KI Convention Center

Type: Venue Review

Overview:  There are not a lot of good options in the Green Bay market but the KI convention center is one to consider.

Ballrooms:  The property has a wide variety of ballroom space.  The original footprint includes a couple of good size ballrooms which can be divided into smaller breakout space as well as a large expo hall.  A recent renovation added a large upstairs ballroom with additional breakout space.

AV Staff and Equipment:  In house is currently PSAV and they are exclusive for rigging but we have never had an issue bringing in outside av to the venue

Location:  The convention center has two attached hotels which works well in the colder months.  The onsite restaurant is the basic bar/restaurant however, there are multiple good restaurants very close.  Lambeau Field (the Packers stadium) is a short drive away and is a highlight for attendees to visit.

Con:  The rigging in the upstairs ballroom has a few holes so any larger set-up needs to take into account the rigging options.  The expo hall on the first floor can get cold.  Load in is also something that needs to be coordinated as the dock is small and the push upstairs is not short.  We often will coordinate a load in using the expo hall and pull our trucks into the hall for load and unload.

Loews Chicago

Hotel:  Loews Chicago

Location: Chicago

Overview:  Great Chicago property for small to mid-sized shows.  This is a very popular property in a great location and it books far in advance. 

Ballroom:  The main ballroom is the Wright ballroom and it is only 109 x 78.  It is well suited for a mid-sized event and can be divided for smaller events.  The Sullivan ballroom Is right across the foyer and is a nice option for meals or breakouts.

The foyer around the Wright ballroom is great and offers opportunities for breaks and attendee networking.  The two ballrooms are next to the lobby but the entrance to the meeting space is built to provide separation from the main lobby.

If you do not have both ballrooms there will often be another event in the Sullivan ballroom which will require some coordination as the Sullivan foyer is not large and attendees will walk through the Wright foyer to get to their space.  This is not a big issue just something that should be addressed.

One important note.  The loading dock is a very long push through many hallways and dock space needs to be reserved and confirmed prior to arrival.

Breakouts:  On the other side of the lobby are the main breakout rooms.  They are on the second floor so there is great separation from the general public.  There are multiple rooms of varying sizes.

One note, many rooms have built in LED screens but the rental cost is fairly high so we often bring in monitors on rolling stands for these rooms.

Outdoor Terrace:  The outdoor terrace on the top floor is a great space with an amazing view.  Clients have used this space for meals, welcome receptions and parties.  If the terrace is a space you would use pay particular attention to any construction on adjacent properties as the noise can be an issue during the day.

Producer’s Notes:  Great property in a great location.