THE REACTIVATION
OF THE
AON
EVENT CENTER
THE VISION
RETHINKING THE AON CENTER: A LEGACY REACTIVATED
Bringing an Iconic Landmark Back to Life.
From Closed Doors to a Cultural Hub: The Aon Center is a pinnacle of the Chicago skyline, yet its premier event space currently sits dormant. Our vision is to reactivate this square footage, transforming it from a closed amenity into a high-yield revenue destination.
We don’t just see a room; we see a "Third Space" that serves as the heart of the building’s community—a place where tenants, global corporations, and social elites converge.
STRATEGIC MARKET POSITIONING
Our strategy positions the Aon Center to compete with Chicago’s most elite venues by leveraging current market demand for high-end, full-service experiences.
SIGNATURE BUY-OUTS: A LUXURY SOCIAL DESTINATION
Market research indicates that premier downtown Chicago venues— such as The Rookery or The Ivy Room—often require $25,000–$45,000 minimums before food and beverage. By offering a "blank canvas" of iconic views and world-class service, we will position the Aon Center as a top-tier choice for weddings and galas. With all-in per-guest spends in Chicago ranging from $300 to $500 in the luxury segment, we will capture the high-end social market that seeks exclusivity and scale.
CORPORATE INNOVATION: THE HIGH-STAKES ENVIRONMENT
The High-Stakes Environment Standard office meeting rooms are no longer sufficient for global firms. We will curate an environment optimized for board meetings and summits that exceeds the standard "amenity" experience. Our research shows a significant gap in the market for venues that combine "Executive-Grade" technology with fivestar hospitality, allowing the Aon Center to command premium rental and catering fees.
TENANT RITUALS: DRIVING BUILDING OCCUPANCY.
While the Remedy serves as the building’s daily social anchor, the Event Center will act as its high-capacity extension. By reactivating this space, we provide tenants with a seamless transition for their larger-scale needs, moving from a morning meeting at The Remedy to a full department luncheon or evening team build in the event center. This multi-floor hospitality thread ensures that the Aon Center offers a complete ecosystem of spaces, creating a consistent, premium experience that follows tenants throughout the entire building.
THE CULINARY ENGINE (KITCHEN REACTIVATION)
REACTIVATING
THE HEART OF THE AON
The Aon Center has a storied history as a hub for Chicago’s social and professional elite. Our vision for reactivation is not simply to reopen a kitchen, but to fundamentally elevate the building's culinary identity. We are evolving the center into a high-performance culinary enginea modern, agile operation designed to power the building’s most significant moments through superior craft and hospitality.
CULINARY AGILITY AT SCALE
While many providers rely on off-site commissaries, we believe the best hospitality happens in the moment. By reactivating the Aon Center’s kitchen as a full-service, on-site operation, we maintain the agility of a boutique restaurant. Our culinary team is structured to execute 1,000+ guest galas with the same "madefrom-scratch" precision, fresh-plating techniques, and attention to detail as an intimate board dinner.
A SCRATCH-MADE PHILOSOPHY
We believe that premium events demand authentic flavors. Our culinary team focuses on chef-led, scratch-made menus that prioritize seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. By eliminating processed, "heat-andserve" options, we ensure that every meal—from a grab-and-go tenant lunch to a five-course wedding gala—reflects the quality and prestige of the Aon Center.
WELLNESS & INCLUSIVITY BY DESIGN
Modern hospitality requires a deep commitment to dietary diversity. Our menus are engineered to ensure that plant-based, allergen-sensitive, and wellness-oriented options are not an afterthought, but a core component of our culinary identity.
PROCUREMENT INTELLIGENCE VIA CENTICOR
Leveraging our proprietary Centicor procurement network, we provide national buying power within a boutique setting. This internal capability allows us to source high-end, artisanal ingredients while maintaining strict cost integrity, passing these efficiencies directly to the property through transparent reporting and a commitment to maximizing ROI on every plate.
WHY INFUSE HOSPITALITY
YOUR ON-SITE PARTNER FOR SCALABLE EXCELLENCE
A PROVEN PARTNERSHIP: THE REMEDY
You already know us. As the current operators of The Remedy at the Aon Center, we have a deep understanding of your building’s culture, tenant expectations, and operational nuances. We have already established a foundation of trust and a "guestfirst" reputation within your walls. Reactivating the Event Center is the natural evolution of our partnership, allowing us to serve your tenants not just as a daily ritual at the lounge, but as their primary partner for high-impact milestones and corporate celebrations.
THE POWER TO SCALE
While we offer the personalized touch of a boutique firm, our partnership with Phoenix3 provides the institutional-grade back-of-house support, from procurement intelligence to financial reporting, needed to manage high-volume event centers. By managing both The Remedy and the Event Center, we ensure a seamless hospitality "thread" throughout the building.
THE INFUSE HOSPITALITY APPROACH
We believe hospitality is an emotional connection, not just a functional task. Every member of our team is trained to deliver more than just a service; they are trained to create Moments that Matter.
Our specialized model is built on three distinct pillars:
3. THE ELEVATE MINDSET
Our leaders are trained to think like restaurateurs, balancing chef-driven quality with strict financial accountability. They don't just manage a space; they curate the guest journey.
OPERATIONAL ROADMAP
THE PATH TO REOPENING
The Path to Reopening: A FourPhase Approach
DEEP ASSESSMENT & STRATEGIC DESIGN (MONTH 2)
Concept Branding: Creating a unique name and visual identity for the space to compete with Chicago’s top venues.
Menu Engineering: Designing tiered catering packages ($75–$200+ PP) based on Chicago luxury market averages.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT & SCOPING (MONTH 1)
Utilization Audit: Assessing why the space was closed and redesigning the flow for modern needs.
Equipment Evaluation: A full inventory of the kitchen and AV systems to determine requirements for a launch.
PHASE 4: OPENING & ACTIVATION (LAUNCH)
The "Re-Introduction": Showcase events for Chicago’s top event planners and tenant leaders.
Data-Driven Evolution: Realtime monitoring of revenue and guest sentiment to ensure the space remains a "magnet."
PHASE 3: TRANSITION & OPERATIONAL SETUP (MONTH 3)
Digital Infrastructure: Launching the event booking CRM and tenant-facing mobile platforms.
Staffing Mobilization: Recruiting and onboarding a "Guest-First" team specifically trained for highstakes reopening.
STAFFING & FINANCIALS
PRELIMINARY FINANCIAL ASSUMPTIONS
THE STAFFING HIERARCHY
To successfully reactivate the Aon Center and support a projected 1,736 annual events, we will deploy a high-performance team rooted in the "Elevate Mindset." Our leaders are trained to think like restaurateurs, balancing chef-driven quality with strict financial accountability with a deep commitment to creating elite hospitality experiences.
This team operates on the principle that true hospitality is an emotional connection, not just a functional task. We hire and coach for a mindset that prioritizes intentionality in every interaction. By focusing on the small, meaningful details and anticipating guest needs before they are articulated, our staff transforms standard service into "Moments that Matter."
GENERAL MANAGER (TEAM LEAD)
Primary Responsibility: The strategic architect of the entire Aon Center hospitality ecosystem and the primary guardian of the building‘s brand standards
Key Tasks: Leading the onsite leadership team, ensuring total P&L accountability, and maintaining the strategic relationship with building ownership. The GM is responsible for ensuring that our hospitality philosophy is operationalized across all floors, driving the highlevel vision where operational excellence meets memorable, high-touch guest experiences.
EXECUTIVE CHEF & CULINARY TEAM
Primary Responsibility: Powering the "Culinary Engine" of the reactivated kitchen.
Key Tasks: Leading the on-site leadership team, ensuring total P&L accountability, and maintaining the strategic relationship with building ownership. The GM is responsible for ensuring that our hospitality philosophy is operationalized across all floors, driving the high-level vision where operational excellence meets memorable, high-touch guest experiences.
CATERING & EVENT MANAGER (DEDICATED POSITION)
Primary Responsibility: The strategic architect of the entire Aon Center hospitality ecosystem and the primary guardian of the building‘s brand standards
Key Tasks: Leading the on-site leadership team, ensuring total P&L accountability, and maintaining the strategic relationship with building ownership. The GM is responsible for ensuring that our hospitality philosophy is operationalized across all floors, driving the high-level vision where operational excellence meets memorable, high-touch guest experiences.
AV & TECH SPECIALISTS
Primary Responsibility: Ensuring a "High-Stakes Environment" for corporate clients.
Key Tasks: Managing real-time digital integration, troubleshooting conference technology, and supporting the "Digital Planning Portal" for seamless event coordination.
HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATES (SERVERS & BARTENDERS)
Primary Responsibility: Serving as the frontline creator of the emotional connections and hospitality experiences that define the Infuse brand.
Key Tasks: Executing service at elite ratios (1:12 for plated; 1:25 for buffet) while embodying the INFUSE mindset. They are coached to look beyond functional service tasks, such as ordertaking or clearing, and to focus on anticipation rather than reaction.
FRONT-OF-HOUSE (FOH) SERVICE CAPTAINS
Primary Responsibility: Operationalizing "Intentional Hospitality" on the floor during live execution.
Key Tasks: Leading service teams during events, ensuring the space is "brand-ready," and acting as the primary point of contact for hosts to ensure every "Moment that Matters" is executed flawlessly.
CLOSING
THE INFUSE COMMITMENT: SCALABLE EXCELLENCE
By leveraging our existing partnership at The Remedy, we provide a "Plug-and-Play" transition. We already understand the building's infrastructure, meaning we can focus 100% of our energy on the guest experience and revenue generation from day One. We are ready to turn the Aon Center Event Center into the most sought-after destination in the Chicago Financial District.
