Meetings with Mary: Learn the Ropes

Meeting planning has evolved drastically over the past decade. With meeting planners becoming more tech savvy, hoteliers consistently updating their venues and destinations trying to stay ahead of the curve, it is easy to lose focus on the experience of it all.

The Chicago Southland not only offers meeting planners and convention goers ease of access to major interstates, name brand hotels you know and trust and an abundance of free parking, we also offer adventure and discovery around every corner.

Unplugging from your meeting and reconnecting with over 40,000 acres of forestry has never been easier for meeting planners visiting the Chicago Southland. Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center in Olympia Fields is one of my favorite places in the region. Offering over 38-acres of team building atmosphere, when faced with obstacles like the high ropes course, crate stacking or the climbing wall, the emphasis is not only on team building but self discovery. When tackling any of these activities, you learn so much about yourself. I for one am deathly afraid of heights and thought it was going to be a problem when I climbed 30 feet to walk on top of Irons Oaks’ High Ropes course. However, the staff and safe equipment helped me overcome this obstacle and with every step up the ladder I was nervously freaking out although determined to show myself that I could make it. The end result is a picture I am thrilled I took, but would have loved it even more if it were taken on the ground.



The meetings and convention industry is evolving at light speed. Between increases in technology and demands meeting planners face, there is no doubt that planners, hotels and destinations need to work with partners to stay relevant in the marketplace.  Here at the Visit Chicago Southland, we pride ourselves on being a complimentary one stop shop for meeting planners and aim to make hosting your event in the Chicago Southland even easier.

Let Me Teach You the Ropes in Chicago Southland!

If you'd like to conquer your fears and learn the ropes at Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center, call me at (708) 895-8200 or email [email protected]. Or you can use our online RFP form to submit your meeting and team building requirements.