Leadership Conference

Reusable water bottle, comfortable walking shoes, ALD and/or institution-branded clothing, credit card for hotel incidentals

There is no dress code, but you are encouraged to wear ALD or institution-branded clothing on Friday, and anything goes on Saturday and Sunday. Remember to check the weather forecast before packing! In October/November, Chicago weather averages a high of 62°/50° and a low of 50°/39°. And hotels can sometimes be chilly, so you may want to have a sweater.

Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch, Sunday breakfast

All attendees will need a credit card for the hotel to keep on file for incidentals (a hold of $100/per night will show as a pending charge until the end of your stay), even if you do not charge anything to the room. Please reach out to ALD HQ if you do not have a credit card. The hotel is cash-free. We recommend that attendees have some money (cash or card) for snacks, activities during free time, and dinner on Saturday night.

Join the official ALD HQ GroupMe chat. Email aldconference@nationalald.org to request the link to join.

Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile – located at 633 North Saint Clair Street, Chicago, IL 60611. ALD HQ books all hotel rooms on behalf of attendees. CASH FREE - Please note that this hotel only accepts credit cards, debit cards, and, where applicable, other contactless forms of payment. It is a cash-free environment.

All attendees will need a credit card for the hotel to keep on file for incidentals (a hold of $100/per night will show as a pending charge until the end of your stay), even if you do not charge anything to the room. Please reach out to ALD HQ if you do not have a credit card.

The hotel check-in is 3 pm and checkout is 12 pm.

Only valet parking is available at the hotel for $81/night. There are other parking garages available nearby for lower rates.

Both O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport have train routes to downtown (approximately $5/person and an hour ride). Detailed routes will be provided closer to the conference.

Taxi service from each airport is approximately $45-$55.

Priority Chapter Registration/Payment: 9/9/24

Final Deadline for Registration Fees and any additional charges: 9/23/24

Individual Attendee Information Forms: 9/25/24

Cancellation without Penalty: 9/24/24

$245/per room, per night

$200

$245

We may invite student and advisor-led presentations. The official schedule for the conference is currently under development. Stay tuned for updates.

Attempts will be made to notify chapters regarding waitlisted students and advisors as soon as possible but may not be available until mid-September. If requesting funding/travel approval from your institution, we recommend that your request includes all potential student and advisor attendees.

Yes, if you need access to the individual attendee information form for your institution’s required documentation you may email aldconference@nationalald.org to request a link.

ALD HQ will provide a detailed list of things to do around Chicago closer to the start of the conference including free and paid attractions, stuff within walking distance of the hotel, affordable spots for food and snacks, etc. ALD HQ will also provide sign-up sheets during the conference to help students organize self-led group outings. There will be free time late Saturday afternoon and evening.

ALD HQ is working on securing a community service project for during the conference.

Rooming for the conference is two attendees to a Two Queen Beds room. ALD Headquarters will make every effort to room student attendees from the same school, of the same pronouns together. If the school sends students with different pronouns, ALD Headquarters will room those students with students from another school, but of the same pronouns.

Advisors will also be roomed in doubles (Two Queen beds) by pronouns unless they indicate they will be paying for a single room on the individual attendee information form. This form will be sent in September.

Roommate requests on the individual attendee information form will only be honored if both attendees list each other’s name as a preferred roommate (pronoun matching is not required). Roommate requests are not guaranteed.

If you have any questions about the rooming policy or would like to submit a request for a group of 3 or 4 students to room together, please email ALD Headquarters at aldconference@nationalald.org for discussion.

If you register for the conference but cannot attend, you are required to notify ALD Headquarters so that other attendees may be allowed to attend. If you need to cancel your registration, please notify ALD Headquarters at aldconference@nationalald.org by September 24. Failure to cancel by September 24 will result in forfeiture of your registration fees. Additional charges/payments, such as advisor single rooms or additional nights, may not be refunded.

Yes, travel grants are available for chapters to help offset travel costs for those who otherwise wouldn't be able to attend the conference. Travel grants are to be used for the sole purpose of travel expenses for the 2024 Leadership Conference in Chicago, IL, 10/25-27, 2024. If awarded a travel grant and unable to attend, the funds must be returned to ALD HQ immediately.