International Live Events Association - Greater Chicago Chapter

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International Live Events Association - Greater Chicago Chapter

ILEA is a global community of thousands of creative event professionals. THE PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING CREATIVE EVENTS PROFESSIONALS, GLOBALLY.

The International Live Events Association (ILEA) was founded in 1987 to foster enlightened performance through education while promoting ethical conduct. ILEA works to join professionals to focus on the "event as a whole" rather than its individual parts. ILEA has grown to involve nearly 3,000 members active in 30 chapters throughout the world. Membership brings together professionals from a variety of special events disciplines including caterers, meeting planners, decorators, event planners, audio-visual technicians, party and convention coordinators, educators, journalists, hotel sales managers and many more professional disciplines. The solid peer network ILEA provides helps special events professionals produce outstanding results for clients while establishing positive working relationships with other event colleagues.

10/06/2026

24 hours until we’re pouring the coffee and getting into the conversation. ☕✨

Tomorrow, Coffee & Conversations brings event pros together for a morning of honest discussion, fresh perspectives, and practical takeaways.

We’ll be talking about how bias can show up in RFPs, company websites, and job descriptions, and what we can do to make those everyday decisions more inclusive.

No long lecture. No talking at you. Just good coffee, thoughtful conversation, and ideas you can actually take back to your team.

📅 Wednesday, October 7, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
📍 Vjosa Cafe & Events

24 hours left to RSVP.
Scan the QR code or click the link below to join us.

https://www.ileachicago.com/event-details/dei-coffee-conversations-1

10/02/2026

One detail that went everywhere our attendees did. 💜

As the Lanyard Sponsor of ILEA Live 2026, Absolutely Creative Promotions helped bring our event branding to life with custom lanyards worn throughout three days of learning, networking, and connection in Chicago.

From registration to the final sessions, these lanyards became a recognizable part of the ILEA Live experience and a great example of how thoughtful branded details can make an impact.

Thank you, Absolutely Creative Promotions, for helping us wear ILEA Live 2026 proudly. ✨

📸 Photo Credit: Fig Media, Inc.

10/01/2026

The right details can completely transform a space, and that’s where Windy City Linen comes in.

Serving the event industry since 2008, Windy City Linen is known for high-quality linens, a wide range of styles and colors, and dependable service for events of every size, from intimate gatherings to large-scale celebrations.

As we get ready for ILEA Monster Mash, we’re excited to recognize Windy City Linen as one of our event sponsors and thank them for supporting the ILEA Chicago community.

Their commitment to quality, service, and constantly evolving with the needs of the industry makes them a valued partner in creating memorable event experiences.

Thank you, Windy City Linen, for being part of Monster Mash.
📅 Thursday, October 29, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
📍 International Museum of Surgical Science

Tickets are available through the link below.
https://www.ileachicago.com/event-details/ilea-monster-mash

09/30/2026

The conversations may end over coffee, but the takeaways continue. ☕

Over the past several Coffee & Conversations gatherings, members of our event community have come together to explore DEI-focused topics, share perspectives, reflect on real experiences, and discuss practical ways we can help create a more inclusive industry.

From generational diversity and cultural competency to navigating cultural differences and fostering inclusion, each conversation has brought a different perspective to the table.

Want to revisit the discussions? Head to the ILEA Chicago Newsroom to explore recaps, key takeaways, themes, and reflections from past Coffee & Conversations gatherings.

🔗 EXPLORE NOW:
https://www.ileachicago.com/news/categories/coffee-conversations

And the conversation continues on Wednesday, October 7.

Our next Coffee & Conversations will explore how bias can show up in RFPs, company websites, and job descriptions, with collaborative roundtable discussions designed to spark new perspectives and practical ideas.

📅 Wednesday, October 7, 2026
📍 Vjosa Cafe & Events
⏰ 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM

🔗 RSVP NOW:
https://www.ileachicago.com/event-details/dei-coffee-conversations-1

09/29/2026

ILEA Live 2026 didn’t happen by accident. Behind three incredible days in Chicago was a committee that gave their time, ideas, energy, and expertise to bring Creating Futures to life. 💜

A huge thank you to the entire ILEA Live Committee for everything you poured into this year’s experience.

And an especially heartfelt thank you to Kari Antman , Patrick Crosson, Gwendolyn McNutt, CSEP, and Jeff Durocher for your leadership, dedication, and countless hours behind the scenes. Your commitment helped take ILEA Live from an idea to an experience our community could learn from, connect through, and celebrate together.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who played a part in making ILEA Live 2026: Creating Futures one to remember. ✨

📸 Photo Credit: Fig Media, Inc.

09/28/2026

Three conversations worth having over coffee. ☕

At our upcoming Coffee & Conversations, we’re taking a closer look at how everyday choices across the event industry can influence who feels included, represented, and encouraged to participate.

We’ll be talking about:
• How bias can show up in RFPs
• What your website communicates about belonging
• How job-description language can shape who applies

This isn’t a lecture. It’s a collaborative conversation designed to create space for shared perspectives, practical ideas, and meaningful discussion.

📅 Wednesday, October 7, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
📍 Vjosa Cafe & Events

Come for the coffee. Stay for the conversation.

Scan the QR code on the graphic or click the link below to RSVP.
https://www.ileachicago.com/event-details/dei-coffee-conversations-1

09/25/2026

We’re setting the scene for ILEA Monster Mash in one of Chicago’s most unforgettable spaces. 👻

This October, we’re heading to the International Museum of Surgical Science, our venue sponsor for an evening filled with Halloween fun, entertainment, and connection.

With its historic architecture, dramatic interiors, fascinating exhibits, and lakefront setting, the museum brings a completely unique energy to the night and makes the perfect backdrop for Monster Mash.

Thank you to the International Museum of Surgical Science for welcoming the ILEA Chicago community and helping bring this event to life.

📅 Thursday, October 29, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
📍 International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 N Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL

🎟️ Grab your tickets now!
https://www.ileachicago.com/event-details/ilea-monster-mash

09/24/2026

On the final day of ILEA Live 2026 Chicago, we got the announcement everyone was waiting for. 💜

Next stop: Austin, Texas! 🤠

ILEA Live 2027 is heading to the Live Music Capital of the World, and we already know the energy is going to be big.

Hosted by the fabulous International Live Events Association - Austin Chapter, ILEA LIVE FEST 2027 will bring event professionals from around the world together for education, networking, inspiration, connection, and plenty of Texas spirit.

Inspired by the music, film, and technology festivals that make Austin iconic, FEST 2027 is ready to bring creativity, community, and a whole new vibe to the international ILEA stage.

Chicago, you were unforgettable.
Austin, we’re ready for what’s next.

Start getting your boots ready. We’ll see you in Texas! ✨

Scan the QR code or click the link below to learn more.

https://www.ileaaustin.com/event-details/ilea-live-fest-2027

📸 Photo Credit: Fig Media, Inc.

09/23/2026

Two weeks to go, and this is one conversation worth making time for. ☕✨

Join us on Wednesday, October 7 for DEI Coffee & Conversations, an interactive morning designed to get us talking, thinking, and sharing ideas about how bias can show up in the event industry.

From the language used in RFPs to the messages we send through company websites and job descriptions, small details can shape who feels included, who feels welcome, and who gets the opportunity to participate.

This won’t be a sit-back-and-listen kind of morning. Expect collaborative roundtable discussions, real
perspectives from fellow event professionals, and practical takeaways you can bring back to your own work.

☕ Come for the coffee.
💬 Stay for the conversation.
💡 Leave with ideas that can make a difference.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Vjosa Cafe & Events
1010 W 35th St, Suite 102, Chicago

Two weeks to go. Save your seat today.
🔗 https://www.ileachicago.com/event-details/dei-coffee-conversations-1

09/22/2026

The perfect finale to three unforgettable days of Creating Futures. ✨

ILEA Live 2026 came to a close with the ESPRIT Awards: Night at the Art at The Art Institute of Chicago, bringing our community together for an evening dedicated to celebrating the creativity, innovation, and excellence shaping the global live events industry.

From cocktails and conversation to the excitement of recognizing this year’s ESPRIT Award winners, it was a night to celebrate the incredible work, talent, and people behind the experiences that move our industry forward.

Thank you to The Art Institute of Chicago for providing such an iconic setting for our final evening, and congratulations once again to all of our 2026 ESPRIT Award winners! 🏆💜

What a way to close out ILEA Live 2026.

📸 Photo Credit: Fig Media

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Chicago, IL

Website

https://www.ileachicago.com/home

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