vee grocerant downtown, and long-list of outstanding restaurants.

Swissôtel Chicago Earns AccorHotels’ Global Bernaches Award for Work with SOS Children's Villages Illinois

4/19/2017

Swissôtel Chicago has been selected as a recipient of AccorHotels' prestigious Global Bernaches Team Award for its pioneering partnership with SOS Children's Villages Illinois, a non-profit, child-welfare agency that serves children in foster care and at-risk youth in nearby communities, in some of Chicago’s highest crime neighborhoods.

The award applauds Swissôtel Chicago's unwavering commitment to supporting a brighter future for hundreds of Chicago's most at-risk children, driving positive change through action, and inspiring others to do the same. Described as innately ingrained in the hotel's culture, Swissôtel Chicago's now multi-faceted SOS Illinois outreach initiative began as a fundraising campaign in early 2015. .

Hotel Arista and Arista Spa & Salon Named Four-Star Hotel and Spa By Forbes Travel Guide in Its Official 2017 Star Rating Announcement

4/3/2017

Forbes Travel Guide recently unveiled its annual Star Rating list, naming Hotel Arista and Arista Spa & Salon as a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel and spa, respectively. Hotel Arista and Arista Spa & Salon are showcased with all of the Star Rating recipients on ForbesTravelGuide.com.

Hotel Arista, the locally owned and independent 144-room hotel located in Naperville, Illinois, earned the prestigious Four-Star rating for the fourth consecutive year, standing as the only property outside of Chicago within the state of Illinois to hold the distinction. The four diamond, eco-friendly property provides effortless and luxurious accommodations for business, leisure and weddings, and was the first Illinois hotel to achieve the LEED certification in green design.

PCMA 20 in Their Twenties Winners Selected

10/28/2016

The 20 in their Twenties program, supported by the PCMA Education Foundation, is designed to engage the best and brightest young professionals in the meetings and business event industry. By recognizing emerging leaders – and their talents – PCMA helps to support a new generation of business event strategists around the world.

“This is our fourth class and with each one, we are struck by the passion and insights these individuals bring to the business events community. It is our honor to recognize excellence in these bright and innovative leaders.” said Deborah Sexton, PCMA President and CEO.

RACVB wins awards for visitor's guide, social media

3/25/2016

By Breane Lyga

ROCKFORD (WREX) -The Rockford Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau is being recognized on a state level. The RACVB just got back from the Illinois Governors Conference of Travel and Tourism in Springfield where it won two awards.

It won best visitor's guide in the state and best social media campaign.

Read more at WREX.com

Bizbash's Best of 2015: 10 Most Notable Chicago Openings of 2015

12/1/2015

Jenny Berg from BizBash has compiled a list of what they are calling "The hottest conference spaces, eateries, drinking spots, and more to open for events and entertaining this year."

This is a list of 10 places in Chicago that are getting a lot of recognition for their growth in 2015.

Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau Celebrates 25 Years

9/23/2015

200 people of the Quad Cities’ hospitality industry gathered on Wednesday, September 16 at the Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport, Iowa, for the 25th anniversary annual meeting of the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau (QCCVB). Past staff and board members were also there and both Illinois and Iowa state tourism directors made brief presentations. The meeting was a fun combination of speakers, videos, and awards looking back over the past 25 years and celebrating the future.

Aurora Area CVB Announces Conclusion to CULINARY CHAMPION Campaign

8/28/2015

The Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau concludes the Culinary Champion competitions to find the area’s best food and best restaurants!

Aurora, Batavia, Big Rock, Hinckley, Montgomery, North Aurora, Plano, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Yorkville are the 10 communities comprising the Aurora Area. Mayors or city officials of these communities took part in judging a monthly competition in nine food categories. These include the best steak, seafood, pizza, ethnic, burger, soup, dessert, BBQ and veggie/vegan dishes offered in our restaurants. Restaurants in the listed communities were invited to participate. The dish had to be a regular menu item.

Congratulations to our 2014-15 Award Winners!

7/23/2015

The MPI Chicago Area Chapter would like to thank those of you who attended the Annual Awards Recognition Gala at Venue SIX10. Your support of the organization is greatly appreciated!

MPI-CAC would like to extend our congratulations to the following 2015 award recipients:

Richardson Adventure Farm's Corn Maze Wins National Award for Second Year

6/17/2015

Eaglewood Resort & Spa Receives Prestigious Four-Diamond Award For 10th Consecutive Year

6/12/2015

For the tenth year in a row, Eaglewood Resort & Spa has received the coveted AAA Four-Diamond Award . Given by the American Automobile Association (AAA), the prestigious award acknowledges hotels and resorts that consistently provide stellar service and world-class accommodations. Eaglewood Resort & Spa, which was the only Chicago-area property to receive the Four-Diamond rating, is a Benchmark Resort located in Itasca, Illinois, 30 minutes from the Chicago Loop.