The opening of the Obama Presidential Center is a historic moment for the city of Chicago. The campus, located in the city’s historic Hyde Park neighborhood, will celebrate the nation’s first Black president — and bring an abundance of opportunities for Chicago’s hospitality industry.
The Center, which opens on Juneteenth weekend 2026, promises to be a premier destination for both tourism and meetings and events. The campus is expected to attract up to 700,000 visitors each year, creating an unprecedented opportunity for businesses on the city’s South Side and beyond.
To help capitalize on this once-in-a-generation happening, Choose Chicago hosted a multi-day familiarization trip (known as a FAM) for meeting professionals from across the country.
“FAMs are a great opportunity for us to showcase the city and all that it has to offer firsthand to clients,” says Lori Adlesick, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Events, at Choose Chicago. “It allows them to see and experience it directly for themselves, get questions answered, meet partners they can potentially work with in the future, and develop relationships with our team.”
During the trip, FAM attendees visited the Obama Presidential Center before it opened its doors to the public. The group received a special tour of the new digital-first museum and visited some of the Center’s unique event spaces, like the NBA-regulation-size Home Court and the breathtaking Sky Room, capped off by an evening reception.
The itinerary also highlighted exciting new Chicago experiences, such as The Hand & The Eye just off Michigan Avenue, along with an in-depth tour of the city’s historic South Side.
The agenda included a variety of top Chicago attractions and experiences, including:
- A visit to The Hand & The Eye, an immersive magic experience inside the historic McCormick Mansion
- Dinner and cocktails at Cloud Bar, the city’s highest bar, located inside the 360 CHICAGO observation deck
- Chef-driven bites at the acclaimed Bronzeville Winery
- A visit to Gallery Guichard and the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center
- A tour of the David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago
- A stop at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, followed by a walk through the Osaka Japanese Garden
- A tour of the McCormick Place Campus
- The Bear food tour from Chicago Food & City Tour or a tour of the Wicker Park neighborhood from Chicago Museum Tours
The guests also had an opportunity to hear from a variety of Chicago groups, including:
- Chicago Department of Aviation
- The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
- Lettuce Entertain You
- United Center
- North Lawndale Employment Network
- The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
Guests stayed at The Wade, which offers waterfront rooms with stunning views just steps from Lake Michigan. Chicago Is…. assisted with transportation and logistics.
Choose Chicago hosts a variety of FAM trips throughout the year, showcasing different facets of the city to influencers, media, tour group organizers, meeting professionals, and more. To learn more and get involved in future FAMs, contact Lori Adlesick, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Events at Choose Chicago.
