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Sunday, September 28

Hilton Garden Inn South Loop

  • 4:30 - 5:30PM

    • Registration Table open in the lobby

  • 6:00PM 

    • Meet in lobby for VEX25 Dine Arounds​

Monday, September 29

Field Museum
Pay What You Wish

  • 7:45AM - 4:30PM at the West Entrance

    • Registration table open​

  • 9:00AM in the James Simpson Theater

    • Welcome remarks for the Visitor Experience Group​

  • 9:15AM - Keynote Address in the James Simpson Theater

  • 10:30 - 11:30AM Session Block 1 (Session Details)

    • ​Staying Accessible with Pay What You Wish Admission - Classroom A​

    • ​Increasing Partner Sales – Unlocking the Power of Partnerships - Classroom B

    • People, Play and Pipe Cleaners: Practical Applications of Fun - Classroom C

    • Boatloads of Options! Using Ticketing Packages to Streamline the Admissions Experience - Lecture Hall 2

  • 11:45AM - 12:45PM Session Block 2 (Session Details)

    • ​Empowering Decision-Making Through Visitor Journey Mapping: Putting People at the Center - Classroom A​

    • Welcome Starts in the Office: Humanizing the Visitor Services Manual - Classroom B

    • New Visitor - Who Dis? - Classroom C

    • A Brand New Approach to Accessibility - Lecture Hall 2

  • 12:45 - 2:15PM Lunch (On your own)

  • 2:15 - 3:15PM Session Block 3 (Session Details)

    • ​Putting the Pieces Together: A Clear Path to Improve Accessibility - Classroom A

    • Tots at the Museum - Classroom B

    • Minding the Gap: Developing an Intergenerational Visitor Services Cohort - Classroom C

    • Mentorship: Offering a Guiding Hand to the Next Wave of Guest Experience Leaders - Lecture Hall 2

    • Leading with Experience: Perspectives on Engaging Internal and External Audiences - James Simpson Theater

  • 3:30 - 4:30PM Session Block 4 (Session Details)

    • You Are Here: On Maps & Belonging - Classroom A

    • A Fun and Safe Day at the Zoo - Classroom B

    • Retention Reimagined: Elevating Member Engagement for Lasting Impact - Classroom C

    • EmpowHered Together: Revolutionizing Female Allyship - Lecture Hall 2

  • 4:30 - 4:45PM in the James Simpson Theater

    • 2026 Visitor Experience Conference Location Announcement​

    • Closing Remarks

Shedd Aquarium

6:00 - 9:00PM - Shindig at the Shedd

Tuesday, September 30

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

  • 8:30AM - 5:00PM 

    • Registration table open​

  • 9:00 - 10:30AM - Workshop Block 1 (Workshop Details)

    • ​The Visitor Experience Blueprint: Align Your Teams, Wow Your Guests, Grow Your Revenue - Edlis Neeson Theater

  • 11:00AM - 12:30PM - Workshop Block 2 (Workshop Details)

    • ​DEI in the Crosshairs: Advancing Equity in Challenging Times - Edlis Neeson Theater

    • Moving Beyond the Deficit Model of the Visitor: Visitor First Approaches to Site Interpretation - Crown Family Room

  • 12:30 - 2:00PM - Lunch (on your own)

  • 2:00 - 3:30PM - Workshop Block 3 (Workshop Details)

    • ​Building Bridges: The Battle Against Culture War - Edlis Neeson Theater

    • Access All-Stars: Making the Case for Inclusion - Crown Family Room

360 Chicago

4:00 - 6:00PM - VEX25 360 Happy Hour

Wednesday, October 1

Lincoln Park Tour

  • 8:00AM - Meet in lobby of Hilton Garden Inn South Loop​​

  • 8:30AM - Bus departs

  • 9:00 - 10:30AM at the Chicago History Museum

  • 10:30AM - Bus departs

  • 10:45AM - 12:15PM at the Lincoln Park Zoo

  • 12:15PM - Bus departs

  • 12:30 - 1:15PM at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

  • 1:15PM - Bus departs for return to Hilton Garden Inn South Loop

Chicago Loop Tour

  • 8:15AM - Meet in lobby of Hilton Garden Inn South Loop​​

  • 8:45AM - Stroll along Michigan Ave

  • 9:00 - 9:45AM at the Museum of Contemporary Photography

  • 9:45AM - Red Line from Harrison to State

  • 10:15 - 11:00AM at the Center for Native Futures

  • 11:00AM - Stroll along Adams St

  • 11:10AM - 1:45PM at the Art Institute of Chicago

  • 1:45PM - Take 3 or 5 bus back to Hilton Garden Inn South Loop

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