Star power: Chicago Star Media and Trump Hotel Chicago team up for a toast to success

Chicago Star Media partnered with Trump Hotel Chicago for a truly memorable end-of-summer party on September 26! With two powerhouses teaming up, the event was bound to impress. Nearly 80 guests, including media friends, advertisers, and fans, gathered on Trump’s stunning Terrace 16 patio to celebrate Chicago Star’s continued success and to introduce new friends to the hotel.

The patio, with its unmatched views, provided the ideal setting. Guests enjoyed live music, delectable small bites prepared by Executive Chef Derek Feldmeier and cocktails under a crystal-clear, starry sky. Fire pits added a cozy glow, and everywhere you looked, there were perfect spots for capturing unforgettable moments. As the sun dipped below the skyline, the city’s iconic buildings lit up, offering breathtaking backdrops for digital keepsakes.

Chicago's media scene came out in full force, including Sylvia Perez (Fox-32), Lisa Fielding (WBBM Newsradio), Lisa Kosty (WSHE Radio), Natalie Martinez (NBC-5), Tonya Francisco (WGN-TV), Tom Conradi (Modern Luxury Group), Michelle Mekky (Mekky Media), Betsy Shepherd (Connected Communications), and more.

During a brief presentation, the Chicago Star Media team introduced themselves and shared the company’s journey, growth, and plans for the future. Elaine Hyde (Publisher/Editor), Ashlea Hearn (Marketing Manager), and this author Candace Jordan (Associate Publisher), were the featured speakers.

Hyde reminisced about Chicago Star’s humble beginnings as a single-page newsletter that she personally delivered to buildings in River East where she lived at the time. Hearn highlighted the wide array of marketing and PR opportunities available through Chicago Star, while Jordan shared exciting website stats—45K views and 752,000 impressions in August alone! A heartfelt thanks was given to all in attendance, especially CSM’s many media partners and advertisers.

Gabriel Constantin, Managing Director of Trump Hotel Chicago, and Ryan Ocker, Director of Sales & Marketing, shared their enthusiasm for upcoming hotel promotions and activations. They also teased the grand ballroom’s dramatic renovation, set to be completed by March 2025. The hotel team expressed their eagerness to collaborate with new media partners and offered guests exclusive tours of the hotel’s public spaces and luxurious rooms.

To add to the fun, a raffle—generously offered by the hotel—gave lucky winners prizes such as a one-night stay in a deluxe room with breakfast, $200 gift certificates for Terrace 16, Rebar, and the hotel’s award-winning spa, as well as a complimentary two-week Fitness Club membership. Winners included Sylvia Perez, Tom Conradi, Lisa Fielding, Nikki Roberts, and Kjersten Kleveland.

Other notable guests included Jay Temsah (Trump Hotel Business Travel Sales Manager), Will Harris and Barb Harrington (Darvin Furniture & Mattress), Declan McGovern and Jen More (Music of the Baroque), Nick Pullia (Navy Pier), Maggie Baczkowski (MB Luxury Group), Randy Reed (Trump Hotel Director of Food & Beverage), Jon and Andrew Landan, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Peter Kambreros, Jamie Gabala, Kate Murray, Leila Schmidt (Christkindlmarket), Bob Oswald, Jon Cohn and Michaela Wilson (all Chicago Star Media), Flavio Gama, Doug Van Tress (Golden Triangle), Michael Kutza (Chicago International Film Festival founder), Aidan Pazan, Stacia Crawford, Jim Brophy, Dr. Sheri Dewan, Gina Will, and Kathleen Martarano.

(For more information on Chicago Star, click here. For marketing and PR inquiries, contact Ashlea Hearn at ashleahearn@chicagostarmedia.com. For advertising, reach out to Candace Jordan at CandidCandace@ChicagoStarMedia.com.)

(For Trump Hotel Chicago marketing details, contact Sr. Marketing Manager, Anastasia Smith, at Anastasia.smith@trumphotels.com.)

(Photos by Kelsy Goodwin and Candace Jordan)