Chicago Seminars is one of my favorite travel conferences to attend every year. I learn from excellent speakers and trade tips with attendees over drinks in the bar. Plus, it gives me an excuse to grab a deep-dish pizza from Giordano’s or Lou Malnati’s. Sadly, the event will not be in person this year. Instead, the organizers are hosting the Chicago Seminars 2020 Variety Show this Saturday, October 17th to raise money for charity.
In This Post
What are the Chicago Seminars?
The Chicago Seminars is an annual travel conference that is held on the 3rd weekend of October. It features networking, presentations, and loads of fun in the name of charity. Attendees are a mix of travel veterans and those just starting to learn about the “hobby” of miles and points.
Normally, the Chicago Seminars are held at the Holiday Inn Elk Grove near O’Hare Airport. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it has been turned into the Chicago Seminary 2020 Variety Show, which will be held virtually.
Read: 5 Takeaways from the 2017 Chicago Seminars
Who is speaking at the Chicago Seminars 2020 Variety Show?
Just like in years past, the speakers are a mix of bloggers and FlyerTalk personalities. You’ll experience a broad array of knowledge and expertise over the course of a few hours. Each speaker will have a maximum of 15 minutes, so the presentations will go by quickly.
There will be many speakers sharing their wisdom, including:
- Stefan Krasowski of Rapid Travel Chai
- Tiffany Funk of One Mile at a Time
- Nicholas Reyes of Frequent Miler
- Stephen Pepper
- Shawn Coomer of Miles to Memories
- Marty Paz
- Dia Wisley Adams of The Deal Mommy
- Dave Homyak
- Matthew Klint of Live and Let’s Fly
- ZB Feenk
- Tom Carnevale
- Jamal Robinson
- …and many more
I’ll be speaking about how to maximize the incredible IHG Ambassador deal that’s available for a limited time.
A replay will be made available for attendees who are unable to watch the whole show or if you want to go back and revisit one of the sessions.
Read: The 11 best travel tips from the 2016 Chicago Seminars
How can I buy tickets to the Chicago Seminars 2020 Variety Show?
You can buy Chicago Seminars 2020 Variety Show tickets through Eventbrite. Tickets are $11 each and you can buy a maximum of two at a time. With the price so low, buy your friend a ticket and share the world of miles and points with them.
Proceeds support these four charities:
Once your registration is complete, you’ll receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite on behalf of the host. Prior to the event, you will receive a follow-up email with log-in instructions.
Read: Chicago Seminars – My Kimpton IHG integration presentation
What’s the schedule for the Chicago Seminars 2020 Variety Show?
Normally, speaker presentations start on Friday evening, followed by two full days of sessions on Saturday and Sunday.
Friday evening
This year, there is a YouTube Live with the Chicago Seminars founders — Rick Ingersoll and Howie Rappaport — on Friday, October 16th at 7 pm Eastern. They’ll look back on a decade of Chicago Seminars events and share some of their favorite stories. The Friday live stream is free to attend, so please share the link above.
Saturday mid-day
On Saturday, there will be a rapid-fire succession of presenters from 11 am to 2 pm Eastern. These quick-hitting talks will range from 5 to 15 minutes each. So, if you don’t like a topic (or a speaker), just wait a couple of minutes and there will be a new one starting.
Facebook group
You don’t have to wait until this weekend to start the fun and networking. Join the Chicago Seminars 2020 Variety Show Facebook group to introduce yourself, say hi to old friends, or make new ones. And, of course, if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the group.
Join the Discussion on FlyerTalk
Many of the speakers and attendees love to talk about travel, loyalty programs, credit cards, and their favorite hacks on FlyerTalk.
You can also find additional information on the event on FlyerTalk. Join the discussion and share your favorite tips in the Chicago Seminars 2020 Flyertalk thread.
The Bald Thoughts
I think we’re all sad that this year’s Chicago Seminars will be held virtually instead of in-person. But this is a great opportunity to support these four worthwhile charities and learn from some awesome speakers. Tickets are only $11 each, so buy a couple extra if you can.
This could be the perfect low-key way to introduce your spouse, family, or friends to the “hobby.” You never know, they may like it so much that they want to go with you next year when it is held in-person again! <<fingers crossed>>
