Chicago’s tourism body is advising delegates due to attend IPW to check the US trade show app for updates on an organised protest taking place in the city on Saturday, the first day of the exhibition.
The No Kings protests in Chicago, part of a national day of action, will take place in the city’s Daley Plaza, close to some of the downtown hotels where IPW delegates will be staying.
It is also close to some of the planned IPW events, according to the tourist board, Choose Chicago, but not near the convention center that is hosting the trade show or any of the on-campus host hotels.
In a statement, it said: “Choose Chicago is working closely with the City of Chicago to ensure that all IPW 2025 attendees have a safe and spectacular experience.
“Chicago is a vibrant and welcoming city. There are a number of activities planned over the next week, including baseball games, neighborhood festivals, graduations, and a parade. In addition to these activities, the City of Chicago has informed us of a planned protest this Saturday in Chicago’s downtown area, as well as the potential for other demonstrations in coming days.
“Chicago has a long track record of respecting the first amendment right to protest peacefully while ensuring the safety of residents and visitors.
“While the planned protest areas are not close to the McCormick Place Convention Center or the on-campus host hotels, they are near some of the downtown host hotels as well as other planned IPW events.
“We are in regular communication with the City of Chicago and are monitoring the situation closely. At this point, we do not expect any disruptions to planned IPW events. If anything changes, we will keep attendees informed through push notifications on the IPW app.
“We encourage attendees to be aware of their surroundings and to monitor the IPW app for updates. As with any major city – especially one as active as Chicago – it’s always good idea to allow extra travel time when moving between locations.”
Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the No Kings protest, which is when many of the 5,000-plus IPW delegates will arrive in the city.
Other protests, against President Trump’s immigration policies, have also spread to Chicago in recent days.
