The ILEA Chicago Report Back
As ILEA Seattle gathered at the Apella by Alexandira on Tuesday evening, stories of the wonderful experiences and lessons learned from ILEA International's Chicago Event swirled in the air. This set the stage for a rooftop party and cocktail hour that then led into one of the most important seminars any ILEA member should hear this year. Let's take a detailed look at what unfolded, highlighting the food, the atmosphere, the speakers, and the exciting future ahead for ILEA Seattle and its members.
All photography was provided by the excellent Seth Cartwright Photography
The Warm-Up
The event kicked off with a delightful spread of, caprese, macaroons and wine. Guests enjoyed music provided by Orion Entertainment, alongside a Mediterranean suite of food served to us by the Apella, complemented by refreshing Aperol spritzers, wine, and beer.
The balcony provided breathtaking views of the bay, a perfect backdrop for catching up with old friends and making new ones. Seth Cartwright captured the lovely afternoon for us, with stunning views in all directions. Thanks to Carmen DiGiulio, who was filming social media content for us the entire event.
The combination of great food, drinks, and music provided by Orion Entertainment, set a comfortable atmosphere to connect with peers and local industry leaders.
Breaking the Ice
Networking can sometimes feel daunting. The warm-up activities and ice breakers, combined with the thoughtful layout of the space, encouraged attendees to engage with new people. The staff at Apella, who's attentiveness and the quality of the catering was stellar, contributed to a smooth experience, allowing everyone to focus on making meaningful connections.
This Just in From Chicago
After the initial social hour, attendees were guided to another room where the main discussion took place. The Discussion was made up of a panel featuring ILEA Seattle members that Attended the conference in Chicago. Different points that were touched on consisted of branding, leadership, event experience and Chapter development,
Branding and Leadership:
Audience-Focused Storytelling.
When you are creating experiences for your clients, how often do you consider how the audience, the client, or the group you are working with factor into the story of the evening? At the ILEA Chicago event, one of the most talked about aspects of the event was that the attendees were utilized in the story of the event.
For example, ILEA Chicago had a program set-up that would text you with a photo when you were "spotted" at the event. These photos were already edited, and taken at intimate moments that those reporting back couldn't believe were captured.
This is a much bigger undertaking than many would do for say a smaller event, however, factoring in how your audience's participation can improve an event is something to now take into consideration if you haven't been doing so already.
Client Communication.
Speaking with clients is an ever evolving artform that is both important as it is stressful. Addressing situations through conversation, emotional intelligence, and transparency all contribute to successful client interactions.
Even considering all of these factors, clients can still be frustrating, and sometimes you still might miss something, or not understand exactly what a client is requesting. This is where understanding a client's concerns and working with your team are essential.
Always include your team, and/or those you are working with. While it may seem obvious to all of us working in the event industry, the minutia of making sure a client is understood and cared for should never be taken lightly.
Event Experience:
Stage Design and Delivery
In Chicago, innovation was one of the leading themes that ILEA was putting on display. One company, ShowREADY, crafted entirely new LED displays that worked diagonally just for the keynote speaker mainstage (you can see a picture and case study breakdown here at this link: ILEA Live 2026: Creative LED Stage Design & Event Production | ShowREADY.®) It was new, interesting to look at, and had never been done before.
Prioritizing Individual Experiences
Another aspect of the night that calls back to involving our audience were live artists who painted as people walked into the event! They added a personal, participatory element to the evening.
The badge pickup was reported as one of the best that our leadership had seen, being well organized and easily readable. Kristen, our VP of Membership here in Seattle, mentioned how she instantly found her name, and how appreciative that preparation made everyone who attended feel.
Chapter Development:
New Opportunities
There are a few things in the works in relation to the Seattle ILEA chapter, including outreach to colleges to discuss the possibility of interns.
Looking back, the ILEA Chicago event succeeded in bringing members together, sharing knowledge, and setting a positive direction for the future. For those of us who did not make it out to Chicago, the report back highlighted what went well, such as the quality of the venue, the stage direction, and effective audience participation, while also highlighting the new technological and communicative solutions being implemented successfully into our industry.
What’s Next
HALLOWEEN!! We hope your ready for our upcoming Last Stand event! Last year's Asylum event was so much fun, we cannot wait to knock it out of the park again this year with the outbreak themed dance party you all don't even realize you've been waiting for. Rise from your graves (or couches, either works) and join us this October 14th to survive the night. Join us, for the Last Stand.
