Executive and corporate travel in Chicago
Chicago is a major centre for finance, trading, law and corporate headquarters. The Loop hosts the exchanges, banks and law firms, River North and the Magnificent Mile host agencies and hotels, and Fulton Market in the West Loop has become a hub for technology companies and new headquarters. Many large companies are based in the suburbs, from Oak Brook to Deerfield. Executive assistants and travel managers often book a corporate car service or a black car by the hour so that one chauffeur handles a multi-stop itinerary between the city and the suburbs, and the same executive car service can cover client dinners. Chicago also hosts major medical, food and manufacturing industry gatherings, and many corporate visitors split a day between downtown offices and headquarters in suburbs such as Oak Brook, Schaumburg or Deerfield, where distances are long and traffic on the expressways varies.
Choosing between O'Hare and Midway
O'Hare International (ORD), northwest of the city, handles most of the city's international flights. Midway International (MDW), southwest of the Loop, mainly serves domestic flights and is often quicker to reach from downtown. Both are operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation. Chauffyr tracks each inbound flight for every airport transfer and records the terminal and meeting point, and a private car service can link either airport with suburban headquarters.
- O'Hare (ORD): northwest, main international gateway
- Midway (MDW): southwest, mainly domestic
Business districts and venues
The Loop and the riverfront host financial institutions and law firms, River North and Streeterville host offices, hotels and medical institutions, and Fulton Market hosts technology and consumer companies. McCormick Place, on the lakefront south of downtown, is North America's largest convention complex and hosts major trade shows throughout the year. Union Station connects the city by Amtrak with Milwaukee, St. Louis and Detroit. Hotels along Michigan Avenue and in the Loop are the usual pickup points for downtown meetings, and the chauffeur waits at an agreed entrance while guests check out or collect luggage.
- The Loop
- River North
- Streeterville
- Fulton Market and the West Loop
- McCormick Place
Conventions, roadshows and group transportation
Large conventions at McCormick Place fill downtown hotels and congest Lake Shore Drive. Chauffyr can quote event transportation with staggered pickups from hotels and group transportation for teams, with a Sprinter-class van for larger parties. Investor roadshows that combine the Loop with suburban headquarters are planned with a lead car for the principal and additional sedans or SUVs for colleagues, all following one itinerary.
Weather and driving conditions
Chicago winters bring snow, ice and strong winds off Lake Michigan, and summer brings construction on major expressways. Traffic on the Kennedy, Eisenhower and Dan Ryan expressways is heavy at peak times. The desk allows extra time during winter storms and will contact you if a journey is affected. Share set appointment times when you book, especially for early flights from O'Hare.
Suburbs, Milwaukee and onward journeys
Popular onward journeys include suburban corporate campuses, the North Shore, Milwaukee and Lake Geneva in Wisconsin, which can be quoted as one-way transfers or hourly days. The CTA and Metra rail networks also connect the city and suburbs for travellers who prefer rail on some legs. Choose Chicago, the city's official tourism organisation, publishes event calendars.
Planning your Chicago quote
Send the flight number or pickup address, destination, date and time, the number of passengers and bags, and any stops, plus any suburban headquarters addresses. For hourly service, include an approximate start and finish time and the order of meetings. The desk returns an upfront USD quote for the vehicle class you choose, locked when you book, and confirms the chauffeur and vehicle details before travel.
