Register for the Conference and Confirm Your Hotel Accommodations
If you are reading this, ideally, you have already registered for the SSDP2019 Conference and you have already confirmed your hotel accommodations.
If you are a student and you are using CAT points to pay for the hotel for yourself and/or some of your chapter members, you should have already arranged that with your SSDP staff member (Elise Szabo and Luis Montoya for US students, Jake Agliata for students from all other countries) If you have any questions, contact outreach@ssdp.org right away.
Conference Location
The conference venue is the Crowne Plaza: Chicago O’Hare Hotel and Conference Center located at 5440 North River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018.
Booking your hotel room
A block of hotel rooms has been reserved for March 29-April 1 (our discounted rate is also available for 2 days before and after those dates, as long as rooms are available). The special room rate of $124 per night will be available until March 6 or until the group block is sold out, whichever comes first!
To take advantage of the discounted rate, book your room online here.
You will be redirected and sometimes the group code does not auto-populate. It’s very important that you make sure that “PGF” appears in the “Group Code” box when selecting your room. If it does not automatically appear, you will need to enter it yourself.
Please book your room only through this link, with our group code “PGF”, and not via phone or third-party websites.
SSDP has worked to negotiate low group rates at the host hotel. By reserving your room within our SSDP block, you are helping us meet our minimum fulfillment with the hotel so that SSDP can keep costs low for future conferences.
Arrival to the Conference
You should plan to arrive at the Crowne Plaza hotel on the morning or afternoon of Friday, March 29th so that you have time to get settled before the opening reception begins at 6pm. Hotel check-in time is 3pm. If you arrive earlier, you can likely check your bags with the front desk until your room is ready.
ARRIVING VIA AIR
You have two options for flying into the Chicago region, in order of convenience:
From Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) – Strongly recommended
FREE AIRPORT SHUTTLE SERVICE – Strongly recommended
For all Domestic flights (Terminals 1, 2 and 3):
Follow the sign to the Ground Transport/ Baggage Claim, one level down.
From the Ground Transport/ Baggage Claim Area- Follow the signs or red arrows on the floors to the Bus/ Shuttle Center, another level down.
Proceed through the underground pedestrian walkway area to the Elevator 3 Center or Elevator 4 Center. Take elevator to 1st level- In the elevator, press the Bus/Shuttle button. Continue to the Bus/Shuttle Center area, door entrance will be marked.
Please note: The Bus/Shuttle Center is located inside the building and not in the parking lot. Once at the Bus/Shuttle Center area proceed to door #2 and look for the Crowne Plaza O’Hare shuttle. Shuttle runs about every 30 minutes.
For International flights at Terminal 5:
Please call the hotel at 847-671-6350 ext. 0 to arrange shuttle pickup and stand by 5E.
International pickups are on call. Drivers do not make regular stops at Terminal 5.
LYFT/UBER
You may choose to arrange a Lyft or Uber to take you from the airport to the hotel. The drive is about 6 minutes and should cost between $12-15.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train: 20 minutes, $5 – There is a CTA station inside of O’Hare Airport (ORD). This train will take you to the Rosemont Blue Line Station, (one stop away) which is near the hotel (15-minute walk).
Note: There is a FREE shuttle from the Rosemont CTA Blue Line station called the Entertainment Circulator, which travels around the entertainment district where the hotel is. The conference hotel is located between the Fashion Outlets and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center stops. You can alternatively walk to the hotel from the Blue Line station, which is about a 15-minute walk.
If you plan to be taking CTA throughout the weekend, consider purchasing a 3-day ticket for $20, which can be purchased at both airports.
From Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) – Not recommended
LYFT/UBER
You may choose to arrange a Lyft or Uber to take you from the airport to the hotel. The drive is about 35-50 minutes and should cost between $50-60. It could take much longer and cost much more during rush hour or other times of traffic.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
There are CTA train routes that would get you from MDW to the conference hotel on public transportation. The cost is about $3, but the trip will take 90 minutes or more.
Note: Once you arrive at the CTA station closest to the hotel (Rosemont),
SHUTTLE SERVICES
Airport shuttle services are typically less expensive than a Lyft or
ARRIVING VIA TRAIN OR BUS
Train
Amtrak has service to Chicago. You will likely arrive at Chicago Union Station, then will need to take the CTA to Rosemont or arrange a Lyft or Uber.
Bus
Both Greyhound and
Please note that you will still need to get yourself from Chicago to the conference venue in Rosemont, IL via Lyft/Uber or public transportation. The
ARRIVING VIA CAR
Discounted parking is available for conference attendees at the hotel for $15.00 per car per day. You may self-park at hotel parking behind the hotel, there should be signs that direct you. The entrance to the hotel from the parking lot is at the burgundy awning.
Departure from the Conference
Conference programming ends on the evening of Sunday March 31st at 6:30pm. You will want to schedule your flight home for as late as possible Sunday night, or even better yet, fly home on Monday.
Best Practices for Booking Airfare
Book early
The best time to book airfare is about 7-8 weeks before the conference which is early February 2019, Don’t wait! The costs will continue to increase as time passes.
Stick to your plans
Don’t change original ticket or itinerary to avoid extra costs. Airline change fees are typically $75–$200 per ticket, in addition to any increase in the new fare. For non-refundable tickets, most airlines apply a substantial change fee and require changes be made within a certain time limit, or the ticket loses all value.
Consider baggage fees and flight connections
Most airlines charge for baggage fees, some also charge for carry-on items for certain passengers. Make sure you know what fees are included with your flight before booking.
Other Considerations
Travel Reimbursements from SSDP will be distributed at the Conference
If you or your chapter are using CAT points for travel reimbursements, or have received a scholarship award to SSDP2019, please note that the reimbursement will be given to you as a check during the conference, after you have completed a conference evaluation form and given it to a SSDP staff member. So, you will need to have booked and paid for your flights or other modes of travel prior to the conference.