Welcome to Congress 2009!

Enjoy a festive annual meeting with a lot of opportunities to earn contact hours by attending the many interesting  eduction sessions.

• Meet a variety of prominent, industry leading speakers
• View peer submitted poster displays
• Review cutting-edge OR technology displayed by the many exhibitors and industry partners on the show room floor
• Connect with your colleagues, industry partners, and friends

In 2009, the 56th annual AORN Congress will proudly be hosted in the brand new west expansion building of Chicago's famous McCormick Place convention center. The brand new west building is a stand alone facility that will allow AORN to accommodate almost all education sessions under one roof.  

Located only minutes from downtown Chicago, McCormick Place is one of North America's premier convention facilities, attracting more than 3 million visitors annually. McCormick Place comprises four state-of-the-art buildings.  For more detailed information on the convention center, please visit the McCormick Place web pages.

Mark your calendar and join us for a fabulous event, hosted over Saint Patricks Day; one of Chicago's most recognized holidays - featuring parades, green rivers, and loads of other fun and educational activities. 

Chicago’s Dining Scene
With its widely diverse neighborhoods and strong love for food, Chicago has boundless opportunities for culinary adventures. Your experience at Congress 2009 should definitely include some of what Chicago does best – cuisine. Whether it’s Mandarin Chinese, classic French, deep dish pizza, or funky eclectic, it has it all; including more five diamond restaurants than any other city in the nation. Voted Best Restaurant City in America, Chicago is a major player on the national culinary scene with chefs at many of the hippest restaurants in town taking their cuisine to a new level. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of the action!

Chicago Shopping
From high-end retailers that target big spenders to discount merchandise for those who can’t resist a great sale, Chicago has it all! Your trip to Chicago for Congress 2009, will not be complete without experiencing some of it. The Magnificent Mile offers hundreds of top retailers including four separate shopping centers. Oak Street is known for its upscale boutiques and specialty gift stores. State Street, located in the very heart of the city, provides a unique blend of department stores, and discount chains, as well as the Midwest's largest jewelry district just one block away on Wabash Ave. Lincoln Park’s Armitage Avenue provides boutique shopping along quaint tree-lined streets. Wicker Park/Bucktown delivers unique shopping adventures in a neighborhood that is known for its artsy-bohemian spirit.


Chicago’s Theatre Scene
In Chicago’s theatre scene, you'll find everything from traveling Broadway mega hits and experimental theatre to famous improvisational groups that display the wit and humor of the Second City. While you are attending Congress 2009, be sure to hit a show or two, you’ll be more than glad you did. Historically celebrated theater companies such as The Goodman Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Shakespeare Theater, Lookingglass Theatre and The Second City are world renowned for their exciting productions. Or, if you are feeling adventurous, explore Chicago's neighborhoods for theatre created by hundreds of other talented, engaging and risk-taking companies. 

Visit the Chicago Convention Bureau website to see even more of the great theatres, shopping, restaurants, and show opportunities.

Accessibility
With Chicago being one of the most accessible cities in the world, getting to Congress 2009 will be a snap. With two major international airports and an expansive public transportation system, Chicago has the resources to get you where you need to go, when you need to get there.

Airport Information
As North America's only dual hub for commercial air travel, the city is easy to get to from virtually anywhere. Chicago's premier location translates into real convenience for everyone.

• O'Hare International and Midway International Airports offer 3,500 flights a day. Included among those flights are direct non-stops to 60 international and 154 domestic business centers - more than any other city in the world.
• Over 50 different airlines service Chicago, helping make flights in and out of the city less expensive than most major U.S. cities.
  

City Transportation
Chicago's a big city, but it's remarkably easy to get around. Once in Chicago, transportation is readily available, whether taxicabs, limousines, public transportation or rental cars are preferred.

• Taxis: Chicago has the second largest fleet of taxis in the nation, with approximately 6,900 cabs.
• Discounts: Taxis offer discounted shared rides between McCormick Place, Midway and O’Hare International and downtown.
• McCormick Place provides more than 8,000 parking spaces.
• Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) offers fast, direct train service from both airports to downtown, convenient bus and train lines to major attractions, simple fare cards, easy-to-use maps and brochures, and custom trip planning for groups. You can also plan your trip online! Get your itinerary.
• The Metro commuter rail operates 12 commuter rail lines into downtown Chicago from the six-county area of northeast Illinois.
  

Chicago: Green and Beautiful
You know that Chicago has great restaurants, theatres, museums, entertainment, and much more. But, did you know that Chicago is one of the most green and naturally beautiful cities in the nation? From its comprehensive Environmental Action Agenda aimed at increasing the city’s environmental sustainability to its blooming streetscapes, Chicago is well on its way to becoming a top urban eco-tourism destination. When you’re in Chicago for Congress 2009, experience for yourself why, in 2005, The Green Guide magazine ranked Chicago one of the ten greenest cities in the U.S.




So, what are you waiting for? Mark your calendar today and plan on joining your colleagues in Chicago, Illinois. Register before January 26, 2009 and save up to $125 - we will see you at the 56th Congress!

This web page will be continuously updated with the newest Congress 2009 information. Please visit again to stay informed.