Chicago Marathon

Runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries travel to Chicago each fall to experience the Chicago Marathon.

Starting in 1977 with over 4,200 runners, the Chicago Marathon continues to increase in popularity, and now 45,000 marathon runners and 1.5 million spectators turn out for this annual fall event. Runners come from around the world to take advantage of Chicago’s fairly flat landscape, which aids in their speed and is accredited to be the reason a number of marathon world records have been set in the “Windy City”. This year Chicago Marathon is scheduled to take place on October 11, 2009.

Nicknamed the “Windy City,” Chicago, Illinois is a major U.S. city located in the Midwest. Famous for skyscrapers, Chicago style pizza, and the Cubs baseball team, Chicago is a social and friendly city with lots to do and see.
The Midwest’s “Windy City”, with its grid of predictably numbered streets, boasts colorful political history ranging from Prohibition-era machinations of mobster Al Capone to Cook County politics, fabled in the days of old for urging residents to vote “early and often.”

Chicago packs an abundance of famed architectural landmarks from Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, to the Sears Tower, along with spectacular lake views, and, of course, deep dish pizza.

Chicago lodging options range from historic inns to high-end luxury hotels, many near city landmarks.

Some people want to live in luxury when they come to Chicago. They desire thick, warm towels, room service at all hours, a gourmet restaurant on premise,; and a concierge to meet their every need. Others prefer to economize – they’re satisfied with a clean room and a comfortable bed. There’s so much to do in Chicago, they won’t be spending much time in the hotel anyway.

Either way, Chicago is certain to meet your needs. That’s because the Chicago area has nearly 700 hotels with more than 100,000 rooms. They offer excellent service, comfort and value at every price point. Chicago hosts more than 45 million visitors a year, so our hospitality knows what it’s doing.

Before you reserve your room, check for the special hotel packages aimed at families, couples, sports fans, theatergoers and others with a variety of interests. You may be able to save a considerable amount of money. These packages feature special rates combined with unique perks such as event tickets, tours, early check-in, late check-out and more.

In Chicago downtown, with its concentration of superb restaurants, shopping and cultural attractions, you can choose from more than 30,000 rooms in hotels ranging from the multi-star luxury hotels, to small, trendy boutique properties to student-friendly hostels.

Finding Cheap Hotel In Chicago

Finding cheap accommodations in such a popular town takes creativity, but it certainly can be done.
Well-known, mid-level chains have several hotels in Chicago. Mid-level accommodations can range from below $100 a night to $200 a night.
Skip the motels. Hostels in and around Chicago offer super cheap accommodations. Rooms can cost less than half what you may be charged at a hotel.
Sometimes staying at someone’s apartment can be a cheap alternative to a hotel or motel.
Indulge yourself. Stay at the Drake Hotel, a 1920′s hotel located on the Magnificent Mile. It’s not cheap, but many rooms overlook Lake Michigan.

Green Accommodations In Chicago

Striving to be green, Chicago leads the nation with the greatest number of hotels with the “Green Seal” certification, an acknowledgement of their commitment to incorporate environmentally-friendly practices into their day-to-day operations.

Continuing to set the standard in “green hospitality venues”, Chicago presently has 14 Green Seal Certified hotels.

In the hospitality arena, Chicago’s conscientiously-minded hotel properties are setting the nation’s standard in green hospitality.