is it a single day event and the whole thing needs to feel like a luxury experience? Maybe a private/celebrity chef/chef's table at an exclusive restaurant? Can the event be held at a boutique hotel with spa and they all get a spa credit/treatment? Hot air balloon ride?

In addition to what Dora asked you above - what city will you be hosting this in? We usually like to tie it back to the destination because if they had to travel, let's make it worth their time. I always ask myself what does an executive like? They already receive a lot of gifts because of their role; instead let's give them an experience that you can't buy. So meeting a local celebrity chef or meeting a fellow CEO that lives in that destination is always welcomed. For example, when similar groups are hosted in Austin, it's not uncommon to try to incorporate a meet & greet or speaking from Kendra Scott or Tito's of Tito's Vodka, etc

Totally agree that something they can't buy is key!! We have a donor with a beautiful brownstone home in NYC and she hosts dinner for other donors a few times a year. Just the act of someone generously opening their home (who doesn't love to see someone else's house?) with food/passed apps from their personal chef is often a HUGE hit.

We also do virtual roundtables with a CEO, entrepreneur, politician, etc. - being able to chat with these folks in a small group setting is very valuable.

this is going to be an evening event in Chicago (post trade show). We have some restrictions with restaurants because I work for Square so they have to be a customer for us to host events there. So that is why i was leaning more towards some kind of experience

these are AMAZING ideas!!!

love the idea of a local celebrity or renting out a gorgeous home (which circumvents my restaurant issue) - thank you all!

Not sure if there is a Chicago equivalent but we recently did an event with Resident in NYC and it was amazing. https://www.meetresident.com/private-events/

@EventPlanner526 Second resident! but for Chicago we recently did a private dinner at Fabio Vivani's estate. it was amazing and the group felt like they were getting an exclusive experience. I have a few chicago experiences I can email over if you want to take a look.

ooooo amazing!!!

yes feel free to email them to me @EventPlanner180 [email hidden]

Me and @EventPlanner317 have both been lucky to get a studio tour from Dustin Yellin here in BK - I wonder if there are any famous Chicago artists that might be willing to give a tour of their studio in exchange for a donation (for NYC https://www.dustinyellin.com/)

Dustin is awesome, Pioneer Works is an amazing space. The studio next door as well

exactly, his art is amazing!

love that idea!