If Yelp let me, I would rate the Summit Center with ten perfect stars. That is the exactly what this conference center deserves and then some. I work for a Fortune 100 company in downtown Chicago. For years, we have held meetings at the Summit Center. The location is excellent - right on Michigan Avenue, easily accessible to public transportation for those who need to access to/from both O'Hare and Midway Airports. There are many excellent hotels within walking distance, not to mention attractions for attendees who are visiting from out of town. The service. You just cannot find better service anywhere. The staff is trained to be able to help out with anything you need--you never have someone tell you that helping you with your request is "not their job" and leaving you to wait for someone who can assist. They put their clients first and immediately take care of anything that is needed. One of the best things about having events at the Summit was that they anticipated our needs - they seemed to know what I would need before I even had the chance to ask. The Summit staff takes the time to get to know you and the needs specific to your group. Because of the relationship they established with my company and me, they knew how I preferred my rooms to be set up, what types of food my picky people would eat, and were always flexible with our last-minute requests. The meeting space. If you want to take a client or your meeting participants to a place that will wow them, go to the Summit. The meeting rooms are beautiful. Often when you go to a conference center, the rooms can start to look shabby and dull. The rooms at the Summit are brightly lit with large windows, there are inspirational quotes on the colorful walls. No cheap banquet chairs here - all of the chairs are comfortable, ergonomic chairs. The a/v equipment is modern and the internet speed is probably faster than what we have in our office. The food. You definitely won't lose any weight or ever go hungry. The per person cost includes breakfast, a morning snack, a lunch and an afternoon snack. There is always something healthy to eat or something a little sinful (fresh cookies every day). The food is soooo good. The chefs do an amazing job of cooking for small to large groups and the food is always fresh and delicious. I don't think you could NOT have seconds. The Summit Center's owner, Louise Silberman, has created an amazing team. They are all passionate about providing customer service and making sure your event/meeting exceeds your expectations. Kudos to the Summit! read more

This place knows what they're doing! What a great location for a three day adult learning course. There was easy parking below the building that I purchased in advance on SpotHero. The building itself was very secure and offered dining selections. On our floor, we were welcomed with unlimited beverages, including, but not limited to coffee, tea, soda. Bathrooms were conveniently located, and the rooms were kept at a nice temperature and had a great view. I would definitely consider this location if I was hosting a course or meeting. read more

I'm located in California and needed to find a venue in Chicago for a customer event and I'm so incredibly grateful and happy that I found Summit Chicago. Anne and all the staff were so incredibly helpful with everything, especially as I was planning this event remotely and had little time for set up before the event. The space itself was exactly what we needed and had such a great view of the city. The food was delicious and they were so accommodating to everyone's dietary needs which was great. Having a per person price for the venue was so helpful (i.e. food, AV, tax & fees are all included in the price), there were no surprise or extra fees that you would normally see with a hotel or conference center. I would highly recommend Summit to anyone looking for a venue space in Chicago! read more

Not a nice place, not a clean place, not a friendly place. A very basic, dated, below average WeWork.

I just held a meeting at The Summit and can't say enough great things. Both Louise and Anne were so communicative, easy to work with, and so helpful onsite. They made sure all of my needs were taken care of so I didn't have to worry about anything during the meeting. Their space is upgraded, beautiful, and so easy to work in. The food is outstanding as well! Highly recommend for your next offsite meeting. :) read more

This is the place to be for important team retreats/workshops and big training events. Why? It's a space sharing model where the only options you really need to focus on are individual room size and seats. The idea here is that instead of picking and pricing your catering options, there is just a community buffet style offering for breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout. With hotel spaces or banquet halls, you're paying more because the kitchen has to accommodate all the different requests from all the different clients and one staff has to meet all the unique needs. Aside from the brilliant model, the facilities are modern and clean, the food is healthy and flavorful, and the snacks are focused on keeping attendees alert (granola, nuts, cheese). When I attended training here, I overheard many people assuming this was a corporate headquarters of the training vendor. This is a testament to the professional nature of the reception as well as the modern interior design and aesthetic. If the proper event arises, I will certainly look to leverage this space again. read more

I work as a graphic facilitator, meaning I map conversations live on large sheets of paper during strategy meetings to keep everyone focused, engaged, collaborative and ultimately more productive. Doing this work for 18 years has made me a connoisseur and tough critic of meeting spaces. For years, I had gone to the Summit for client projects and have appreciated their attentive staff, tasty, healthy food, flexible meeting spaces and perfect location and views. As a facilitator, I am always keenly aware of how staff in spaces respond to questions or requests. *Every* time I ask for something, *every* staff member has replied courteously and acted quickly. And everyone looks to really work as a team, instead of getting that awful "not my job" response. Louise and her team truly understand that they are not just providing a good space and delicious food, they are delivering top-notch service to make sure your meeting goes smoothly. In 2012, I started working directly with The Summit to hold my own three-day training classes. I have done 6 events with them so far and will come back again and again. They work just as hard for my small group as they do for the larger events in their space. Being an IACC certified space (the best!), they have a pricing model that is crystal clear. Everything is included per person, per day. No whammies on your invoice later. This has been a great peace of mind to me. My participants most often comment on the great views and the delicious food. They are great with food allergy issues (I'm gluten free so that means a lot). And the food is healthy, fresh and varied. I really appreciate that they don't do giant buffets - they look to do a great job scaling food and it seems like they must waste a lot less than your standard hotel does with the giant chaffing dishes. And there is always a huge variety of drinks available at all times. Now I am taking my class to other parts of the world, and I have definitely been spoiled by the high bar raised by the Summit. I hope you choose Summit for an event and enjoy it as much as I do. read more

Summit Chicago - Room setup with soft furniture in a circle for a small group with a view overlooking Millennium Park. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I spent a week here for a utility rate case training...learning how to calculate the rates that we as customers are charged for our electricity. Fun stuff. The host organization (PwC) booked this place for training as their own Chicago office was under renovation. Location: Super close to Navy Pier, Magnificent Mile, and Millennium Park. Completely walkable from near the Willis Tower - great 1 mile walk. There is an expansive food court within the building and connected to the building next door so you don't even have to step outside at all -- perfect for super windy or downright stormy days. Our training was up on Floor 10. They have their own eating area, complete with serving area and a stocked section of beverages (tea, coffee, water, iced tea, juices, soda, etc). Their meal menu is pretty decent and rotates. In between meals, plenty of snacks are stocked up and available for you when you wander out of the training room. During my week here, I had cookies, cheese and crackers, granola bars, yogurt, cheese sticks, fruit, goldfish, nuts, pretzels, ICE CREAM! In short, they will feed you well, both during meals and snacktime. I can only speak to Training Room A, but that room was spacious albeit cold as the day goes on. The first two days, there were rumbling noises that sound like a train was running above us (which there wasn't), followed by large blasts of air, so that was distracting but they took care of it after we brought it up. They also provide colored putty for you to play with and distract yourself with (it also comes with an inspirational quote). I thought that PwC had put the putty out for ice breaker purposes, but it was actually from Summit. Try mixing two colors for maximum fun, as I had observed a PwC audit partner do when he was here presenting. LoL. I'm sure it costs a pretty penny to book rooms here for training, but it looks like you would be taken care of when you are here. read more

I have been using Summit Chicago since 2003 where I held management team meetings, training sessions, and client meetings. In 2011, I created and today continue to lead-facilitate a comprehensive, multi-session leadership learning program. Summit Chicago is the only meetings facilities and conference center that meets my high standards and expectations for such a complex, intricate, and unique learning experience. Louise and her staff team consistently display exemplary service and genuine care to me and, as importantly, to my attendees which include CEOs, senior executives, business owners, and individual practitioners. Summit Chicago team members are tirelessly attentive, reliably responsive, and dependably flexible when, where, and for what is needed, before and onsite, in order to ensure my sessions can deliver the most valuable and productive experience to the attendees. The facilities are world-class combining functionality, comfort, and warmth which enhance attendee learning, focus, and interaction. The food prepared by a Summit Chicago chef onsite is exquisite. And the breaks are always fun and something to look forward to with the variety of snacks and munchies. Simply stated, there is no other venue that even comes close. Henry S. Givray Former President & CEO, Smithbucklin Corp Creator & Lead-Facilitator, Leadership's Calling® read more

From start to finish, working with the Summits team was effortless. Jennifer helped us with all our pre-planning via email and calls, and it was the easiest and quickest event planning process. On site we had stellar service from everyone involved, including Ricardo, Jennifer, Jack, and Anna who all went above and beyond for our attendees and staff. Everything was fantastic! The food was amazing, and the chefs/venue staff were super accommodating of allergies and dietary restrictions---they even baked fresh gluten-free (GF) cookies when we had a last-minute request for GF snacks. The communal lounge where the meals and snacks were served was always stocked with fresh goods, and the chefs provided an abundance of healthy options. My personal favorite was the sparking water on tap along with the daily-changing infused water! :) The rooms were very executive and organized, and they all had lots of natural light. The staff was super responsive to IT requests, and they delivered quick and tidy room turnovers between events. I would most definitely recommend Summits of Chicago, and I hope to be back here again soon for an event! read more

This is a great venue for a business meeting. The location is easy to get to via private or public transportation. The rooms are comfortable and will accommodate any size group and set up needs. Their staff is always friendly and I really love the touches of creativity from the messages scribbled on the bathroom mirrors to the quotes on the walls in the meeting rooms. Our most recent meeting took place on the 10th floor and while the views were sometimes distracting - after a two day meeting you just need to be able to look out and see something interesting. The dining room in the middle of the floor was comfortable and allowed for conversation and a respite from work. The food was always fresh and innovative (guacamole, fajitas, salmon, brussel sprout salad). The beverages (especially the teas) were delicious and always available and fresh fruit and snacks were a perfect break and on the counter throughout the day. Summit Executive Center is as close to being at a spa as you can get at a business meeting.....the only thing missing is the massage! read more

I've held several meetings at the Summit and they never disappoint. Imagine having a meeting planner who thinks of everything, has all the supplies you forgot, arranges the food, the AV and is friendly and helpful to boot. That's what working with the Summit is like. It allows me to focus on my meeting and my participants. When I hold events in hotels, I have to worry about everything from the room set up to the temperature in the room. With the Summit, I discuss all those details with my contact person in advance and somehow, magically, it all gets taken care of. On top of that -- it's wonderful to leave your meeting space and walk right into the dining area that's filled with sodas, juices, snacks and really remarkable breakfasts and lunches. If I could give them six stars I would! read more

So the positive: Food/snack Incredibly clean place Nice facilities Cons: Wi-Fi was so bad it was impossible to do the training. Had a 2 day training that required hands on demos. It seemed 80% of the class couldn't connect to the Wi-Fi, and the access didn't improve for the second day. It was impossible to follow along and catch up on work. When we did find another network to use, we were told to go back to the bad network.... which was spotty and not useable. It feels like two days were wasted. Didn't seem the facility made an effort to try to improve it. read more

Just had a 3 day conference at the summit executive center and it was an excellent experience. For the most part, where we were, was a large conference room but what made the experience so good were two things. 1. The view! It is really cool to be watching a speaker with the background of Chicago from 9 floor up. The conference room and dinning area have floor to ceiling windows all the way around the outside of the rooms. Awesome views! 2. The food! Quite honestly the best food that I have ever had at business conference. Excellent salads, veggie side dishes and main courses. For example on the last day of the conference beef brisket and pulled pork were served, kind of a bbq theme. Both were excellent. The gentleman sitting next to me could not stop taking about the beef brisket. He said he was from North Carolina, he had been to Texas, but he'd never had anything like it anywhere. Pretty strong endorsement. I didn't pay for the conference so I can't speak to the prices for rent the center... but as far as the service, food, and atmosphere, all were excellent and I highly recommend! read more

Working with Summit for our Sales meeting needs this past month could not have been easier with their turnkey process. For example: I need to utilize Zoom Video Conferencing - Done! I need Gluten Free catering - Done! Our expected attendance just skyrocketed - No problem! Thank You Summit! read more

What a great place for a workshop/conference! They have it all - excellent staff who take care of all your needs right from the start, great space, and nice format to make it easy to include food, beverage, and socializing outside of session-time. Thank you for a great experience. read more

My company planned an 100 attendee two-day meeting this fall. The meeting space is absolutely gorgeous, and they made it very easy for everyone to find the meeting space (I was worried attendees might get lost on their way). I was a little disappointed in there pricing however, as the packages are pretty inflexible. We were able to negotiate a few times off to bring down the per-person costs, but it was still well above the cost of an a-la-cart package you can work out with a hotel. Our attendees however loved the space and convenience to hotels/CTA/restaurants and we really enjoyed the "hands-off" planning aspect. Best, Molly read more

Love this place! Would give it 10 stars if I could. Summit makes everything so easy. All you have to do is show up. It's so nice to not have to worry about anything except your meeting. Everyone on staff is so wonderful and a dream to work with. Jennifer and Anna are especially nice and helpful. I was also able to meet the owner on our first visit; awesome woman as well. The food is absolutely amazing! The location is great! I could go on and on but you should just see for yourself! You won't be sorry. read more

Amazing staff, service, food, meeting rooms, etc. Excellent location on Michigan Ave with plenty of hotels and restaurants within walking distance. We had a 3 day meeting here in June and were looking for something outside the norm. It worked out great! Meals and breaks can be included in your meeting package. Gorgeous views of Michigan Ave! Big windows in every meeting room, so tons of natural light. Highly recommended! read more

We had a meeting at Summit for our Annual Sales Meeting. We had 70 brokers from across the country come in for 3 days. The summit was a fantastic host. The courtesy and accommodations from the staff was 10/10. They were able to make last minute changes in a lot of different requests we had. Everyone was comfortable and the building was very accessible!! I recommend this place to anyone and every one! read more

My company has a corporate offsite meeting where all of the department heads meet to talk over business plans, proposals, etc. I have scheduled this meeting for the last six years in many different places but after having it at the Summit Center this year, I probably won't need to find a different place to have our meeting. Sasha was awesome to work with even when I made last minute changes. The price is reasonable, the food is good, and the location is convenient for everyone. The space itself is also very nice. Usually we have to have everyone sitting at long tables and uncomfortable chairs. They have a "creative" setup where everyone gets a comfortable chair with a small desk attached. There was so much talking and so many things that got accomplished this year, I have to think it was from the setting and the ability to talk to everyone in the room as opposed to only presenting. Everyone on my team loved the Summit Center and, as said before, we'll be back. read more

The Summit Center is a great facility for corporate training events. Day packages include all your meals (breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages) for an economical price. The location is conveniently downtown at 205 N Michigan, accessible by several different types of public transit and several parking garages close by. The staff is friendly, helpful and accomodating of any last minute needs that arise and they always do as a meeting planner. The food spread is great and includes options for almost any diet. Specialty items are available upon request. Save room for the cookies, YUM. read more

We held a few small meetings at the Summit Executive Centre over the course of 3 days. I highly recommend this venue for meetings both big and small. The staff is incredibly accommodating of last minute changes and came very early in the morning for us to ensure the meeting rooms were ready (Jennifer!). The use of the technology in each room was seamless. There's a great break area with food, coffee and drinks at all times. Each room has pens and pads of paper and little trays of candies. It's those little touches that make a place great. We would definitely book space at the Summit Executive Centre when back in Chicago! read more

We frequently travel to Chicago for our quarterly partner meetings and have used the Summit for all of these meetings and could not be happier with their service and facilities. Sasha and the rest of the staff are very accommodating and helpful. The prices, food and rooms all suit our needs perfectly. Here are a few of my favorite things: The food!! Our group consists of vegetarians and vegans and the Summit always has many creative options for these folks. I have found that with other venues it is a challenge to find variety in the food if you are attending a 5 day meeting. The Summit offers a tremendous amount of variety and it is all great food. From the beverages and snacks to the breakfasts and lunches the variety is astounding. The rooms! They have a lot of variety in their meeting spaces and set up. The rooms are comfortable and quiet and the views are amazing. The prices and location! We travel all over the world for these meetings and have found Chicago and The Summit to be the most affordable location. There are many convenient hotels near by and it is so nice to be near the river, park and Michigan Avenue. Always nice to take a stroll on the break. I would highly recommend The Summit for business meetings and only wish that there were other Summits in NYC, London and San Francisco! read more

Great venue for meetings and trainings. The staff really takes care of you and seems to be big on recycling. The food and drinks are great with healthier, unique options and high quality ingredients (you can just tell). Honestly, I mostly made this review because the chef is amazing. read more

I recently attended a 3-day training at the Summit and my experience was just super positive from start to finish. This place is really accessible, super clean and the food is just really fresh. We had breakfast, lunch and snacks there and it was just a great balance of healthy and copious choices. The food is all prepared fresh in the kitchen of the venue. The staff is always here for you and flexible. I would highly recommend this place to anyone interested in organizing a successful business event there. read more

If you are looking for a space to host a work event, workshop, etc., go with The Summit! You can't beat the location and views from the space. Everything is included in the space e.g. food, WiFi, and supplies which allows for a smooth and positive experience. Thank you Summit! read more

Wow! There's not much to add that hasn't already been said. The Summit Executive Centre is the perfect place to host your next meeting in Chicago. Our company flew in team members from around the country and we were all staying at various hotels nearby. I sourced 2 hotels and Summit. My needs were simple, I needed a meeting place, food and beverage, and AV. As pricing came in it was clear, at first, that it was all pretty competitive. But when hotels started to add AV (1 projector, screen, in-room wifi and a conference phone), Summit literally knocked out the competition. They INCLUDE your AV needs in their package!!! Once hotels added my very simple AV request, their proposals DOUBLED. From a budget perspective it was clear I had to choose Summit. But wait! There's more. Food and Beverage was a hit. I didn't have to plan any menus or choose from this or that. Their catering menu literally has something for everyone and every day it was something different and delicious. I have a vegetarian, gluten free, and a VEGAN on the team. They all ate were all satisfied. Plus all day drinks and snacks! Healthy snacks and candy and cookies. As the meeting planner and meeting facilitator it can become overwhelming planning and executing an event. Summit removes most of the logistical aspect of planning then they execute, which allowed me to focus on the meeting and our business outcome. Anytime I needed something...it was a simple email or text and they answered or accommodated the request behind the scenes. Really its simple if you are planning a meeting in Chicago you have to use Summit. Let the hotels be your teams home away from home, where they can kick off their shoes and relax. If I can help it, I will no longer have my team stay and meet at the same location. It gives them that sense of disconnecting. Not everyone is an extrovert. Which leads me to my only concern. Why isn't Summit in every major city???? read more

As an anal event planner, I have checklist after checklist to prepare me for any size event from the food and beverage worries, to speaker TLC, to Audio/visual equipment, to registration, etc. etc. Every time I spoke with Louise prior to the event she was nothing but positive in reinforcing and reminding me that her staff would be there to help every step of the way. When we arrived the setup was perfect. We had the entire 9th floor of the Summit Centre to ourselves and the room was set up in "team style" - a refreshing break from school room or theatre setup. Not only that, but she had "brain-teasers" (silly putty!) set up along with pens and pads at each chair setting which my attendees enjoyed and were able to network over. She was absolutely right about her staff. Never have I been to a conference center where the staff was so knowledgeable and willing to help - just like Louise, the ring leader, herself. Food and beverage: I always make sure to go through menus with a fine-toothed comb to make sure my attendees have every option imaginable. Louise and her staff did this all for me. They put together gorgeous breakfasts, lunches and refreshment breaks every day and I couldn't have done it better myself. I can't wait to return to Chicago to have another event at the Summit Centre. Kudos to the entire staff for a job well done. read more

Great resource for meetings of any size in Chicago! My professional association used Summit West in Ogilvie Transportation Center for a two day event with two international experts in our field. Not only was the location ideal, the furnishings, food, staff support, and meeting room supports (AV, flip charts, markers, etc.) superb. Ryan Sands and his staff made the event easy for me and the other volunteers organizing this event. I would definitely recommend them (or Summit East, where I've spent time in conferences)! read more

We just hosted a week-long event there, and I wanted to move in permanently. The staff is friendly, professional, and can handle even the most chaotic of situations. Their chef knows how to prepare a tasty lunch that doesn't send you into food coma; their A/V staff is quick to help and move with urgency. They treated us like old friends and were always willing to help. I highly recommend this venue. read more

In May of 2018, we hosted a workshop at Summits of Chicago. The logistical planning of the meeting was super smooth and Sasha made sure that all the participants were in informed of check-in process and location. The meeting itself was great. It was imperative that in such a packed meeting, that food and beverages were made available on site. Therefore, the Complete Meeting Package (breakfast, lunch, and snacks) was exactly what our group needed. The food was delicious, it was served according to our meeting schedule, and accommodated a spectrum of dietary restrictions. The AV was seem less, the supplies plentiful. And the VIEW was amazing. Highly recommended. read more

Absolutely fantastic meeting space. Energetic, innovative, and motivating workspace. The customer service provided is top notch. Ask for Sasha Sook when booking your meeting, she always make sure the details are paid attention to and your meeting is a success. read more

Summit West continues the strong service and attention to detail as it's sister property, Summit Executive Center. Have hosted several events there for executives and senior leadership of my company and each group has asked to have more meetings and events there as the space is ideal, service is top notch, and food is great! The venue makes my life as a planner as easy at it gets! read more

Great service, meeting space, lots of windows, great location and facilities, and food! We loved it and the healthy delicious food choices made me want to come back every day to eat! read more

The SEC is a very well-situated Business Center, a warm-welcomed staff, good equipment for my program and the food is great! I really recommend this venue for your meetings, trainings. etc... Sarah, Program Coordinator read more

Great space for a meeting or conference! We had a two-day interactive seminar and the experience was truly fantastic. The staff is very friendly, quick and efficient. The food is delicious and they always have fresh coffee, soda, water, sparkling water and snacks offered throughout the day. They really do think of everything you will need and ensure that your meeting needs are met 100%. Myself and coworkers highly recommend the Summit Executive Centre. read more

In almost 30 years of training, I've rarely had the pleasure to teach in a facility so nice. The people were great, the food was amazing, and the rooms were just really conducive to a great learning experience. My students couldn't stop complimenting the food. read more

Working here for my client's 2-day training meeting has been a dream. The facility is comfortable, modern, very well maintained and the staff is extremely responsive and accommodating. The only challenge our group experienced here was with wifi bandwidth which the facility worked hard to improve. The internet usage reports showed that several people in our group were downloading and streaming non-business related items like iTunes which unfortunately really slowed things down for a lot of people until it could be corrected. Overall a great experience and I look forward to working here again with another group. read more

We were not sure what to expect with this location because our Company never heard of Summit Executive before. We read the reviews and decided to use this venue for a one-day conference. Typically, our annual conferences are held at AAA-diamond rated hotels, so we were unsure if this venue would meet our expectations. The Summit Executive Centre of Chicago far exceeded our expectations, we wish would have used them for our past conferences. This place and their staff are top-notch. The Summit staff are definitely experts in handling conferences. They make it seamless and easy for conference coordinators, just sit back and enjoy the conference - they handle everything! The pricing was extremely reasonable and the food was fantastic! We were not sure what to expect when it came to food, but we and our attendees were pleasantly surprised at how great the food was. If our conference is held again in Chicago, then we will surely use the Summit Executive Centre. You will not be disappointed! read more