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The Summit Awards celebrate excellence across Chicagoland’s hospitality, tourism, and events industries. With 12 categories—from hotels and venues to event planners and social media influencers—these awards honor the people and businesses setting the bar for innovation and success. Presented during The Summit, they offer a chance to gain visibility, celebrate achievements, and connect with more than 1,400 industry professionals.

Meet The Summit Awards!

Voting Process & Timeline

Winners will be determined based on the quality of the nomination submission data, as well as the overall vote count. Winners will be announced at The Summit on Tuesday, April 15. You can nominate as many people or companies as you wish. You can vote daily. The timeline is as follows:

  • Feb. 4, 2025: The nomination window begins!

    • Users can nominate one to three people per category.

    • Nominations will be collected and counted, with the top five nominees in each category being named Official Nominees.

  • Feb. 28, 2025: The nomination window ends!

  • March 4, 2025: The voting window begins!

    • Voters can vote for one of the top five nominees in all 12 categories per day.

  • March 28, 2025: The voting window closes!

    • Votes will be collected and counted.

  • April 15, 2025: The winners will be announced every half-hour at The Summit trade show.

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Sponsored By:

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Be a Part of the Celebration!

How Can I or My Business Get Involved?

  • Nominate a Great Business or Industry Professional: Celebrate excellence by nominating a business, individual, or even your own organization for making an impact in Chicago’s hospitality, tourism, and events industries. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your achievements or recognize the outstanding contributions of others. Spread the word and get your network involved! 

  • Sponsor a Category or the Entire Program: Showcase your brand by sponsoring one of 12 award categories—or take center stage as the exclusive event sponsor with “The Summit Awards, Sponsored by YOUR BUSINESS.” Gain premium visibility, connect with industry leaders, and support excellence in the category that aligns with your business values.

  • Vote for Your Favorites: Help decide the winners by voting for your favorites! Encourage your network to vote and support the people and businesses shaping our industry.

  • Be Present for the Winner Announcements: Join us at The Summit on April 15 to witness the live announcement of the winners. Celebrate Chicago’s top talent and achievements alongside more than 1,400 industry professionals. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to be part of a moment that highlights the very best in our industry.

Why Participate in The Summit Awards? 

  • Celebrate Excellence: Help shine a spotlight on the individuals and businesses that make Chicago’s hospitality industry world-class. 

  • Gain Recognition: Whether you’re nominated, winning, or supporting others, participating puts you at the heart of Chicago’s dynamic hospitality community. 

  • Network with Industry Leaders: Be part of the conversations shaping our city’s future and connect with top decision-makers, influencers, and innovators at The Summit.

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Sponsored By:

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Celebrate Excellence! Nominate Below:

Hover over a category below to nominate. Users can nominate up to three people or businesses per category. Nominations will be collected and counted, with the top five nominees in each category being named Official Nominees.

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Sponsored By:

Big Bus

The Summit Concierge Award

Includes hotel, corporate, residential, concierges and hotel guest services personnel.

Image by Marten Bjork

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The Summit Hotel Award

Includes luxury hotels, boutique gems, extended-stay properties, historic landmarks, business and conference hotels.

Image by Maksim Zhashkevych

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The Summit Destination Marketing Organizations & Associations Award

Includes neighborhood associations,  local, regional, national, and international DMO's, trade associations, convention bureaus, and tourism boards.

Image by Marc Babin

The Summit Planner Award

Includes corporate meeting & event planners, wedding planners, birthday planners, association planners, fundraising planners, gala planners, family reunion planners, and virtual event planners.

Image by Michael Discenza

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The Summit Nightlife Award

Includes nightclubs, bars, pubs, lounges, live music venues, comedy clubs, dance clubs, sports bars, rooftop bars, karaoke bars, adult entertainment venues, wine bars, speakeasies, cocktail lounges, and dive bars.

Image by CHUTTERSNAP

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The Summit Venue Award

Includes conference, convention & community centers, clubs, concert venues, banquet halls, event venues, museums, outdoor amphitheaters, sports arenas, stadiums, restaurant event spaces, parks, and co-working spaces.

Image by Eilis Garvey

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The Summit Industry Distributors

& Services Award

Includes foodservice, beverage, janitorial, equipment, wholesale, specialty item, promotional item and cleaning supply distributors, uniform and linen suppliers, and technology/software providers.

Image by Ibrahim Boran

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The Summit Social Media Influencers

& Creators Award

Includes bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, influencers, and content creators.

Image by Amy-Leigh Barnard

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The Summit Attraction Award

Includes theaters, entertainment, museums, boat tours, natural, man-made, cultural, historical, and novelty attractions, theme parks, zoos, aquariums, landmarks, parks, art galleries, festivals, sporting events, and pop-ups.

Image by Elijah Ekdahl

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The Summit Event Services Award

Includes A/V companies, caterers, event planning companies, DMCs, floral designers, rental companies, security services, transportation services, entertainment providers, staging and lighting companies.

Image by Jay Wennington

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The Summit Restaurant Award

Includes fast food, fast casual, casual dining, fine dining, family style, buffet, cafés, bistros, diners, food trucks, and pop-up restaurants.

Image by Heidi Fin

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The Summit Shopping Award

Includes malls, shops, retail pop ups, souvenir shops, farmers markets, cultural shops, specialty food shops, outlet malls, and boutique stores.

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