Travel

Transportation

Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) is one of America's best-connected airports and is the second busiest airport in both the United States and the world. It is the largest hub of United Airlines (whose headquarters is in Downtown Chicago) and the second-largest hub of American Airlines. More than 75 million people a year travel through Chicago O'Hare International Airport, voted the Best Airport in North America for the past nine years by readers of the U.S. Edition of Business Traveler Magazine (1998-2003), and Global Traveler Magazine (2004-2007), marking the 10th year in a row O'Hare has earned the top honor.

Airport Shuttles
The Crowne Plaza O'Hare provides a 24 hour complimentary airport shuttle to and from O’Hare International Airport 24 hours a day. Crowne Plaza’s pickup location for domestic travelers in O'Hare is at Door 2 of the Shuttle Bus Center. International travelers please use the courtesy phones in the baggage area to contact the hotel to schedule a pick-up.

Directions to Hotel Shuttle Bus Center:

Go to terminal 2.
Take the escalator down to the baggage claim.
Go down the stairs from the baggage claim walking down the pedestrian walkway.
Take the elevator going up to the parking lot and make a right going around the wall. (Do not go out the doors into the parking lot).
Go to Door 2 and wait for the Crowne Plaza O’Hare Hotel shuttle bus (red/maroon color).

Driving Directions from O’Hare International Airport to Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare:

Follow signs to get on to I-190 East (Towards Chicago) 2.1 Miles
Exit 1B- River Road South * Turn right onto River Road for .3 miles
Hotel is at the corner of Balmoral and River Road

Hotel parking: $10 per car, per day

Parking is located behind and along the south side of the hotel.
Turn Right onto Balmoral Ave.
Follow signs for hotel parking.
Entrance to the hotel from the parking lot is at the burgundy awning.

Airport Transit System
The ATS is a free rail system operating 24 hours between the domestic terminals, the international terminal, long-term parking, and the Metra station and PACE stop.

Regional Bus Information
The Bus/Shuttle Center is located on the ground level for pickup of regional and hotel courtesy buses, airport rental car agencies and parking shuttles.

Rental Cars
Rental car agencies can be found near the baggage claim areas of Terminals 1, 2, and 3 on the airport’s lower level.

Hertz is the preferred car rental company for the conference. Reserve online at or call Hertz at (800) 654-2210 and use CDP# 1641833 and Promotional Code #121472. In Toronto, call (416) 620-9620 and in all other Canadian Provinces, call (800) 263-0600.

Taxi cabs
Shared ride service is available and taxicabs can be located on a first come, first serve basis at the lower level curb front of all terminals.

Chicago

The City of Chicago is situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. It is the 5th largest body of fresh water in the world. As a multicultural city that thrives on the harmony and diversity of its neighborhoods, Chicago today embodies the values of America's heartland-integrity, hard work and community and reflects the ideals in the social fabric of its 77 distinct neighborhoods.

Chicago is recognized across the United States as a very passionate sports town.

International Travelers

A U.S. visitors (B-1) visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a port of entry and request admission into the United States from a U.S. immigration inspector. Begin your visa application process as early as possible as it could take several months to process.

The US-VISIT program is now in effect and applies to all visitors (with limited exceptions) holding non-immigrant visas, regardless of country of origin. Visitors will now have their two index fingers scanned and a digital photograph will be taken.

Visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries
For 35 countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), citizens meeting the visa waiver criteria will not need a visa but they must have a machine-readable passport. In addition, as of Jan. 12, 2009, travelers visiting the United States from VWP countries must be approved for travel electronically prior to boarding a carrier to the United States. Travelers must fill out the forms online at least 72 hours in advance of travel.

Registration via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is intended to replace the I-94W paper form by collecting biographical information over the Internet from visitors from countries that participate in the VWP.

More information and ESTA form

ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an alien registration card, Form I-551, if applicable.

Find out more about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

For more information visit:
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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