Events
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 23: Registration and Lunch | InterContinental Hotel | 505 N. Michigan Ave.
11:00 AM – 1:30 PM: Event Registration | 8th floor Balcony | please check-in and pick up your event credentials (note: you will not be permitted to any event without the proper credential)
After you check-in, head down to the luncheon
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM: Taste of Chicago Welcome Luncheon | 7th floor Grand Ballroom
Assigned seating per team — look for your team color on your name badge
Welcome remarks and short instructional video for afternoon activity
CHICAGO IN FOCUS
Get ready for the ChainLinks Chicago Capture Challenge! Participants will be pre-assigned into teams ahead of the conference to encourage new connections and fresh relationships. Over the course of one full day and evening in Chicago, teams will snap creative group photos at a series of iconic landmarks and key neighborhoods all near conference events. It’s a fun, interactive way to explore the Windy City, strengthen peer connections, and compete for top honors—all while capturing memorable moments together.
WEDNESDAY ACTIVITIES (you must register for one of the below or choose none)
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Chicago River Architecture Tour
Join us for one of the city’s most iconic and engaging experiences. This special 1.5 hour tour takes you along the Chicago River for a front-row view of more than 50 historic and modern buildings that define the city’s legendary skyline. You will learn how Chicago became a global leader in architecture following the Great Fire of 1871, and how innovations in engineering led to the birth of the skyscraper. The tour highlights a range of styles—from Art Deco and Beaux-Arts to Mid-Century Modern and striking contemporary designs—while sharing stories about the architects, visionaries, and moments that shaped the city. You will gain a deeper appreciation for the city’s architectural legacy and it will give you plenty of time to get some good team photos!
*Boats will depart from Michigan Ave Docks 3 and 4
The Hand & The Eye Private Tour and Magic Experience | 100 E. Ontario Street
First come, first registered – minimum of 50 guests, maximum of 100 guests. The event requires a minimum of 50 participants. Should the minimum not be met, we cannot guarantee the event will take place and you will be contacted to have the option to choose the River Boat Tour.
If you prefer to stay landside we have another exclusive opportunity in one of the city's newest attractions. The Hand & The Eye is set to become one of Chicago’s most extraordinary new cultural destinations. Built in the historic McCormick Mansion - an Italian Renaissance gem that has served as everything from a private home to Lawry’s Prime Rib - the venue has been thoughtfully restored and reimagined as a 35,000-plus-square-foot immersive magic experience.
More than a show, it’s a multi-space journey of wonder, blending world-class illusion performances with elegant design, dining, lounges, and hidden passageways that reflect the building’s storied past. The transformation was guided by visionary partners: Chicago native and acclaimed designer David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group, hospitality experts from Levy Restaurants, and a curated team of leading magicians—all united by a passion for creating something truly unique.
WEDNESDAY EVENING EVENT: Welcome Reception
5:30 PM – 9:30 PM: Brickhouse Tavern | Wrigleyville (venue is adjacent to Wrigley Field) | 3647 N. Clark Street
*Transportation from the InterContinental Hotel will depart promptly at 4:45 PM
You can't get any more Wrigleyville than this, other than being inside the ballpark. Enjoy drinks and dinner and the full game night experience with all your peers.
*Tickets to the game are not included. For tickets to the Chicago Cubs vs Miami Marlins, please visit:
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 24: General Session | Millennium Park
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Marketing Council Session | location to be announced
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Principals Meeting | Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall | 78 E. Washington Street
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Group Lunch at Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Group Photo in front of The Bean
1:30 PM – 4:00 PM: ChainLinks General Session and Keynote | Harris Theater | 205 E. Randolph Street
*Additional speakers and topics to be added in the coming weeks
Featuring a special keynote with The Second City. The Second City is the legendary troupe that launched comedy greats from Tina Fey to Stephen Colbert.
With sharp improv, smart satire, and plenty of high energy and audience interaction, they’ll transform our world of commercial real estate into laugh-out-loud entertainment. Who knew cap rates and lease negotiations could be this funny?
Commercial real estate has never been more entertaining.
4:00 PM: Post Meetings Happy Hour | Harris Theater | 205 E. Randolph Street
THURSDAY EVENING: RECESS | Fulton Market | 838 W. Kinzie
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Work Hard, Play Hard. It’s time for RECESS
*Transportation from the InterContinental Hotel will depart promptly at 6:30 PM
RECESS is a lively bar and restaurant just steps from Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood in the West Loop. It’s known for its energetic, adult-playground vibe - complete with one of the city’s largest outdoor patios, bold American comfort food, creative cocktails, and plenty of games and entertainment. RECESS has become a staple of the area’s dining and nightlife scene.
Fulton Market is a blueprint for the future of urban commercial development — where lifestyle and workplace converge.
