DuPage builds custom experiences for planners

For nearly 30 years, the DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau has cultivated an environment that caters to the specific needs of event and meeting planners. And for much of that time, Beth Marchetti has been a part of that cultivation.

"A thriving convention and visitor climate doesn't just benefit event planners," Marchetti said. "Just look at the quality of life in DuPage. This county is a booming bright spot in the region and the DuPage CVB provides much of the heft to make that happen."

Marchetti says that tourism goes beyond hotels and restaurants. "Our police officers, and florists, our gas station attendants, and ice cream store owners are all in the tourism industry, right down to the people walking to the train to get to work," she said. "Conferences and events come to DuPage because of the high quality of life, the variety of options and our sound infrastructure. Residents choose to live here for the same reasons. It's a symbiotic relationship."

The Midwest is often cited for the likability of its residents and a certain positive feeling you get when meeting a stranger. Marchetti fits that profile and knows well what is required to take care of anyone hosting an event, expo, convention or conference. As the Executive Director of the DuPage CVB, Marchetti has cultivated and nurtured impressive relationships with 38 communities and hundreds of individual businesses. The result is an invaluable network for planners to tap into when creating their next event. No matter the nature of the event, Marchetti's team of tourism professionals at the DCVB work to bring meetings and provide services for attendees while being mindful of the necessary comforts, conveniences and unforgettable experiences that are expected. These efforts generate a significant return on investment for the state, county and the communities in terms of tax receipts.

There aren't many suburban areas that are nationally known and attract positive attention apart from their better known neighbors but one of them is DuPage County, Illinois. Just as people often recognize Orange County outside of Los Angeles or Westchester County in metro New York, so too is DuPage County in the Chicago area recognized as a blue ribbon location with an exceptional quality of life, extraordinary amenities and a flourishing economy. DuPage's top tier event and meeting spaces are an extension of that acclaim.

"When I travel to promote DuPage County, I find that people already have a natural predisposition to like us," Marchetti said. "That gives us a tremendous leg up on so many other areas and we constantly work to capitalize on it. For instance, explaining that you can travel from the safety and comfort of a luxury hotel in DuPage County to downtown Chicago in 30 minutes makes meeting planners take notice."

Key to it is the DCVB's ability to stitch together all the pieces to create the best package for any event, from an association meeting to a sports tournament to a corporate retreat.

Meeting and corporate event planners are never without a multitude of options when it comes to premium quality hotel rooms, millions of square feet of meeting space, and ample recreation opportunities.

And with its location at the crossroads of major expressways and equidistant between Chicago's two major airports, DuPage is truly in the heart of it all.

It is easy to see how DuPage County retains its high position for tourism generated dollars, second only to Chicago.

"If someone is looking to work on team building, for example, I might suggest the ropes course at Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center in conjunction with Corporate Learning Institute," Marchetti said. "For another group, the Elements at Water Street, in the new Hotel Indigo might be more appropriate because of the specially designed features meant to enhance meetings and events."

The bottom line is that the DCVB knows how to tailor the experience to the group instead of stuffing a group into an ill fitting suit.

It rarely takes more than one event experience for planners to be won over by the hospitality, affordability and accommodating nature of DuPage County.

Truly, DuPage County is a destination even to those who live in nearby downtown Chicago.

Every week, cyclists load their bikes onto Metra trains and leave the congestion of the city to enjoy the hundreds of miles of bike trails that DuPage County maintains.

DuPage County Forest preserves boast 25,000 acres of trails, lakes and streams. Add in 1,700 acres of gardens and 4,100 species of trees and plants in DuPage's Morton Arboretum and you have a cornucopia of recreational opportunities to hike, bike, or simply stroll through an impressive array of nature.

For groups that prioritize great food, DuPage has no shortage of world class restaurants. From Michael Jordan's steak house to multiple local breweries and culinary visionaries such as Jill Foucré, owner of Marcel's Culinary Experience and the cheese shop, Marché, great food experiences are all right here.

Myriad other festivals, quaint downtown districts, world class restaurants and peaceful landscapes draw yet more people to visit DuPage.

For a perfect fit tailored to any group, the DuPage Convention and Visitor's Bureau is truly well positioned to make any meeting, sports event or retreat a success.