Helpful Information
Conference Location
Official NTI sessions and events will be held at:
- McCormick Place West Building
2301 S Indiana, Chicago, IL 60616
- Palmer House Hilton (Headquarters Hotel)
17 East Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603
- Hilton Chicago (Headquarters Hotel)
720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60605
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NTI Badge and Tickets
Badge and ticket packets are mailed out in mid-April. If you do not receive these
items prior to your departure for Chicago, you may pick them up on-site at the registration
desk, located in Hall F1-F2.
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Convention Center Parking
Parking Fees are a Flat rate of $16.00 per day. There are two main parking lots
at McCormick Place, Lot C and Lot A. Lot C is an underground garage located on Ft.
Dearborn Drive, adjacent to the Lakeside Center. Lot A is a six-level garage and
is located directly across from the Grand Concourse/Gate 4. Lot A is the closest
parking garage to the Convention Center with covered walkways leading directly into
McCormick Place and the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Hotel. For more information
on McCormick Place parking, please click here.
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Children in Educational Sessions
Children are not permitted in educational sessions. Please check with your hotel
concierge for childcare options. AACN does not encourage children's attendance at
the Critical Care Exposition. If necessary, children will be admitted only when
accompanied by a badge-wearing NTI participant. For the safety of all attendees
and exhibitors, strollers are not permitted in the Exhibit Hall and participants
should monitor their child's activities at all times.
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Smoking Policy
Out of consideration for the health of all staff, participants, exhibitors and vendors,
the National Teaching Institute is strictly a non-smoking meeting event. Smoking
is not permitted in the convention center, meeting rooms, Exhibit Hall or at AACN-sponsored
events. Please adhere to all posted signs and smoke only in designated areas.
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Dressing for Comfort
Casual to casual business attire is appropriate for the conference, and a pair (or
two) of comfortable shoes is highly recommended. You may wish to bring a jacket
or sweater to your sessions, as meeting room temperatures tend to fluctuate. Outdoor
temperatures in Chicago in May range from the low 50's to the low 70's.
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Emergency
Chicago uses 911 service for police, fire and medical emergencies. To contact the
local agencies directly in a non-emergency situation:
- Police (312) 745-4290
- Mercy Hospital and Medical Center (312) 567-2000
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Getting a Grip on Gratuities
"Should I or shouldn't I and if so, how much?" It's always best to remember
that gratuities are not an obligation but a way of expressing satisfaction for services
provided. Larger tips should be left for those who provide extraordinarily good
service, while smaller tips or no tip at all should be left when service is poor.
Use your own judgment when you think amounts should be adjusted. At home or abroad,
watch out for hidden gratuities -- service charges already built into your bill.
Some situations you will encounter when traveling include:
- At the Airport - $1 to $2 per bag is the norm for the skycap that handles
your luggage at the airport curb.
- Taxi drivers - 15% of the fare is the standard for a cab ride.
- In Restaurants - A recent nationwide survey suggests 18% has become the tipping
standard at restaurants across the country, so a tip between 15% and 20%
is perfectly appropriate. Be alert when ordering room service - many hotels automatically
add the gratuity to the bill and still leave a blank space for a tip on the slip.
- Hotel Housekeeping - Sometimes overlooked are the anonymous folks who tidy up your
room and leave the mint on your pillow. Customary tip: $2 per night, more if
you're leaving a huge mess; $2 per delivery, unless they're delivering something
that should have been in your room but was missing (in which case no tip is necessary).
- Hotel Bellhop - Among others helping you at the hotel, the bellhop who carries your
luggage should be tipped $1 to $2 per bag, some suggest. Others argue $5
should be the absolute minimum.
- Doorman - The doorman is there to welcome you each time you enter the hotel. He
will usually help remove your bags from your vehicle, and will pass them on to a
bellhop. He is often the one to call a taxi for you, too. Customary tip: $2
for hailing a cab; $1 per piece for handling luggage.
- Valet - Valet Attendants park and retrieve your car. They may also assist with your
bags by helping the bellman load and unload the car. Customary tip: $2 for each
car retrieval; $1 per piece for luggage assistance.
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For Your Safety
AACN works closely and diligently with all event venues and staff to formulate contingency
plans that will ensure the safety and well-being of conference attendees. However,
each individual has a responsibility to protect him or herself as they move through
the day. Below we offer some tips that will help keep you safe - at home or away.
On the City Streets:
- Remove your name badge to avoid looking like a tourist.
- Try to travel in groups of three or more.
- Keep to well-lit areas and avoid side streets, alleys and dark parking lots.
- Carry only small amounts of money for immediate needs.
- Carry handbags securely and close to your body.
- Carry your wallet in your front pants pocket.
- If you are held up, give up your valuables without resisting and immediately report
the incident to the police.
In and Around the Hotel
- When you are in your hotel room, use the locks, chains and safety bolts provided.
- Do not open your door to unidentified persons.
- Do not announce your room number around strangers.
- Use a hotel safe deposit box (located either at the front desk or in your room)
for jewelry, traveler's checks, airline tickets, money and other valuables. Better
yet, leave your jewelry and non-essential valuables at home.
- Always remain aware of your surroundings and of those around you, especially in
hallways, elevators, stairwells, exercise rooms, pool area, etc.
- Familiarize yourself with the exits in your hotel and other public areas.
- Report any suspicious person(s) to the hotel or venue security guard.
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Fire Precautions
When you first arrive in your hotel room, take a minute to read the fire instructions
listed on the back of your door. Know how to get from your room to the fire exit
- then formulate a back-up plan. It's a good idea to put your room key on the nightstand
before going to bed in the event you have to leave your room quickly. You should
try to leave your room immediately in the event of a fire, but be sure to test all
doors before you open them. While kneeling or crouching at the door, reach up high
and use the back of your hand to touch the door and the doorknob. If either of these
is hot to the touch, use a secondary exit. If the door and knob are cool, brace
your shoulder against the door and open it carefully (be ready to close it quickly
if heat or smoke rushes in). Use the stairways to exit the building. If you cannot
leave your room, stay calm and take the following precautions:
- Close doors between you and the fire.
- Wet sheets and towels in bathtub and put them around cracks of doors to keep smoke
out.
- Tie a wet towel around nose and mouth to act as a smoke filter.
- If you are trapped but have access to a phone, call 911 and give your exact location
(even if you can see fire trucks on the street below).
- Wait at a window and signal for help with a flashlight or by waving a sheet or a
light-colored cloth.
- Be patient. Rescuing all the occupants of a high-rise building could take several
hours.
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