A Venue Steeped in History: ELX Annual Congress Heads to the InterContinental Chicago

As the ELX Annual Congress prepares to welcome senior event leaders from around the globe this July, we’re shining a spotlight on the iconic venue that will host our global community of senior event leaders; a hotel that pairs nearly a century of rich history with modern luxury. 

Originally built as the Medinah Athletic Club in 1929, the InterContinental is one of the first skyscrapers in Chicago to serve as an event space, a legacy that lives on through its beautifully preserved architecture and grand interiors. Nestled on the iconic Magnificent Mile, the hotel stands as a proud emblem of Chicago’s rich architectural heritage and enduring spirit. 

We caught up with Kelly Kroyer, Senior Marketing Manager, from the InterContinental team, to learn more about what makes this hotel so special, how it balances heritage with modern luxury, and why it's the ideal home for the ELX Annual Congress. 

 

ELX: The InterContinental Chicago has a fascinating history, originally built as the Medinah Athletic Club in 1929. What aspects of its past do you think make it stand out as a premier venue for major events? 

Kelly: Chicago is full of rich architectural history and being one of the first skyscrapers in Chicago that was hosting events as far back as the 1930s makes this property a truly special place. Nearly ten decades of history on the world’s most famous mile and our and our beautifully preserved event spaces make for a unique backdrop you can’t get anywhere else in Chicago makes for a unique backdrop for any event.  

 

ELX: The hotel has also retained many of its original features. What are some of the most iconic elements that guests can still experience today? 

Kelly: The Baccarat Chandelier in our Grand Ballroom is original to the building and one of the largest in the country. Our Jr. Olympic sized swimming pool that has all its original architectural adornments including the 1920s-era Spanish Majolica tiles and marble fountain. This pool was home Olympian Johnny Weissmuller, prior to his time playing Tarzan, for training for the Olympics back in the 1930s.   

 

ELX: Maintaining a historic hotel while offering modern luxury is no small feat. What have been the biggest challenges in preserving its original charm while evolving for today’s travellers? 

Kelly: This is a nearly 100-year-old building and that comes with a lot of upkeep and preservation that takes time and proper knowledge of how to care for it. Fixing something that may not be working properly may not be as easy to fix as it would be in let’s say a modern skyscraper. There were many owners of this historic gem over the last several decades and not all of them took as much pride and put much love into the spaces throughout the hotel so when InterContinental Hotels & Resorts took over there was a lot of preservation work that went into the space to ensure it was brought back to its original charm and beauty while also being a functional luxury hotel for travellers to enjoy and rest their heads.  

 

ELX: In your opinion, what makes the InterContinental Chicago the perfect venue to host an event like the ELX Annual Congress? 

Kelly: We are a part of what makes Chicago so great, we have a robust history with this city we have called home for almost 100 years and our location on the Magnificent Mile puts attendees in the heart of everything this wonderful city has to offer. In addition to our ideal location, we offer a vast array of different event spaces that can be suited to any need and unparalleled service. Attendees can also enjoy an array of on-site activations we host year-round, just as Thursday Jazz nights in our lobby, movie nights at our iconic swimming pool, and savour delicious bites at our two on-site restaurants: Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse and Casa Chi, the city’s first ever Nikkei cocktail-forward lounge.  

 

As the ELX Annual Congress approaches, the InterContinental Chicago stands ready to offer an unforgettable experience, not just as a venue, but as a living piece of history infused with the energy of modern-day Chicago. We can’t wait to welcome our community to this remarkable hotel, on July 14-16, 2025. 

 

Learn more about the ELX Annual Congress 2025 here.