Your
Trip to Chicago
Welcome
to Chicago, one of the liveliest cities in the United
States and the world's convention capital. Thanks to its central
location, easy access by air and by land, an abundance of
events and attractions, world-class shopping and dining and
great hospitality, Chicago is the premiere choice for meetings
as well as tourism. Over 30 million domestic and foreign travelers
visit the city every year, almost half of them to attend a
meeting.
We
hope you will find the following information helpful in planning
your trip to Chicago and to the conference hotel. Further
information on places to see and things to do once in Chicago
may be found in the About Chicago
section of this website.
Arriving
by Air
Most
of our guests will likely be arriving by air, landing
at either O'Hare
International Airport or Midway
Airport, which together handle more flights per day than
any other U.S. city.
O’Hare
International Airport (800.832.6352), located 20 miles
northwest of Chicago’s downtown area, is considered the
world's busiest, serving about 180,000 passengers and 2,500
flights a day. O'Hare is host to most
major airlines and features direct service to more than
60 international destinations. Hourly nonstop service is available
from/to New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas,
Detroit, and Minneapolis (with flight times up to about 2
hours), as well as Los Angeles (4 hours).
A
number of transportation means connect O'Hare International
Airport with downtown Chicago: local mass transit lines, regional
trains
and buses,
downtown and suburban shuttles
and interstate highways. Ground transportation can be accessed
at each terminal's main entrance. Travelers are advised to
allow plenty of time to get to, from, as well as around, O'Hare
International Airport.
Continental
Airport Express (800.654.7871) offers daily shuttle
service between O'Hare and downtown Chicago from 6 a.m.
to 11:30 p.m. Departures are about every 5 to 10 minutes.
The one-way fare to the city is $20 (less $2 with this
coupon). Discounts available for two or more passengers.
Information counters and pickup locations are in the baggage
claims areas of Terminals 1, 2, and 3, and outside U.S.
Customs in Terminal 5. Lift-equipped vehicles are available
on advance request for passengers with disabilities.
Taxi
service is available from the lower level curbfront of all
terminals. Taxi fare from O'Hare International Airport to
the conference hotel is about $35.
Car
rental agencies are located on the lower level near
the baggage claim areas of Terminals 1, 2, and 3. From Terminal
5, car rental agencies can be reached by courtesy telephones
located on the lower level. Advance car rental reservations
are recommended.
Midway
Airport (773.838.0600), one of the fastest growing
airports in the U.S., is located southwest of downtown Chicago.
It is served by these
airlines.
Downtown
Chicago can be reached from Midway Airport by the Chicago
Transit Authority's (CTA) Orange
Line in just 20-30 minutes, as well as by regional
buses, downtown and suburban shuttles,
and interstate highways. Most ground transportation access
areas are located at the main entrance area of the terminal.
Continental
Airport Express (800.654.7871) offers daily shuttle
service between Midway and downtown Chicago from 6 a.m.
to 11:30 p.m. Departures are about every 15 minutes. The
one-way fare to the city is $15 (less $2 with this
coupon). Discounts available for two or more passengers.
An information counter is located opposite of the Southwest
Airlines ticket counter. The pickup location is in front
of the main terminal building. Lift-equipped vehicles are
available on advance request for passengers with
disabilities.
Taxi
service is available from door M5. Taxi fare from Midway
Airport to the conference hotel is about $20.
Car
rental agencies are located inside the terminal
building. Rental car pick-up and drop-off points are located
on Level 2 of the Midway Airport Parking Garage. Advance
car rental reservations are recommended.
An
easy-to-print (.pdf) information sheet with details
on transportation options between the airports to
the conference hotel is available here.
Arriving
by Land
The
following resources may be useful in finding
the easiest way to the conference hotel by car:
Chicago
can also be easily reached by bus or train. First of all,
Chicago is a major destination for both Amtrak
and Greyhound.
The commuter train service, Metra,
and Pace
bus system connect downtown Chicago with its suburbs.
An
easy-to-print (.pdf) information sheet with details
on parking options at Chicago Marriott Downtown,
both valet and self-park, is available here.
Insurance
Conference
guests are hereby advised that the
conference fees do not include provisions for the insurance
of participants against personal injuries, sickness, theft
or property damage. This also applies to any event
held in conjunction with the official conference program.
Participants and accompanying persons
are advised to arrange for insurance they consider necessary.
Neither, the MARC 2003 Planning Committee, sponsors, or agents
assume any responsibility for loss, injury or damage to persons
or belongings, whatever their cause may be. |
