

Event Success Guidelines
A knowledgeable, prepared meeting planner is a successful one
Knowledge is power, which is why we provide you with the resources, answers and tools to make your life easier.
On this page you will find everything you need to stay on track and plan a successful event, without last-minute surprises.

Hotel Resource Guide
Answers to your frequently asked questions can be found in our Hotel Resource Guide.
DOWNLOAD OUR GUIDEEvent Success Resources
Safety
Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment is an important expression of our purpose to care for people so they can be their best, and Hyatt hotels worldwide continue to take precautionary measures in an effort to give our guests, customers and colleagues peace of mind.
Technology Tools
Hyatt offers digital solutions that provide efficiencies to make your life easier, every step of the way.
Availability of technology tools may vary by location.
Hyatt Planner Portal
One-stop location for all key information about your Hyatt event. Manage critical details before, during, and after your meeting. View all your past, present and future events. Run Reservation reports, view the Group Detail Report and Diagrams, and review your Group Bill. Access the Rooming List and Event Concierge apps. To learn more about how the Hyatt Planner Portal can save you time click here to watch a short video. Access the Hyatt Planner Portal here.
Collaborative Diagramming
A collaborative program that helps you and your Event Manager design professional, customized room diagrams and seating to create the best room layouts for your meeting. You can make your own edits to diagrams to ensure that room setups are accurate.
HyRes
Hyatt's proprietary group reservation process with customized links to allow guests to book online within the group block. It also gives you the ability to view reports through the Hyatt Planner Portal.
Hyatt Event Concierge App
An efficient tool that allows you to submit and track service requests for your event from your computer or mobile device without leaving the room. Learn more here.
Group Bill
An interactive PDF invoice that is seamless and efficient, with real-time billing and simplified invoices for complex group billing.
E-signature / Payment
Access and sign contracts and payment documentation from any device without having to use a scanner or fax.
World of Hyatt App
Manage your stay on the go, from booking to check-in and check-out. Download here
Event Experience Guide
Taking our banquet menus to the next level the Event Experience Guide provides everything you need to plan a successful event in one location.
Rooming List
Use the rooming list template to provide us with your participant details. Upload the list to the Hyatt Planner Portal Rooming List App (PCI compliant) for our reservations team to enter directly in our system.
Know Before You Go
Know Before You Go is a communication tool for you to send to your attendees. It enables you to share pertinent information with them such as weather, dress code, safety protocols, transportation options and the event agenda. It reduces participant questions and gives them a level of comfort and a more personalized experience. Speak to your Event Manager about creating a customized Know Before You Go for your event.
Virtual Hotel Tour
Immerse yourself in our hotel with an interactive video tour. The virtual tour will provide you with a true sense of our event space, restaurants and guest rooms without being on site.
Rooming List
Use the rooming list template to provide us with your participant details. If you will be including individual credit card numbers for each guest, we want to ensure this sensitive data is well protected. Please go to our Hyatt Planner Portal, where you can access the Rooming List App, which will allow you to upload your list securely. Once the list has been uploaded, it will be processed by our reservations team. If the rooming list does not contain credit card information, you can send it directly to your Event Contact.
DownloadKnow Before You Go
Know Before You Go is a communication tool for you to send to your attendees. It enables you to share pertinent information with them such as weather, dress code, safety protocols, transportation options and the event agenda. It reduces participant questions and gives them a level of comfort and a more personalized experience. Speak to your Event Manager about creating a customized Know Before You Go for your event.
View Sample HereAUDIO VISUAL
A complete range of state-of-the-art equipment, technical expertise, and production services are available through our in-house partner, AVP. Their experience working in coordination with the hotel’s operating departments will ensure your audio-visual experience is successful and seamless. The hotel requires advance notice of any outside company or producer coming onto the property to provide audio-visual services and must approve all specifications, including electrical requirements from any such outside contractor(s). Complete details of these services can be obtained by contacting the sales team at chizf-sales@hyatt.com.
BANNERS & SIGNAGE
All signs must be professionally printed or painted. Hand-written signs are not permitted. In the event extra signs, easels, or bulletin boards are required please contact your Event Manager.
Nothing should be posted on, nailed, screwed, or otherwise attached to columns, walls, floors, or other parts of the building or furniture. All signs must be displayed on easels or sign holders.
There are electronic signs positioned outside each meeting room with your group posting name and function name.
BRANDING & PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
All branding artwork, set-up, and tear-down dates, and locations must be approved by the hotel before finalizing branding or promotional opportunities.
Distribution of any promotional material of any type other than at group registration desks is strictly prohibited unless approved by hotel management.
Contact your Event Manager for more information and opportunity costs.
CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT
Check-in time is 3:00 pm. Early check-in is subject to availability.
Check-out time is 12:00 pm. Late check-out is subject to availability.
EARLY DEPARTURE FEE
Any guest who departs earlier than the departure date confirmed at check-in will be assessed an early departure fee of one night’s room and tax. This fee will be automatically posted to the guest folio, on or after departure. If a personal credit card is not provided, the charges will be billed to the group’s master account. Emergency and special circumstance situations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
ELECTRICAL SERVICES
All electrical needs will be handled by our Engineering team. Additional charges may apply. All requirements must be directed in writing to your Event Manager at least two (2) weeks in advance of the meeting to ensure adequate time for installation orders to be processed. Please review all electrical needs with your Event Manager before finalizing your details to determine the hotel’s electrical capabilities and confirm estimates of labor needs.
EVENT ROOM SET UP & EQUIPMENT
With contracted event space, the final event room setup must be specified no later than 11:00 am, three (3) working days prior to the commencement of the function.
Any changes in setup after this final guarantee could result in a re-set fee. Fees are based on the total attendance, and labor required for the setup change requested, and start at $250.00. Final charges will be reviewed by your Event Manager.
The hotel will provide, at no charge, a reasonable amount of in-house inventory of meeting room equipment i.e. chairs, tables, in-house linens, lecterns, etc. This complimentary arrangement does not include special set-ups or a format that would exhaust our available in-house equipment to the point of having to rent an additional supply to accommodate your needs. If such is the case, we will present two alternatives: the rental cost to your group for additional equipment or the change of the set-ups to avoid extra rental.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
All food and beverage arrangements must be made through the hotel. License restrictions require that only Hyatt-purchased food and beverage can be served on Hyatt property. The hotel reserves the right to close all bars for any infraction of applicable liquor laws, including but not limited to consumption by minors.
In arranging for private functions, the final guaranteed attendance must be specified no later than 11:00 am, 3 working days prior to the commencement of the function. The number specified at that time will be considered the final guarantee, and all preparation and charges will be made accordingly.
All Federal and local taxes and charges which may be imposed or applicable to this agreement and the services rendered by the hotel are in addition to the prices herein agreed upon and the Customer agrees to pay them separately. The hotel service charge is 25% and the hotel sales tax is 8%.
Your Event Manager will be happy to custom design menus especially for your group, selecting the proper menu items and program arrangements to ensure a successful event.
INSURANCE & WAIVERS
Any events planned of a “unique” nature should be reviewed with the hotel in advance. Once approved by the hotel, the Group may be required to provide evidence of insurance in amounts sufficient to provide coverage for any liabilities arising out of or resulting from the respective obligations under this contract. Or, the Group may be required to obtain appropriate waivers of liability as required subsequent to Hyatt Corporation Legal Department review.
KOSHER MEALS
Should your event attendees require kosher meal(s), we can accommodate the request for an additional charge. We will arrange delivery of meals from local kosher restaurants or offer pre-packaged meals. A minimum of seventy-two (72) hours’ notice is required. For special kosher needs, please contact your Event Sales or Event Planning Manager.
LOCKOUTS FOR MEETING ROOMS
For all meetings, it is highly recommended not to leave personal items in the meeting room during lunch breaks, or when the meeting room is unattended. The hotel is not responsible for the safekeeping of equipment, supplies, written materials, or any other valuable items left in function rooms or any part of the Hotel by the group.
The hotel can provide keys for all meeting rooms.
Please advise the number of keys required for each office or meeting room at least 72 hours in advance. The client will be responsible for returning the keys after the program.
LOAD IN/ LOAD OUT
Any loading in and loading out of equipment, products, or items must adhere to the hotel’s loading guidelines and be coordinated through your Event Manager.
LUGGAGE STORAGE
Luggage Storage is available for all guests at our Front Desk. If you prefer, Guest Services can pick your luggage up from your room and store it for you by calling extension 0.
If your group needs private luggage storage closer to the meeting room, one can be arranged for $8.00 per person. Please contact your Event Sales or Event Planning Manager for more details.
MARKETING & ADVERTISING
Promoting your event through marketing and advertising, including your event website, is a critical piece in the overall success of your event. The hotel can provide you with specific logos, photos, and hotel/area details to ensure you are representing the brand and the hotel accurately.
Click here for information about the area surrounding the hotel.
Neither group nor the hotel will use the name, trademark, logo, or other proprietary designation of the other party in any advertising or promotional materials without the prior written approval of such party. Please contact your Event Manager for approval.
MEETING ROOM TEMPERATURE
The standard meeting room temperature will be set at 70 degrees Fahrenheit unless otherwise requested by the group. Please communicate any special requests regarding meeting room temperature to your Event Manager.
MENU PRICES
Menu prices will be guaranteed for the next 3 months from the date of the contract. For events scheduled more than 6 months from receipt, they are subject to change.
PARKING
Parking is complimentary.
RESERVATIONS
If reservations are submitted by rooming list, the list must be submitted on the approved Hyatt rooming list template and include individual names, arrival/departure dates, billing instructions, email addresses, and any special accommodations requested on the template. All lists are due by noon on the cut-off date found in the contract.
If reservation requests are made through a housing bureau, a sample of the reservation form must be submitted to your Event Manager and Group Housing Coordinator for approval before printing.
Unless otherwise stated in the contract, reservations can be canceled up to 48 hours before the arrival date to avoid a one-night fee plus applicable taxes. No-show reservations are subject to a charge of a one-night fee plus applicable taxes.
ROOM DELIVERIES
Guest room deliveries can be arranged directly through your Event Manager. All non-food or packaged deliveries are delivered by Guest Services.
Charges for these deliveries are as listed:
$5 per delivery, per room
SECURITY
The hotel cannot be responsible for the safekeeping of equipment, displays, supplies, written materials, or other valuable items or items left in the meeting rooms, conference areas, public spaces, etc. by the group or its attendees. Accordingly, the group acknowledges that it will be responsible to provide security for any such above-mentioned items, and hereby assumes the responsibility of loss thereof. For additional security requests, please refer to your Event Manager for details and associated costs.
In-room safes that can hold a full-size laptop computer are in each guest room and should be used by guests to secure valuable items.
If you need emergency assistance, please call dial 0.
SHIPPING AND RECEIVING / PACKAGE HANDLING
Special arrangements must be made for receiving any equipment, goods, displays, or other materials, which will be sent, delivered or brought into the hotel. Failure to do this may result in deliveries being refused or materials being unavailable when required. The hotel’s receiving entrance is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Advance arrangements must be made through the Events office for weekend deliveries. Current package handling/delivery fees are:
First 10 boxes are complimentary, any additional boxes will be $5 per box.
Any materials being sent to the hotel must be marked as follows:
The Forester Hotel
Attn: Group On-Site Contact Name/Group Name
c/o: Event Planning Manager’s Name
200 Norh Field Drive
Lake Forest, IL 60045
Please Hold for: Group Name
- Please note that forklifts and pallet jacks are not available on property. Please make proper
arrangements with your Event Manager for oversized deliveries.
TAXES
Room rates are quoted exclusive of applicable state and local taxes (which is currently 11%) or applicable service, or hotel-specific fees in effect at the hotel at the time of the meeting.
Food and beverage purchases within the resort are subject to and 8% sales tax. All food and beverage purchases from the Events Department are subject to a 25% service charge. Service fees are subject to sales tax.
TAX-EXEMPT STATUS
To signify your group as tax-exempt, you will need to provide a tax-exempt status form from the State of Illinois. This would exempt your group from 8% state sales tax on food and beverage items only.
In the state of Illinois, a 501(K) certificate is not valid from the Federal Department of Revenue. An Active Exemption Identification Number Certificate is required.
TRANSPORTATION
Group or individual transportation for events in the area or to/from the airports can be arranged directly with one of our preferred vendors:
Preferred Vendors:
Max’s Luxury Rides708-510-0001