CONTENTS 10 REASONS TO MEET EXPLORE CHOOSE CHICAGO IS HERE TO HELP WHAT’S NEW CONVENTION FACILITIES FESTIVALS & EVENTS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS FEATURED PARTNERS ACCESSIBLE CHICAGO RESOURCES TAP INTO CHICAGO’S DIVERSE BUSINESSES FUN TEAM BUILDING IDEAS DINING IN CHICAGO’S NEIGHBORHOODS ICONIC CHICAGO EVENT VENUES MEET SUSTAINABLY SEE CHICAGO IN 24 HOURS MEET AND BE MET AT CHICAGO O’HARE AND MIDWAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS Conveniently situated in the center of the country, it’s easy to meet at Chicago’s two first-class airports, whether arriving from the east, west, north, or south. Chicago likes things in twos: two Major League Baseball teams, two major daily newspapers, and two international airports! There is nowhere else on earth like Chicago. From the moment you arrive at Chicago O’Hare or Midway International Airports, you will be connected to the Second City, which is second to none. # 1 REASON TO MEET IN CHICAGO? CONNECTIVITY O’Hare International Airport lies just 17 miles from downtown Chicago and is one of the most connected airport hubs in the country. O’Hare has eight total runways — the most of any commercial airport in the United States. A mere 10 miles from downtown, Midway is a premier point-to-point airport for leisure and business travel. Connect with colleagues, family, and friends in Chicago. OAG, the leading data platform for the global travel industry, released a “Megahubs 2023” connectivity study that ranked O’Hare the #1 U.S. Domestic Megahub and the #2 North American Megahub in 2023. Chicago’s airports are hubs to three of the four largest carriers in the United States — American Airlines, United LEFT TO RIGHT: THE CITY OF CHICAGO; PATRICK L. PYSZKA/CITY OF CHICAGO Bar Siena at O’Hare’s Terminal 5 near Gate M34 Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. Four airlines offer dual services out of O’Hare and Midway: Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Volaris. Combined, Chicago’s airports welcomed nearly 96 million passengers in 2023. More than 45 passenger airlines provide service from Chicago to approximately 260 airports worldwide, giving attendees better travel flexibility. TERMINAL 5 PARKING GARAGE NEW & COMING SOON AT O’HARE This is an exciting time for Chicago’s airports. Major investments continue to be made at O’Hare to provide passengers with an experience fit for the global gateway that it is. This October, a new six-story parking garage will open at Terminal 5 — more than doubling the available parking spaces. The garage will provide 1,700 short-term, long-term, and premium parking spaces. The garage will also feature park assist technology and electric vehicle charging stations. The garage will connect to Terminal 5 via a pedestrian bridge. Surface Lot D will remain open, offering an additional 660 spaces. AIRLINE LOUNGES Whether arriving early at the airport or waiting for others to arrive in Chicago, travelers can work or relax in the various airline club lounges. Day
Chicago Meeting Professionals Guide 2025: Page 26
