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Hyatt Regency O'Hare |
All the advertising for this year's conference claims that it is being held in Chicago, but the conference site actually is in Rosemont, fifteen miles from downtown Chicago. This location is two miles from O'Hare airport and is within walking distance of the rail line that goes to midtown Chicago.
The convention center is part of the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, the official conference hotel. Indeed, it will be very convenient for you if you stay in this hotel. You can walk to the conference, to several restaurants, and to your room within minutes, all without going outdoors. The hotel also provides complementary shuttle service to and from nearby O'Hare airport.
A major plus is that high-speed Internet connectivity is available in all the rooms at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. However, the hotel's web site lists this service as a T-Mobile Wireless Hotspot, which means that you will need to pay extra for the Internet access. (See my Plus Edition article in this week's newsletter for a better method of obtaining high-speed Internet connectivity.)
Usually there is one major drawback to the Hyatt Regency O'Hare: it is normally a very expensive hotel at $199 a night for a room. However, the National Genealogical Society has negotiated a much more attractive price of $129 a night for single or double rooms, $154 a night for rooms with 3 or 4 guests.
If you drive to the conference, be aware that parking for hotel guests is another $17.00 per day.
If you make a reservation now, you can obtain a room at the discounted rate. If you procrastinate until just a few weeks before the conference, you may find that the NGS block of rooms has been sold out, and you will have to either pay the full rate or else stay at another hotel.
To make your reservation now, start at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org and follow the links for conference information. That will eventually take you to the Hyatt Regency reservation web site with the NGS discount already filled in.
I made my reservations this morning. Will I see you there?
Here are some other hotels in the neighborhood:
The Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago-O'Hare Rosemont at 5500 North River Road is a few hundred yards from the convention center. I have stayed in a number of Embassy Suites hotels elsewhere and love them. Each guest receives a suite: a bedroom and a separate living room. Suites typically include a small refrigerator, microwave oven, and mini-bar. According to the Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago-O'Hare Rosemont web site, suites are available for $152 a night for reservations made on the Internet or $169 a night for all other reservations. You can learn more at http://www.embassysuites.com/en/es/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CHIRMESThe Doubletree Hotel at 5460 N River Road is about a quarter mile from the convention center. Rooms are $160 a night for reservations made on the Internet or $189 to $199 a night for all other reservations. You can learn more at http://www.doubletree.com/en/dt/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CHIDTDT
The Crown Plaza at 5440 North River Road is nearly a half-mile from the convention center. Rooms are $167 a night. You can learn more at http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hd/CHIOK
The Holiday Inn Chicago-O'Hare at 5440 N River Road is also about a half mile from the site of the 2006 NGS conference. Rooms are $130 a night. You can learn more at http://www.holiday-inn.com.
All prices above were listed on the hotels' web sites when this article was written and are offered here for comparison purposes only. Prices may change without notice. The prices also do not reflect AAA, AARP, corporate, or other discounts that may be available to you.
If you do stay at a different hotel and drive to the convention center, be aware that parking fees are $15.00 for up to ten hours, $20.00 if you stay longer.
As you can see from the above prices, the conference hotel is the cheapest in the area if - and only if - you make your reservation now and use the NGS conference rate. Any delay could cost you a lot more money in hotel charges.
