Travel

Lodging

A discounted block of rooms is available at the Intercontinental Hotel. To access the discounted rooms, use this link: 2025 MSU Booking Link or call the reservations department at 312-321-8895 and mention group name and code "KEZ". Rooms are discounted to $309 and are available from June 22 through June 26.

These discounted rooms will be available until Friday, May 30, 2025 or until the room block fills. We highly encourage all event attendees to stay within the designated hotel room block. By booking within the room block, you'll not only enjoy the convenience of being close to the event, but you'll also help support the event's success.

Air Travel Information

Airport: Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

Traveling from the Airport to the Hotel via Train

To the Venue: Take the Blue line train from the Chicago O’Hare International Airport (see map below). This is an approximately 45-minute train ride. Exit at Lake and transfer to the Red line north (Howard). Exit the Red line at Grand. The hotel will be a couple block walk from there.

Rail map.png

Traveling from the Airport to the Intercontinental Hotel via Vehicle

From O'Hare:

Merge onto I-190 E; I-190 E becomes I-90 E/KENNEDY EXPY E; Take EXIT 50B toward EAST OHIO ST; Turn RIGHT onto N ORLEANS ST; Turn LEFT onto W ILLINOIS ST; Turn LEFT onto N LOWER MICHIGAN AVE; 505 NORTH MICHIGAN AVE.

On-Site Parking

For anyone driving to the hotel, valet parking is available through the hotel at an overnight rate of $85 (until 5 p.m. on the date of departure otherwise additional charges apply). For additional self-parking options, please visit https://www.spothero.com or download the Spot Hero app.

Additional information and directions can be found on the Intercontinental Hotel's Parking and Transportation website.

Visiting Michigan and Michigan State University

For those of you remaining in the Chicagoland/Midwest US area after the conference, we would welcome one-day visits to Michigan State University (located in East Lansing, Michigan), its research farms, and regional fruit industry sites in the week following the conference June 30 – July 3. While we cannot arrange travel from Chicago or provide area lodging, we would be very happy to set up an informal tour once you make it to East Lansing. Lodging options in the East Lansing area.

If you have an interest in visiting, from Chicago you can take an afternoon train directly to East Lansing or, if you are driving, expect a drive of about four hours from downtown Chicago (link). We’ll work with you to tailor your visit according to your interests. Please contact Randolph Beaudry (beaudry@msu.edu; +1-517-353-0303) by June 7, 2025. We can only accommodate a handful of participants, so plan early if you have a keen interest.