The Illinois Events Coalition

May 3, 2020

Hello friends!

A few weeks ago I found myself chatting with my husband Collin and dear friend Ali Phillips, both fellow small business owners and event industry creatives about how frustrated I was at the lack of a unified voice for those of us in the events & weddings industry. And that sparked an idea that the three of us are so proud of; The Illinois Events Coalition.

The Illinois Events Coalition is made up of dedicated, career event professionals. We are producers and creatives. We are entrepreneurs, gig economy workers, consultants, contractors and small businesses. We create once in a lifetime experiences for our clients. For us, events are equal parts a passion and a calling. And we are in crisis.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted the world. It has impacted the hundreds of thousands of engaged couples, conferences, galas, concerts, and expos. It has impacted every event, and it has impacted all of us.

We have a shared belief; this coalition can offer support within our industry and educate those outside of our community too. The overarching goal is to be the collective voice for our industry as we face this uncertain time together. We come here to call on local and state lawmakers for assistance. We grow this effort as well as this Coalition and seek to evolve it to continue to fit the needs of our beloved, changing community. We are eager to be a part of the conversation, we are committed to being part of the solution, and we are determined to find a path forward preserving our businesses and the industry we all cherish.

“Our industry is unique in needing help. Our industry is a tapestry of small and independent businesses supporting larger companies, servicing the larger interests of major corporations and our economy.  That foundation is about to crumble.  Our industry will likely be the last to return to normal, and those industries that benefit from live events will not return to normal until we do.” – Live Events Coalition

Learn about the resources available on our website for event industry professionals by clicking here

To give you an idea of what we are facing, to date, the industry is suffering huge loses, take a look:

  • $2.8 billion in lost wedding revenue from March – Sept 2020 (Illinois total)
  • $460 million in lost event  f&b revenue for venues March – Sept 2020 (in Illinois)

For more information about the coalition, and how you can support our efforts please visit the website. We will be sharing information in the coming days on how YOU can get help ensure that our voices are heard, and the we preserve the industry that we all love so that milestone celebrations can be celebrated long after we forge a path through this pandemic. Sending love, xo

Pin It on Pinterest