Hosting a Conference or Event in Chicago

Chicago's conference hotels offer substantial event space for organizations hosting large meetings, trade shows, and corporate gatherings. Palmer House a Hilton Hotel leads this list with about 130,000 square feet of event space, and you can book it through Engine along with other properties across the city. Event planners, travel managers, and attendees booking their own rooms use Engine to search, compare, and reserve hotels for conferences in Chicago.

Chicago draws corporate events, industry conferences, and large meetings year-round to its extensive convention facilities and central location. The hotels on this list serve organizations of every size and industry, whether your team is attending a multi-day conference or your company is hosting a large meeting or corporate event. You can search, compare, and book guest rooms at these hotels on Engine; for a stay of 9 or more rooms, Engine Groups handles the room-block booking, and for 8 or fewer you book self-serve. If you need meeting or event space, Engine Spaces is Engine's venue product where planners can find and request space at these properties and thousands of other venues.

Showing 15 properties (sorted by distance)

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Compare conference hotels in Chicago

Same order as the list above, ranked by event space. Only reported space figures are shown; hotels whose space was estimated show a dash. A dash means the hotel's data doesn't list that detail, not that it's unavailable.

# Hotel Total event spaceMeeting roomsGuest roomsGuest rating
1 Palmer House a Hilton Hotel 130,000 sq ft 77 1,641 4.3 (2,562)
2 Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk 125,000 sq ft 43 1,218 4.2 (2,020)
3 Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile 64,647 sq ft 42 1,200 4.4 (1,022)
4 Fairmont Chicago at Millennium Park 63,002 sq ft 15 – 4.6 (151)
5 Fairmont Chicago at Millennium Park 63,000 sq ft 15 687 4.4 (2,311)
6 Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Chicago 50,000 sq ft – 1,258 4.3 (2,622)
7 Congress Plaza Hotel 50,000 sq ft – 871 4.0 (10,233)
8 JW Marriott Chicago 41,973 sq ft 37 610 4.6 (1,006)
9 The Drake 40,000 sq ft 22 535 4.5 (1,588)
10 Lincolnshire Marriott Resort 39,999 sq ft – 390 4.4 (1,000)
11 The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago 36,820 sq ft 20 752 4.4 (1,189)
12 Marriott Chicago O'Hare 34,800 sq ft 22 470 4.3 (1,381)
13 Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago 27,997 sq ft 13 334 4.1 (2,975)
14 InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile by IHG – 34 792 4.6 (3,192)
15 Loews Chicago Hotel 25,717 sq ft – 400 4.6 (1,931)

Frequently asked questions

How do I book guest rooms for conference attendees in Chicago?
If you need nine or more rooms, Engine Groups handles the room-block booking for you. For eight rooms or fewer, you can search, compare, and book directly through Engine's self-serve platform. Both options give you access to pre-negotiated rates and consolidated invoicing.
What should I look for in a hotel that can host a large meeting or corporate event?
Start with meeting space and capacity. Palmer House a Hilton Hotel offers about 130,000 square feet of event space, while Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk has about 125,000 square feet and 43 meeting rooms. A good fit will have enough guest rooms to house your attendees, flexible meeting rooms for breakouts or general sessions, and on-site amenities like AV and catering (which vary by property).
Can Engine help with both the hotel rooms and the meeting space for my event?
Yes. For guest rooms, Engine Groups books your room block if you need nine or more rooms, and you book self-serve for eight or fewer. For the meeting or event space itself, you can find and request venues through Engine Spaces, which gives you access to thousands of meeting and event venues. Engine helps you source both pieces, so you can coordinate rooms and space in one place.
How does billing work when I book a multi-room stay for a conference?
Engine offers consolidated invoicing, so you get one bill instead of managing receipts from each traveler. You can choose from multiple payment options, and there's no membership fee to use the platform.
What should I compare when choosing where to host my conference in Chicago?
Compare total event square footage, number of meeting rooms, and guest-room count. Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, for example, has about 65,000 square feet of event space and 42 meeting rooms, while Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk offers about 125,000 square feet and 43 meeting rooms. Also consider location, on-site facilities, and whether the property can accommodate your attendees and your agenda under one roof.

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