CONTENTS 10 REASONS TO MEET EXPLORE CHOOSE CHICAGO IS HERE TO HELP 10 REASONS TO ATTEND CONVENTION FACILITIES WHAT’S NEW FEATURED PARTNERS FESTIVALS & EVENTS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS RESOURCES ONLY IN CHICAGO SPOTLIGHTS AFTER-HOURS GROUP TOURS DINING IN CHICAGO’S SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOODS EVENT VENUES MEET WELL CHICAGO O’HARE AND MIDWAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS Conveniently situated in the center of the country, Chicago boasts two first-class airports — allowing visitors to travel from almost anywhere. In 2021, Chicago O’Hare and Midway International Airports together handled more than 69.9 million passengers, and those numbers continue to grow as travel rebounds. # 1 REASON TO MEET IN CHICAGO? CONNECTIVITY In 2022, O’Hare took the title of “most connected airport in the world” for the first time since 2016, as ranked by the Official Aviation Guide (OAG) Index. Chicago’s airports are hubs to three of the four largest carriers in the United States — American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. Four airlines offer dual services out of both O’Hare and Midway: Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Volaris. More than 45 passenger airlines provide nonstop service from Chicago to over 250 destinations worldwide, offering attendees their choice of carrier. As visitors plan ahead for travel to Chicago for events, meetings, and trade shows, the city’s airports look forward to warmly welcoming everyone back. © CITY OF CHICAGO (ALL PHOTOS) Terminal 5 at O’Hare NEW & COMING SOON AT O’HARE O’Hare International Airport (ORD) lies just 17 miles from downtown Chicago and is one of the most connected airport hubs in the country. An ambitious plan to modernize the airfield was completed in 2021 and O’Hare now has eight total runways — the most of any commercial airport in the United States. This historic project has improved the airport’s capacity, efficiency, and reliability in all weather conditions. O’Hare 21: A Vision Takes Flight Following the tremendous investments on the airfield, O’Hare 21 is the airport’s extensive capital investment in its terminals that will transform the hub into a 21st century global gateway. This long-term development plan is well underway, and a series of major capital projects are all aimed at one thing — elevating the customer experience while improving operational efficiencies. From the passenger terminal areas to the supporting infrastructure, this multi-billion investment is setting a foundation for growth and international connectivity. 10 New Gates at Terminal 5 At approximately 350,000 square feet, the Terminal 5 expansion at O’Hare has added more lounge
Chicago Meeting Professionals Guide 2023: Page 26
