Suburban business leaders get taste of DuPage hospitality at expo

Event planners and business leaders from throughout the suburbs got a sample of DuPage County hospitality Thursday during the annual Daily Herald Business Ledger Hospitality Expo - DuPage.

More than 700 people walked through Abbington Distinctive Banquets in Glen Ellyn to check out the 80-plus vendors showing off their specialties. Exhibitors ranged from hotels and meeting sites to restaurants and caterers, and also included extras from music and lighting to games and activities.

The expo, held in partnership with the DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau, is a one-stop shop for event planners and meeting organizers to get ideas for their company events - everything from corporate board meetings to employee holiday parties.

For Tom Skibbie of AMJ Spectacular Events in Melrose Park, the event was not only good for finding potential clients, but also a chance to see what's new and innovative in the industry.

"It's a great opportunity to meet with others and see what they're doing, as well as meeting with people to show them what we offer," said Skibbie, whose business provides equipment and supplies ranging from tables, chairs and tents to photo booths, rock-climbing walls and extreme zip lines.

Yvonne Invergo, executive director of the Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce, was with a group of chamber officials sampling some jambalaya from Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe in Darien.

"This is bigger than what I had thought it would be," she said, noting the variety of vendors made it a great event for anyone planning a party or event.

"And anyone who is a foodie," she added.

It was Kevin Tyschper's first expo representing DeEtta's Bakery in Naperville. He and his wife, Morgan, were offering sweet samples to attendees who passed by their booth.

"A lot of corporations are looking at what we offer as holiday gifts for clients or for business meetings," Morgan said, noting the confectionaries they make can be customized to fit specific customer needs.

Tyschper said a number of people stopped and asked about the business, adding "when you have a table full of sweets in front of you, people tend to stop."

The event was the second of three Hospitality Expos hosted this year by the Daily Herald Business Ledger. The final one, held in partnership with Meet Chicago Northwest, will be Nov. 12 at the Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre in Hoffman Estates.