The Perks of Rosemont
The village of Rosemont, IL was founded in 1956. Rosemont sits between northwest Chicago and O’Hare Airport. It is roughly 1.7 square miles and houses about 4,000 people. Because of its location, almost every major US hotel chain has a property in Rosemont, including the InterContinental which is due to open in September 2008.
If you are in Rosemont on business, chances are that you will be at a convention at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Built in 1975, it boast 840,000 square feet of exhibition area. Its proximity to O’Hare, many fine restaurants, hotels, parking, public transportation and nightlife make this an attractive convention alternative to Chicago.
According to Susan Prather, spokesperson for the Stephens Convention Center, the Convention Center ranks #1 in Illinois in terms of volume (about 100 conventions per year) and #2 to McCormick Place in overall revenue. Prather stated, “Conventions (and residual business) bring in over $100 million to Rosemont annually.”
Besides the raw numbers and rankings, one important fact must be noted. “The unique thing is that it is one of, if not the only, municipally-owned center which returns revenues without any subsidies and that is truly remarkable,” explained Prather. That is a great testament to the success of the convention center.
Another part of the success is that is has not become outdated. It is still an attractive, accessible, comfortable place to attend a business event. It has adapted nicely and fits right in with the ever-growing surrounding area.
Within a quick drive of the convention center are many dining choices from the usual fast food franchises to top-notch restaurants. Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse, Rosewood, Harry Caray’s, Morton’s and Maria’s are a few of the excellent dining options. Shoeless Joe’s or many of the fine hotel bars are great for relaxing after dinner.
For other amusement, the Allstate Arena (formerly Rosemont Horizon) is home to the 2008 champion Chicago Wolves (AHL hockey), the defending champion Chicago Rush (arena football) and the DePaul Blue Demons (NCAA basketball). The Rosemont Theatre is a plush, intimate venue for concerts, musicals and more.
Business conventions don’t have to be 12 hour days followed by room service in a small hotel room. The best ones limit the hassle and maximize the enjoyment while you are on duty and offer a wide array of activities when you are off the clock. The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL is one of the best.
-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist
July 9th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I had to work the Wizard World convention there last week. I admit I was disappointed that it wasn’t in Chicago. However, I am glad to say I was not disappointed once I got to Rosemont. I ate at Maria’s and Gibson’s. After the last day, we had a mini-celebration at Shoeless Joe’s. From what I remember, it was a great place. I didn’t get to see any sports event, but everything else was a lot of fun, without having to deal with the Chicago traffic. Thumb’s up to Rosemont.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
The officials of Rosemont do a great job of keeping order and they don’t seem to have bad attitudes like others do.
I agree about Maria’s…excellent place to eat!
July 10th, 2008 at 7:32 am
I went to Rosewood a couple years ago and I am still telling friends how good it was!
July 10th, 2008 at 7:55 am
I’ll take a nice satellite burb over a megacity any day.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:06 am
My story is similar to Bill’s. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed myself at the convention center and in Rosemont. All the place needs is a casino boat!
July 10th, 2008 at 8:55 am
My only complaint about the Stephens Center is the long corridor from the parking garage to the facility. That is a relatively minor complaint though. At least the passageway is always at a comfortable temperature.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
We are glad you like the Stephens Center and Rosemont. Village and convention
center officials work all day every day to ensure that tradeshow exhibit managers
and visitors alike have an excellent experience and stay in Rosemont.
When you have a small business (although the Stephens Center ranks high, we are still
small in many ways, with less than 15 full time administrative employees), and it is housed
in the employees’ own hometown, there is a double dose of pride involved.
And that’s the difference — the people. The center and the village enjoy an extremely low personnel turn-over. Smart and hard-working, the Rosemont and Stephens Center staff dedication goes above and beyond to ensure a consistently high quality of service rendered. They don’t just work hard — they work smart. They are very proud of the revenues they generate, not just for Rosemont, but for the State of Illinois. Obviously the center makes a tremendous economic impact on the whole northwest side of the Chicago metropolitan area.
The result is that recent research with tradeshow exhibitors claim that they book and keep their shows in Rosemont - not just because they get excellent service in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, but from businesses throughout the entire village. They receive great service from the hotels and restaurants, from Target to smaller business establishments, at Village Hall and the other municipally owned facilities. Rosemont residents know that their number one industry is tourism.
Keeping Rosemont up to date is a high priority, too. Just look at the new entertainment district. Muvico Rosemont is an 18-screen megaplex that has the most advanced projection technology of any movie theater complex in the nation, thanks to a special partnership with Sony that improves the picture and sound four times over high definition. The new 70-suite, 556-room Intercontinental and 251-room aloft hotels are opening soon; the Intercontinental will include an art collection and will be bringing back the fine art of cabaret, with live performances nightly in its new, 300-seat Montrose Room. New restaurants, the Capital Grille, McCormick and Schmick’s and Osteria di Tramonto (Rick Tramonto of TRU) will be opening soon in that district, too (all surrounding the Rosemont Theatre).
Thanks again for your comments.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Chicago is a nightmare with the traffic, hassles and cost. Every time I have to come to a convention in the area, I always breathe a sigh of relief when it is in Rosemont.
Maria’s is an underrated spot, tucked back by the small industrial strip. Oh their frozen margaritas are fabulous.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Oh, I thought you were talking about Rosemont College
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
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