Hot News

The Tinley Park Convention Center will soon double in size. In April, Tinley Park officials broke ground on much anticipated project, which effectively doubles the size of the current facility, adding an additional 24,000 square feet of clear-span exhibit space and bringing the total contiguous exhibit space to over 58,000 square feet.

The result of several years study, the impetus for the expansion came from a report that indicated the need for a convention center 50,000 square feet and larger. "The ability to host so many regional and national conventions and trade shows will give the Tinley Park Convention Center a distinct advantage in the meetings and conventions marketplace," said Edward Zabrocki Mayor of Tinley Park, who also said the full village board was in unanimous agreement on the need for the convention center expansion.

The expansion is expected to be completed by May 2011. In doubling the size of the venue, the projects adds 9,000 square feet of functional meeting space will bring the convention center’s breakout room count to 18, with potential Junior Ballroom configurations of up to 11,500 square feet.

Additional expansion amenities include high-efficiency exhibit space lighting, built-in concession stand, Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the facility, a full-service business center, new loading docks and storage areas, and an additional 450 parking spaces, bringing the total of free parking spaces to 1,500.

The Tinley Park Convention Center is owned by the village of Tinley Park and is managed by Mid-Con Hospitality, which also operates the attached 202-room Holiday Inn Tinley Park. "Our mission is to make the Tinley Park Convention Center the best convention center of its size in America," said Alan Rosenzweig, Executive Vice President for Mid-Con Hospitality. "There is no reason to doubt we'll succeed in that mission."

The Tinley Park Convention Center is within close proximity to an additional 680 overflow hotel rooms as well as downtown Chicago. "This project will increase the visibility of Tinley Park and the Chicago Southland region as a destination driver for new business," said Jim Garrett, President/CEO, Chicago Southland CVB. Chicago Southland CVB is the sales and marketing arm of the region, which includes 62 suburbs of Chicago. Tinley Park is the largest of this cluster of destinations, has the most hotel properties and is the only one with a convention center.

"This state-of-the-art expansion will provide the latest amenities and services for meeting and convention planners, and in a very competitive climate, amenities and services are what planners are looking for in destinations," added Garrett.

Following the ceremonial shovel-turning, dignitaries and invited guests gathered for refreshments and tours of the facility in the Tinley Park Convention Center. The groundbreaking and subsequent construction infuses an additional $19 million investment in the convention center and throughout Chicago’s south metro region. according to Patrick Rea, Village Clerk, Tinley Park. He added the Tinley Park Convention Center Expansion "will add 250 jobs to the surrounding hospitality businesses and $265 million in annual revenue for the area. That’s a significant impact."