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Businesses serve up their best at hospitality expo

Event planners and business owners got an early treat for the holidays Thursday at the annual Hospitality Expo - Chicago Northwest at the Stonegate Conference & Banquet Centre in Hoffman Estates.

More than 800 registered guest mingled among the 75 companies representing the suburban hospitality industry at the annual event hosted by the Daily Herald Business Ledger. The expo offers suburban business owners and event planners a one-stop destination to gather ideas and to book vendors for corporate events and holiday parties.

Restaurants and caterers offered samples ranging from Arlington Heights Plaka Greek Catering's classic Greek cheese pie to lobster bisque from the Clubhouse in Oak Brook. Participants got to try out casino night equipment from U.S. Poker and Casino in Bensenville and discuss corporate parties with a knight from Medieval Times in Hoffman Estates.

The Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin had decks of poker cards and dice to hand out to people as they passed by. Toni Orlando, sales and marketing director for Grand Victoria, said the casino was highlighting their recently remodeled banquet rooms, which are available for family-friendly events like birthdays, as well as weddings and other milestone events.

"We want to let people know that we're a lot more than just cards and dice," she said.

John Burzawa of Catering Sensations in Roselle brought samples of new potato cups stuffed with Italian sausage and Asiago cheese and chicken Dijon bites for customers to sample. Burzawa said he attended a previous expo in DuPage County a couple of years ago and decided to come back Thursday.

"There's always a good turnout," Burzawa said. "There are always some companies who haven't heard of me before, and we're able to reach out to them and get some new customers."

Mary Lindholm, national sales director for GameWorks in Schaumburg, was a first time exhibitor and customers were sampling the "super food Kale salad" and "frozen brunch" milkshake from the popular business' new menu.

"I found a lot of people to be very surprised with our new menu offerings," Lindholm said. "We got a bunch of new games in and we also redid out menu, so we're hoping people say 'Hey, this is GameWorks,' and come out and visit us."

The Expo is one of three regional similar events hosted by the Daily Herald Business Ledger. The last one was held in October in Glen Ellyn, focusing on DuPage County businesses, and an Expo for the south suburbs was held in Orland Park in July.

  Guests visit dozens of booths Thursday during the Northwest Suburban Hospitality Expo, hosted by the Daily Herald Business Ledger at the Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre in Hoffman Estates. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Cindy Glavin of Chicago Marriott Schaumburg talks to Bill Reddy of Reddy and Associates during the Northwest Suburban Hospitality Expo. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.comJack Serrecchia is served a sample dish by Lisa Scoville of Moretti's during the Northwest Suburban Hospitality Expo, hosted by the Daily Herald Business Ledger at the Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre in Hoffman Estates Thursday.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.comJoe Regilio of Bowlero talks with Mary Lindhola of Gameworks during the Northwest Suburban Hospitality Expo, hosted by the Daily Herald Business Ledger at the Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre in Hoffman Estates Thursday.
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