Travel Information
Conference Location
The Palmer House Hilton, 17 East Monroe St., Chicago, Illinois 60603. The Palmer House web page provides directions to the hotel from a variety of locations; those who are driving might refer to Mapquest.
Hotel Reservations
THE PALMER HOUSE AND THE HILTON CHICAGO ARE SOLD OUT. If you wish to be added to a wait list, contact Will Morgan at wdmorgan@indiana.edu and we will contact you if more rooms become available.
Rooms are available at the Hard Rock Hotel, 230 North Michigan Avenue. Call 312-334-6767 to make a reservation. Provide the conference code MPSA040208. To qualify for the "in-hotel" discounted conference registration rate, your name must be on the room reservation.
The Fitness Center at the Palmer House has been moved to a temporary location on the 3rd floor (lower salon area). The center is equipped with a full complement of cardio and strength equipment and is free of charge to all hotel guests. The pool at the Palmer House is temporarily closed, but guests who wish to use a pool will have complimentary access to the pool at the Hilton Chicago and Towers.
Airline Reservations
Association Travel Concepts (ATC) is the official travel agency for the 2008 conference. ATC offers the following airline discounts:
- Up to 15% off applicable classes of service for tickets purchased more than 30 days prior to the meeting. Restrictions apply and not all classes of service apply for the 15% discount (United).
- 5% off applicable classes of service for tickets purchased prior to the meeting (American Airlines).
For more information, click here.
Attention International Attendees : The international traveler security process at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport will change in 2008. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Visit program will transition from collecting two fingerprints to collecting 10 fingerprints from foreign travelers as part of a pilot program being implemented at 10 U.S. airports. Records are kept on file for 75 years. For the privacy policy of the DHS, click here.
Another change that will affect international attendees is the passport requirement. As of October 26, 2006, any passport issued on or after this date by a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country must be an e-Passport for VWP travelers to be eligible to enter the U.S. without a visa. The most common way of visiting the U.S. without a visa is through the VWP. The 27 participating VWP countries can be found online at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html.
If your country is on the list and you are entering the U.S. for tourism or business for 90 days or less with a valid passport that meets U.S. requirements, and certain visa conditions listed on the web site do not apply, you do NOT need a visa.
Passports issued on or after October 26, 2006 must be e-Passports, which include an integrated computer chip capable of storing biographic information from the data page and the digital photograph of the holder.
Older, but still valid passports issued by VWP countries between October 26, 2005, and October 25, 2006, must include a digital photo printed on the data page or the traveler will be required to obtain a visa.
For more information about this change, go to www.dhs.cob/US-VISIT.
Ground Transportation
Airport Express/Continental Air Transport, our discount ground transportation firm for the MPSA Conference, runs a bus from O’Hare and Midway airports to the Palmer House. To arrange transportation, please go to the Airport Express website. You may board the bus at the terminal baggage level, the same location for taxi service. The CTA “El” train also runs from O’Hare Airport, Terminal 4, and Midway Airport, and will take you to the Monroe station (2 blocks by underground walkway to the Palmer House).
O’Hare Airport |
Midway Airport |
|
| Taxicab (single one way) | $40 and up |
$30 and up |
| Airport Express (single one way) | $27 |
$22 |
| Airport Express (single round trip) | $49 |
$37 |
Parking for the Palmer House is available in the Grant Park or Monroe Street garages, located between Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive. Palmer House guests can obtain discount and valet parking in the Palmer House garage at Adams and Wabash, just east of the hotel.
Distance from O’Hare to the Palmer House: 17 miles, 35 minutes, non–rush hour
Distance from Midway to the Palmer House: 12 miles, 20 minutes, non–rush hour
What To Do in ChicagoThere is a good listing through the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. You may also try the Chicago Guide.