Eighth Annual Hospitality Hires Chicago: Hospitality is a State of Mind

Registration Opens Today for the 2025 Hospitality Hires Chicago at The Palmer House Hotel on Tuesday, April 15

For Media Awareness:

• VIP appearance at 10:30 am.
  • Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, 17 E. Monroe St., Upper Exhibit Hall, 3^rd floor

(CHICAGO)—The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) today announced career seeker registration is open for the 8th annual Hospitality Hires Chicago 2025 (HHC25), a Partnership production. The Partnership and event sponsors will host this in-person hiring event on Tuesday, April 15, from 9 am to 3 pm at Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel in Chicago’s Loop, continuing the theme of Hospitality is a State of Mind this year.  HHC25 Sponsors are Chicago Loop Alliance, Choose Chicago, City of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, Illinois Restaurant Association, The Magnificent Mile Association, Near South Planning Board, Origami Works Foundation, and The Partnership.

Both employers (chicookworks.org/HHC8) and career seekers (chicookworks.org/HHC) must pre-register. The fee for employers to register is $200 and there is no fee for job seeker registration.  Employers should register by April 1 and job seekers should register by April 9.

The event is expected to include 65 employers, including Blue Plate, Cook County, Kimpton Gray Hotel, Northwestern Medicine, Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel and more, offering entry-level to senior management positions. All positions provide quality wages and benefits, with employers ready to hire and make conditional offers at the event.  Dozens of attendees have received either a second interview or a job offer on the spot at previous events.  

“We chose to continue the theme of Hospitality is a State of Mind for Hospitality Hires Chicago 2025,” said Partnership CEO George Wright. “Though the hospitality sector continues to be the focus of this Partnership event, year after year, employers and career seekers from a variety of industries attend HHC, as customer service and other skills are transferable and highly sought after by employers.”

Employers will meet with pre-screened career seekers on-site, to ensure those hiring and those applying have the greatest opportunity to find what they are looking for at the event. HHC25 is open to career seekers of all ages and backgrounds; last year, about a third of the career seekers were between 25 and 35 years old, with another half reporting they were between 18 and 24 or 36 and 49 years old.  More than half who came to HHC24 had a high school degree or GED, with nearly 25% having some college and more than 7% having a graduate degree.

Cook County has been a proud sponsor of Hospitality Hires Chicago for all seven years, so we have seen firsthand the importance, and resilience, of the hospitality and related sectors,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “When I attend each year, I am struck by the energy and optimism in the room. I know I’m in the company of regional employers and residents who are committed to advancing their businesses and careers, improving their lives and our regional economy. I look forward to attending this event again and encourage regional employers and career seekers of all ages and backgrounds to attend as well.”

“Creating and promoting employment opportunities and workforce development is a crucial part of our work to achieve safer communities and equitable economic growth,“ said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “I am grateful to The Partnership, the sponsors, and employers who are gathering for the eighth annual HHC and working to ensure that Chicagoans of all ages and skillsets have access to a wide variety of career opportunities.”

 The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, is the long-standing host location of HHC. Konstantine Drosos, Palmer House General Manager, reports the hotel has recruited directly from this event on several occasions and proudly has current staff members today who were hired at a previous HHC. 

For instance, Shaquille Page attended HHC23 and has now worked at The Palmer House for two years. Shaquille interviewed with several companies at HHC23 and ultimately received an offer from the Palmer House. 

“I’m so thankful that I decided to attend HHC two years ago and expect to continue to advance my career with Hilton,“ says Shaquille.

To date, HHC events have helped more than 1,000 people get hired or secure conditional job offers and have provided more than 400 employers with access to more than a thousand pre-screened work-ready candidates. Employers from hospitality and tourism, retail, transportation, food services, customer service, and related sectors are committed to hiring hundreds of local residents.

Whether meeting with a career coach, getting help creating a resume, or participating in On-the-Job Training, The Partnership provides the support needed to find a career or to make that next great hire. The Partnership’s network includes ten American Job Centers (AJC), in Chicago and suburban Cook County. Career seekers and providers (employers) can reach an AJC by visiting LevelUpAJC.org, dialing 800-720-2515 or visiting The Partnership’s website at chicookworks.org