The two primary hotels are the Palmer House Hilton and the Chicago Hilton. The Palmer House is more in the Loop and close to substantive shopping and dining options. The Chicago Hilton is further south, but generally away from shopping and dining, although there are more options that way than in the past. Neither hotel is a "short walk" from the North Michigan Ave. district (where most shopping and dining establishments are) and I would tend to advise against walking from the hotels to McCormick Place (at least a two mile+ walk from the Chicago Hilton). You can cut through Grant Park and the Museum Campus for a very nice walk, but it will be a very healthy walk.
The Hyatt at McCormick Place (http://mccormickplace.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels-mccormickplace/index.jsp?extCorporateId= ) is quite nice. It is part of the complex, so moving around the complex should generally be indoors. It is a bit of a walk, but not terrible in my opinion. One thing to keep in mind is that there is very little in the way of dining or shopping within walking distance of McCormick Place generally, and some of the surrounding areas can be a tad desolate at night. The area is much improved from the past, but as in any urban setting, you want to be aware of your surroundings. The room rates for the Hyatt are actually quite good for the period during the Conference. Do keep in mind that you should allow for taxi fares. Note also that when you look for rates at this Hyatt, ensure that you are looking at the correct hotel -- it is the one specifically listed for McCormick Place. This is not the Hyatt that was used by ARMA for prior Conferences.
It appears that ARMA has been assigned space in the Lakeside Center. This is the building that most Chicagoans consider to be "McCormick Place", as it is the oldest building of the complex. For those of you who have seen the complex, it is the black flat-roofed building right against the Lake. (It is also the black building that you see in Microsoft Flight Simulator if you select the default airport -- the former Meigs Field in Chicago.) Don't plan on getting lunch away from the Conference site unless you have a lengthy lunch period. On the plus side, expect spectacular lake and skyline views.
Choosing other hotels likely means that you will be walking to one of the Hiltons for the ARMA bus or incurring taxi fare. I would guess that a taxi from the Loop or North Michigan Ave. to McCormick Place to be between $10 and $20. There is limited bus public transportation to McCormick Place and may involve several transfers. The "El" is not recommended to get to McCormick Place. The South Shore line and the Metra Electric lines serve McCormick Place from Randolph and Michigan, but have infrequent service. I don't have an estimate on how much time to allow between the hotels and the conference site.
For general planning purposes to judge distances in Chicago, increments of 100 in the address means that you are covering 1/8 of a mile. So if you are walking from 800 N. Michigan Ave. (the Water Tower) to 720 S. Michigan Ave. (the Chicago Hilton), you're going to cover just about two miles. All addresses originate at State Street and Madison Street, which is very near the Palmer House. McCormick Place is considered to be about 2300 South, so it is two miles south from the Chicago Hilton, then another half to three quarters of a mile east. You might cut the corner a bit walking through the park.
Hope this is helpful to everyone.
Patrick Cunningham, CRM, CIP, FAI
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