ILLBA’s holiday dinner welcomed 35 members and guests
On Tuesday, January 23, the Illinois Limousine & Bus Association (ILLBA) held their annual holiday dinner at Carlucci in Rosemont, Ill. Despite an icy blast that stuck the Chicagoland area, 35 attendees and guests attended from across the region for an evening of low-key networking and three-course meal sponsored by Nationwide Bus Sales and L.A. West Luxury Coaches.
“This was the first official in-person social event the association has held since COVID,” says ILLBA Executive Director/Secretary Paula DeBiasi of Chicago Coachworks. “It was really about networking. Many of our members have never had the opportunity to meet face-to-face since the pandemic, so this dinner gave them the opportunity to relax and get to know each other.”
ILLBA President Tracy Raimer of Windy City Limousine & Bus, along with DeBiasi, took time to welcome the members and thank them for coming. After they thanked the evening’s sponsors, a local photographer was on hand to take free headshots of each attendee.
L to R: Jim Jordan of Lux Tux Transportation, ILLBA President Tracy Raimer of Windy City Limousine & Coach, and CD/NLA Show pass winner George Georgiev of K&G Coach Line.
“This was a really cool thing, particularly since a headshot can run you $150-$250,” says DeBiasi. “We’ve been distributing posts to the members that their photos should be put on business cards and marketing material for the show in Vegas.”
In addition to the free headshots, members were invited to take part in a series of raffles, including a pass to the CD/NLA Show in Vegas this March 3-6. George Georgiev of K&G Coach Line was the lucky winner of the pass.
“It’s always great to see people get excited for the raffles,” says DeBiasi. “It adds to the excitement of the evening.”
ILLBA’s next event is a Coffee With ILLBA webinar on Tuesday February 13, via Zoom.
Visit illba.org for more information.