Whether you’re coordinating a leadership summit for 50 executives or managing a trade show floor with tens of thousands of attendees, Chicago rewards the prepared. This guide was built for the people responsible for making events work — meeting planners, conference organizers, trade show exhibitors, sponsors, and corporate event teams navigating one of North America’s busiest convention markets.

Inside, you’ll find practical resources covering everything from McCormick Place logistics to vendor timelines, promotional products, print, apparel, signage, and the details that separate a smooth event from a stressful one. It’s the kind of resource we wish had existed when we were learning what works — and what causes problems.