Chicago businesses are gearing up for the Democratic National Convention that starts Monday and is expected to draw 50,000 visitors to the city. Southside Blooms will weave lilies, sunflowers, marigolds, peonies and other flowers into intricate floral arrangements for DNC-related events next week. Yum Dum’s food truck will serve hundreds of dumplings, “kimcheesy” rice balls and sriracha pecan fudge brownies to hungry journalists covering the four-day convention.
South Loop event planner Revel Global Events will be busy hosting receptions — decking out its historic 1936 building, once home to the Illinois Automobile Club and the Chicago Defender newspaper. Businesses involved with DNC-related events — from food trucks to party planners — expect a strong boost from the convention and are excited to be a part of history. The last time the convention was held in Chicago was in 1996 at the United Center .
Other business owners hope the surge of visitors will bump up their revenue, but believe it will be mostly business as usual. For them, the DNC won’t be different from other massive events such as Lollapalooza or the Chicago Marathon, which draws more than 115,000 concertgoers and 50,000 runners, respectively. Revel Global Events is organizing the Volunteer Appreciation Rally before the convention starts for an estimated 12,000 volunteers at Wrigley Field.
Revel was one of five hospitality firms selected by the the Democratic National Convention Committee to produce.