For the first time since 2017, the Naperville Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) organized a familiarization, or “FAM,” tour to give meeting‑and‑event professionals a hands‑on look at what the city offers. Dubbed “Fall for Naperville,” the tour brought 11 decision‑makers from Wisconsin, Indiana, Florida and Illinois to experience the community’s hospitality assets.
Local Partners Play Key Role
Naperville’s success in attracting conferences rests on strong collaboration between the CVB, hotels, restaurants, and civic leaders. Mayor Scott Wehrli opened the event at Hotel Indigo, followed by tours of the hotel itself, the Water Street development and the Elements event space. Throughout the day, partners provided complimentary services or deep discounts, underscoring the city’s commitment to supporting the meetings industry.
Showcasing Hotels and Historic Sites
Attendees stayed overnight at Hotel Arista and the Chicago Marriott Naperville, then visited a range of venues. A short walk led them to Naper Settlement, where live history demonstrations illustrated how cultural enrichment activities can be woven into client itineraries. The group also toured the Birck Family Innovation Gateway and heard a presentation from CVB representatives Brandon Sheldon, Monica Conners, and Julie Byrne on the value proposition of hosting events in Naperville.
Downtown Highlights and Local Flavors
Belgio’s Chauffeuring provided luxury transportation into downtown, stopping at North Central College to discuss its event spaces and theater options. Planners were introduced to downtown attractions such as the Riverwalk, Centennial Beach, and the Moser Tower’s 72‑bell carillon. The day concluded with lunch at Northcott Liquorette, where local businesses—including Standard Goods, White Sheep, Pinot’s Palette, JoJo’s Shake Bar, Karisma Boutique, Dash of Nash, Little Luxuries, Avocado Theory, Rosebud, Insomnia Cookies, and Kernel’s Gourmet Popcorn—offered giveaways and Naperville trivia.
Positive Feedback from Industry Professionals
“This was one of the best‑planned FAMs I’ve attended in 40 years in the business,” said Brenda J. Glass of Superior Planning and Site Selection, a specialist in national healthcare meetings. Glass’s endorsement reflects the high quality of the itinerary and the collaborative spirit displayed by local partners.
Why the Tour Matters
Familiarization tours are a vital tool for meeting planners, allowing them to assess a destination’s suitability firsthand. By bringing together hotels, restaurants, attractions, transportation providers, and city leadership, Naperville demonstrated its capacity to host large‑scale events that benefit the local economy and showcase the city’s family‑friendly, faith‑centered community values.
With the successful return of the FAM after nearly a decade, the Naperville CVB aims to build on this momentum, attracting more conferences and reinforcing the city’s reputation as a premier meeting destination. For more information, visit VisitNaperville.com.
Original reporting: Positively Naperville (Aurora area) — read the source article.
