Located in the northwest Chicago suburbs, The Meadows Club is creating a buzz that goes well beyond local Midwest boundaries. In a short span of three years, this outstanding facility has earned and maintained a reputation of being one of the best event venues in the local, national and international arenas. It is no surprise then, that the Convention and Banquet Center has hosted several high profile events, including weddings, fundraisers, concerts and corporate events. Guests to the venue rave over the elegant interiors, impeccable service and utterly exquisite cuisine, making them loyal clients and voluntary ambassadors!
Asked about what makes The Meadows Club a class apart from the rest, Director of Sales Rebecca Ketelaar is quick to reply: “It’s the attention to every detail. Every bride, accompanied by her mother, dreams of her big day from the time she is a young girl. It is only befitting that we dedicate ourselves to making those dreams a reality.”
The spacious rooms with their high ceilings, devoid of columns, built in speakers providing custom acoustics, remote lighting, built-in stage, dance floor and luxurious bridal suites are testament to the thought put into the design of The Meadows Club. Designer and Executive Vice President Swapna Sathyan attributes the versatility of the Center to the vision of Madan Kulkarni, CEO of this one-of-a-kind facility. “The space was envisioned to be the perfect setting for a dream wedding, a fundraising gala, an exhilarating fashion show or an impressive awards dinner,” she says. “Guests and clients are amazed at how easily the rooms transform to their unique needs and color schemes. The warmth of the interiors exudes a subtle sophistication, without imposing on the event décor.”
Recently, a couple celebrated their union by hosting four separate events at this venue. Guests were amazed to see the room transformations for the Mehendi, Sangeet, Ceremony and Reception. Asha and Amit Chikani said of their wedding here: “We have experienced many parties at different venues throughout the Chicagoland area, but nothing has even come close to what The Meadow’s Club has to offer. Your customer service is nothing short of being stellar! Anytime we needed something, it was there within a fraction of a second! Moreover, the entire staff was unbelievably polite and focused. And finally, the food! It was delicious!”
The individual ballrooms can each accommodate 100 to 250 guests. Combined, the grand ballroom can hold up to 1,000 people, making this the ideal location for large weddings. “In that case, the entire facility, not just the grand ballroom, is dedicated for that particular client,” says Ephraime Getachew, Director of Operations. “It is particularly special for the wedding party to know that the entire staff too, is focused on just their event, giving them undivided attention.” This feature creates a built-in value for events that typically require elaborate planning, including large corporate gatherings and special events. These unique features make The Meadows Club the perfect venue for events like Boogie Woogie, the internationally televised dance competition. The regional and national finals were held earlier this year and received high acclaim, leading to the venue being selected for the international finals as well.
Companies such as Discover, Motorola, Daily Herald and the Northwest Community Hospital repeatedly hold their events here, testimony to the quality and value it delivers. Additionally, several area schools and organizations call The Meadows Club “home” to their events, and bring with them both goodwill and future business. Future plans for this development include the addition of outdoor garden for events, additional break-out rooms and eventually a world- music lounge and restaurant.
In addition to its advanced design and technology features, The Meadows Club offers packages that will delight the discriminating bride/groom-to-be. “We try to make the process as hassle-free as possible for our clients,” explains Rebecca. “The package includes a sumptuous dinner with premium open bar, chair covers with sashes, centerpieces and a professionally designed cake.” In addition to its comprehensive packages, The Meadows Club also works closely with select vendors in the area, who offer professional, quality services for event decoration needs. “We pick our partnerships based on the quality of work, and the experience our clients have had with these service providers,” adds Ephraime. “We also work with a number of area hotels who provide discount rates and transportation to/from our venue.”
With a full service kitchen equipped to handle different cuisines, including a Tandoor for “hot-off-the-oven” Naans; Executive Chef Bennett and his team have worked their magic repeatedly to rave reviews. With his talented sous-chefs, Chef Bennett has created custom menus for different ethnic markets. “It gives me great pleasure when clients tell me that we brought back memories of home to them,” says this modest and unassuming man. His attitude reflects the personal touch of the entire staff. It is with reason that The Meadows Club has acquired a steadfast reputation for its cuisine — with separate menus catering to North Indian, South Indian and Gujarati menus. “It is particularly exciting to come up with a cross cultural menu, that showcases the similarities and differences in people,” adds Bennett.
People are what make a business successful, and it’s apparent that the staff of The Meadows Club is largely responsible for its pristine reputation. Few other facilities combine the ease of professionalism with the warmth of tailored service like this venue. Guests can feel the palpable passion that the staff has for their work and the pride that they feel in The Meadows Club. It is not surprising, then, for their zeal to translate to the outstanding success of each event.
“Over the last year, the large number of weddings and events that are continually referred to us by past clients or guests is very heartwarming. With each event, we try to surpass ourselves, and our clients’ expectations, giving true meaning to our vision – ‘Transcend your Expectations’,” sums up Madan Kulkarni.
