The Midwest, better known as “America’s Heartland” thanks in part to its historic role in the nation’s manufacturing and farming sectors along with large commercial cities that dot the eight states, is often considered the broadest representation of American culture. At Unique Venues, the Heartland offers a dynamic mix of places to host your next event. Whether you are looking for the tranquility of a venue located near nature or a bustling conference center in or near Chicago, we have identified some of our Top Picks for meeting in the Heartland.
Chicago’s North Shore Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Bordering Chicago along beautiful Lake Michigan, Chicago’s North Shore represents one of the most scenic communities in the Midwest and is home to a variety of state-of-the-art meeting and event facilities. This idyllic suburban retreat is a sophisticated metropolitan center with easy access to downtown attractions and minutes from area expressways and O’Hare International Airport. The region, made up of Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Northbrook, Northfield, Prospect Heights, Skokie, Wheeling and Winnetka, proudly hosts groups from 20 to 1,000 people. The unique meeting venues represented by Chicago’s North Shore Convention and Visitor’s Bureau offer a range of amenities including ballrooms, conference centers built with IACC specifications, wireless internet connectivity and advanced audiovisual capabilities. Some of the marquee venues include Northwestern University, Chicago Botanic Garden, The Glen Club and North Shore Center for the Performing Arts to name a few. Planners love the area because there is no shortage of things to do with the broad range of attractions, restaurants, entertainment and shopping options nearby. The area truly offers something for everyone so let the dedicated staff at Chicago’s North Shore Convention and Visitor’s Bureau work with you to ensure all you need to focus on is having a successful meeting or event.
Hope College
Next, we head northeast out of Chicago’s North Shore around the lake and into the state of Michigan to Hope College. Located in Holland, Hope College is a liberal-arts college grounded in Christian Faith set on a picturesque campus comprised of historic and modern buildings. There is a new Music Building built in 2015, Student Center in 2017 and a stunning church over 100 years old that are a sampling of the over 100 flexible meeting and event spaces available to planners for a wide range of gatherings. The Hope College Events and Conferences Office (ECO) has experience planning a wide array of events including lavish, large VIP events for 1,000 or intimate social events. The Haworth Hotel is a 50-room hotel located nearby making it simple to host multi-day conferences, banquets and events year-round. Guests will enjoy their time in Holland with the college located adjacent to downtown conveniently walkable to 120 unique shops and restaurants nearby. Sandy Beaches and beautiful parks on Lake Michigan ensure there is no shortage of scenic areas for guests to explore. Just 150 miles from Chicago and 180 from Detroit, Hope College offers serenity and limitless possibilities for your next event. Contact the ECO today and experience Pure Michigan.
Purdue University
We conclude our tour through the Heartland in Indiana at Purdue University. Conveniently located in West Lafayette, Purdue offers hassle free access from Chicago, Indianapolis and Cincinnati. The university offers a world-class conference center and coordination services complete with first rate lodging and meeting and dining space available throughout the year. Whether your group is 6 or 6,000 they have a meeting space to fit your needs having served clientele such as students, religious groups, sports camps and international conferences. The Purdue Memorial Union contains meeting spaces and banquet facilities that range in sizes between 200 and 7,200 square feet. Planners can choose a space that fits their needs in terms of ambience and capacity throughout the 40 available spaces. The team at Purdue Conferences comes with 50 years of collective experience and offers “The Whole Package” where you won’t have to deal with dozens of suppliers and vendors because the complete meeting service package takes care of it all from registration to full logistics and operation planning. The Union Club Hotel on campus is a unique blend of classic and modern elegance throughout its 192 rooms. As a leader in hybrid meetings, the team can also bring Purdue to you having conducted conferences and hybrid events on six continents. Contact the proven professionals at Purdue Conferences and let their skill, enthusiasm and eye for detail make your next event a memorable one.
But wait, there are more great places to meet in the Heartland!
| Galena Country Tourism Galena, IL  | Iowa State University Ames, IA  |
| Kansas City Club Kansas City, MO  | Museum of Science and Industry Chicago, IL  |
| Sky Garden at Embassy Suites Chicago, IL  | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN  |
| University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis & St. Paul Minneapolis, MN  | Wingspread Retreat & Executive Conference Center Racine, WI  |
| Hope College Holland, MI  | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN  |
| Chicago’s North Shore Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Skokie, IL  | |