General Information
about the American Historical Association's
2003 Annual Meeting

Accommodations

The AHA has reserved substantial blocks of rooms at three hotels: the Hilton Chicago, the Palmer House Hilton, and the Sheraton Chicago. The hotels are located in the heart of Chicago's cultural core near museums, theaters, and nightlife. The Hiltons are within walking distance of the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Adler Planetarium, Sears Tower, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Broadcast Museum, and the Chicago Board of Trade. The Sheraton is one block west of Lake Shore Drive and within walking distance of the Art Institute, Michigan Avenue shopping (the "Magnificent Mile"), dining, and entertainment. There will be free shuttles, serving all hotels; see page 11 for the schedule. The Hilton Chicago (http://www.chicagohilton.com; (312) 922-4400), located at 720 South Michigan Avenue, will serve as headquarters and will house the AHA book exhibits, Job Register, and AHA and affiliate sessions. The Palmer House Hilton (http://www.chicagohilton.com; (312) 726-7500), at 17 East Monroe Street, will serve as co-headquarters and will accommodate AHA sessions and affiliate events. The Sheraton Chicago (http://www.sheratonchicago.com; (312) 464-1000), is located at 301 East North Water Street. Negotiated rates at the hotels are $99 single and $109 double. The additional person charge at all hotels is $20. The Palmer House Hilton also has 75 studio singles (with a double bed rather than the standard for most hotel rooms, either a king bed or two double beds) for $74 per night, intended for graduate students and/or others with a limited budget. All rooms are subject to city and state occupancy taxes of 14.9 percent per room, per night. Rates will be in effect three days before and after the January 2–5 meeting dates and apply to a limited number of rooms only at each property.

Reservations

Beginning September 3, hotel reservations must be made exclusively with One-Stop Chicago based in Deerfield, Illinois, the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau's exclusive housing vendor.

Reservations will be accepted via the AHA Web site (annual meeting PARTICIPANTS please click here, and EXHIBITORS please click here), the call center, fax, or mail (only if accompanied by a check deposit) through December 8, 2002.

The call center (toll-free (800) 424-5248) will accept reservations from the U.S. and Canada during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, Monday through Friday. International callers may call (847) 940-2152 to make reservations during normal business hours. Phone reservations are limited to five per call—requests for more than five must be submitted in writing.

Faxes from the U.S. and Canada may be sent 24 hours a day, seven days a week to (800) 521-6017, but will be processed during business hours. International attendees may fax to (847) 940-2386.

Suite reservations can be made by any of the methods noted above.

ONLY bookings made by check should be sent to AHA/One-Stop Chicago, 108 Wilmot Road, 4th Floor, P.O. Box 825, Deerfield, IL 60015-0825. Make checks payable to One-Stop Chicago, in U.S. funds, drawn on a U.S. bank.

Deposit

One-Stop Chicago and the three hotels require a standard deposit of $125 per room reservation. The deposit for a one-bedroom suite is $250 and for a two-bedroom suite is $375. A deposit is required for each reservation, and can be made by credit card or by check payment. If payment is to be by check, a check made payable to One-Stop Chicago, in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank, must accompany the housing request form. If payment is to be by credit card, the card will be billed immediately. Credit cards accepted are American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and Diner's Club. The bureau does not accept money orders, wire transfers, or invoices for room deposits. Please note that reservations will not be processed without a deposit.

Confirmation

A reservation confirmation will be sent by the bureau for all new reservations, modifications, and cancellations. The bureau will send out confirmations by mail, fax, or e-mail within 72 hours of processing reservations. Room reservations made by phone are confirmed immediately with a confirmation number. Please note, hotels will not send out a separate confirmation.

Cut-Off Date

The cut-off date for the AHA's official block is December 8, 2002. After this date, remaining inventory in the block will be released and rooms will be available on a space-available basis. All three hotels will continue to honor the AHA's convention rates based upon space availability and attendees should call hotels directly after December 16. If all hotels sell out, the AHA will work with the bureau to secure additional hotel rooms.

Changes, Cancellations, and Refunds

Meeting attendees can continue to make, modify, and/or cancel reservations from September 3 through December 16, 2002 via One-Stop Chicago via telephone, fax, in writing, or e-mail, based on availability. Attendees will not be penalized for any cancellation made before December 8. Cancellations processed prior to the cutoff date will be refunded in the same method of payment by which the attendee originally paid the deposit.

After December 16, attendees who wish to cancel must contact the hotel directly. Reservations canceled after December 8 but prior to 72 hours of arrival will be subject to a $14 processing fee.
Reservations canceled within 72 hours of arrival date are subject to forfeiture of the entire amount of the deposit.

Arrangements for Persons Requiring Physical, Sight, or Hearing Accessibility

To facilitate hotel reservations and participation in the annual meeting for those who need physical, sight, or hearing accessibility, the following information is provided. The hotel selected should be informed about special needs when the reservation is made.

Hilton Chicago

Entrances: The hotel is in compliance with American with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations and guidelines. Along with manual and revolving doors, the main entrance is equipped with a sliding door to accommodate all guests.

Lobby:The lobby area floors are covered with low-pile carpeting although some areas have marble flooring.

Parking: Accessible parking spaces are available through both self-park and valet parking.

Elevators: Control panels in all elevators are marked in Braille and easily accessible to accommodate guests in wheelchairs.

Restrooms: Accessible restrooms are available on all meeting room floors.

Guest rooms: The Hilton Chicago has forty-three ADA-accessible rooms. These rooms are equipped with visual smoke alarms. TDD devices, telephone alerts, and bathtub seats are available upon advance request.

Meeting rooms: Meeting rooms are located on the lower lobby, lobby, second, third, fourth, and fifth floors. The hotel is equipped with several elevators meeting ADA requirements.

Restaurants: The hotel's three restaurants—Kitty O'Sheas, Buckingham's, and Pavillion—are all located on the lobby level and are wheelchair accessible.

Palmer House Hilton

Entrances: The hotel has three street entrances: Monroe, Wabash, and State Streets. The Monroe and Wabash entrances, both on one-way streets, are staffed with door persons and are also equipped with handicap accessible doors. The State Street entrance is not staffed, but does have push button doors. Whichever entrance is utilized, proceed to the elevators located at the intersection of all three hallways of the hotel.

Lobby: The main lobby has marble flooring and low-pile carpeting. The concierge desk and the registration area are wheelchair accessible.

Parking: Accessible parking spaces are available.

Elevators: The Palmer House Hilton has two separate banks of elevators. The main bank consists of eleven elevators and serves all floors except the fifth floor. The smaller bank is made up of four elevators and does not go above the eleventh floor. To access the Exhibit Hall level and Private Dining Rooms 16, 17 and 18, use the smaller bank of elevators. These rooms are located on floors 2,3,4, and 5, which are split-level and cannot be accessed via the main elevator bank. When attending meetings in these rooms, remember to transfer to the smaller bank of elevators at the street level, lobby level, or floors 1-6. To access the Empire Room or the French Quarter, please call the Guest Service Hotline (Extension 26) or Security (Extension 5565) so that hotel staff may offer assistance.

Restrooms: Accessible restrooms are available for men and women on the lobby level, the fourth floor, the seventh floor (Clark and Montrose Wing), and in the eighth floor health club.

Guest rooms:TAccessible rooms include wheelchair accessibility, TDD phone, doorknocker, and strobe light on fire alarm. For rooms equipped for the hearing impaired, the following can be requested: hearing impaired kits, strobe light on fire alarm, door knocker, TDD phone, bed vibrator, upgrade Fire Alarm devices, and flashing light for telephones.

Meeting rooms: Ramps, lifts, and ADA podiums are available for ballrooms and meeting spaces.

Restaurants: The hotel's three restaurants are all accessible, the Big Downtown, the French Quarter, and Trader Vic's.

Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers

Entrances: The hotel is accessible and in complete compliance with ADA regulations and guidelines. Threshold and doormats used are also in compliance with ADA regulations.

Lobby: The lobby area offers low-pile carpeting in addition to marble floors. Upon request, guest service agents will greet wheelchair guests on the Front Desk lobby side to assist in the check-in process.

Parking: Accessible parking spaces are available, and the hotel has two accessible entrances from the self-parking facilities.

Elevators: Control panels in all elevators are marked in Braille (by each floor button) and lowered to accommodate wheelchair guests.

Restrooms: Accessible restrooms are available for men and women on all meeting function space event levels, 1 through 4.

Guest rooms: The hotel has 51 king and 3 double/double room accommodations designated for persons with accessibility requirements. TDD devices (printing and nonprinting), knock alerts, telephone alerts, visual smoke alarms, time clocks, and bathtub seats are available upon request.

Meeting rooms: All meeting room floors are accessible by elevator (located on the east side of the building) via Ballroom, Lobby levels. Entrance doors to meeting event rooms are at least 32 inches wide.

Restaurants: Streeterville and Spectators Lounge on the lobby level and Riverside Cafe on Level Two are all accessible.

2003 Annual Meeting Home Page
General Information about the 2003 Meeting
Overview of Sessions at the 2003 Meetings
Meetings and Activities of AHA Affiliated Societies