the 14th annual
CHICAGO
SEMINARS
at Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago
the original points and miles event
September 20-22, 2024
Formerly at the
Holiday Inn
Dive into the heart of the travel community at the 2024 Chicago Seminars (formerly at the Holiday Inn)! We hit remarkable highs last year: over 300 attendees, 37 enlightening sessions from 29 expert presenters, and a generous $17,000 donated to charity!
This isn't just an event; it's a convergence of enthusiasts eager to share, learn, and elevate their travel game—all while making a meaningful impact.
In response to our attendees' feedback for a more upscale and convenient venue, the 2024 event is excitedly making its move to the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. This new location not only meets our community's growing needs but also elevates the overall experience with its top-notch facilities and services. Perfectly situated with easy airport access, the Hyatt Regency O'Hare offers a sophisticated backdrop for our sessions, networking, and festivities. Experience the blend of luxury and convenience at our new home which promises to make the 2024 Chicago Seminars an unforgettable event!
Get ready for another year of learning, connecting, and making memories with fellow travel enthusiasts!
History
Chicago Seminars, the oldest and largest event for the points and miles community, was founded in 2010 by Rick Ingersoll and Win Schaeffer then nurtured by long-time organizer Howie Rappaport. Since that time, Chicago Seminars has blossomed into the premier event for sharing knowledge and strategies on maximizing points and miles. With a steadfast focus on community and connection, Chicago Seminars has empowered countless travelers to bring their travel aspirations to life.
While there are similar points and miles events, Chicago Seminars is unique in that it is a registered non-profit and 501(c)(3) under the direction of a volunteer board. All organizers and volunteers are unpaid, and all profits generated are donated to charity.
Featuring a dynamic lineup of keynote addresses, breakout sessions, panel discussions, and networking activities spanning three days, in 2023, more than 300 participants, ranging from novice adventurers to seasoned points and miles experts, took part in 37 sessions led by 29 presenters. This annual gathering of the award travel community also raised more than $17,000 to support our charity partners.
For more than a decade, the original points and miles event has played a key role in the award travel community by fostering in-person connections which create meaningful and lifelong friendships from around the world. We look forward to you joining us and sharing your experiences at this Chicago homecoming.
2024 Sponsors
Each year, Chicago Seminars is delighted to have a fantastic array of sponsors. Sponsorship packages can be personalized to suit any needs.
If you would like to sponsor for 2024, or know a person or business which might want to be a sponsor, please reach out to sponsorships@chicagoseminars.org.
2024 Presentations
Encore Seminars
We are delighted to announce we will be revisiting some of the most highly acclaimed sessions from the previous year. These sessions, as per the feedback received from attendees, were rated almost flawlessly by all participants. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the speakers for delivering such captivating, insightful, and informative presentations.
Feature Seminars
Feature Seminars will be of interest to a broad audience. Experts will discuss topics from how to use new award search tools, renting a castle for your family, and starting your foray into manufactured spend. We even have sessions for penguin lovers and Swifties.
Express Seminars
New for this year are Express Seminars. Express Seminars are shorter sessions on topics specific attendees will find interesting, such as how to earn points on wedding expenses, keeping your P2 engaged, and even how to land a plane.
Community Seminars
Chicago Seminars is about more than just points and miles; it’s about connecting people with an interest to travel the world. Community Seminars will not only help you foster connections with fellow travel enthusiasts but will provide you with tools to maximize the value of the weekend.
Encore Seminars
Special Presentations
Life as a 24 Million Miler: Insights from the World's Most Travelled Man
Tom Stuker: @ua1flyer
Airlines
How to Fly Anywhere: The Value of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Ben & Jon Nickel-D'Andrea: No Mas Coach!
Points or Cash - Why Choose?: Get the Most Bang for Your Buck (Or Points) in Your Travels
Bryan Sklar: @travelwiseadvisors
Casinos
You CAN Beat the House: Making Casinos Work for You
Adam Bauer: Cheapskate Vegas
Earning Points & Miles
Hardbody, the Plastic Merchant, Dogs with Credit Cards & Other Dumpster Fires: Deals Gone
Wrong & Deciding When to Say No
Panel
General Travel
Beyond the Guidebook: How Ai and Digital Innovations Are Changing Travel Planning
Jackie Wisniewski
Plan Like an Expert: Tips and Tools for Global Travel
JT Genter: @jtgenter
Traveling as A Woman: Advice from Female Globetrotters
Panel
Hotels
Family Travel for (Closer To) Free: Showing Your Kids the World While
Keeping Your Savings and Sanity
Dia Adams: Fortune Recommends
Sleep Around: Maximizing Your Hotel Points
Katie Genter: The Points Guy
Manufactured Spend
Amazon FBA, Reselling, and MS: What You Need to Know
Jon Nickel-D'Andrea: No Mas Coach!
Feature Seminars
Airlines
Are They All the Same?: A Comparison of AIRLINE Award Search Tools
Panel
Around the World in 80K Miles (Not Days): How to Book RTWs with ANA
Panel
Consistency Is Key: The Most Fail-safe Award Travel Sweet Spots
Julia Menez: @geobreezetravel
The Best of the Best: Comparing Aspirational Airline Products
Panel hosted by Han Chicago: @hanchicago
Cruises
Roll Your Windows Down and Cruise: Sometimes for Free!
Panel
Earning Points & Miles
Living the High Life: Secrets to Jet-setting Around the Globe for Free
Ronnie Dunston: @ronniedunston
Points & Credit Card Perks You Are Overlooking: Business Cards and How Owners (And Non-Owners) Can
Earn Lots of Points
Ryan Smith: @ryansmithtravel
Prioritize Your Time While Maximizing Your Rewards: An Unorthodox Approach for Travel Hackers
Chris C.: @married_withpoints
We're Not in Kansas Anymore: Life Beyond 5/24
Shira Sliffman : Travel on Point(s)
Will You Be Approved?: Preparing for Your Credit Card Applications
Arthur Chow: @the.arthur.chow
General Travel
(e)Sims in the City: Cell Phone Use Outside Your Home Country
Kevin Song: @kev.song
A Must Before You Go: Travel Insurance
Pamela Scala
More Magic for Your Miles: Disney Vacation Strategies Around the World
Leslie Harvey: Trips with Tykes
Once in a Lifetime?: Trips to the Olympics and Antarctica
Panel
Save Your Points: Crafting Cheap Bucket List Itineraries
Carissa Rawson: @just.plane.points
The Fringe Are Your Friends: Why Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, IHG, United, AA, and DL Suck (You In)
Joseph Petrovic: Award Travel 101
“It’s Been a Long Time Coming”: Seeing Taylor Swift in “Style” 7 times on Multiple Continents for Cheap
Kevin Song: @kev.song & friends
When to Buy Points & Miles: Using Cash to Upgrade Your Travels
Miguel Rueda: @travelsergeant
Hotels
Sponsor Session: The Benefits of Award Search Tools by seats.aero
Are They All the Same?: A Comparison of HOTEL Award Search Tools
Panel
Presidential Suites & Pool Villas: Securing the Best Rooms Without Status
Christopher Moss: @chrismoss7
The Hidden Value of Hilton Honors: from Zero to One Million Points for Luxury Hotel & Resort Redemptions
Amanda Keane: @amanda.exploring
Manufactured Spend
Buyers’ Clubs: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
Panel
Fluz, Taekus, Bank Bonuses, Etc.: Non-traditional Ways to Earn More Points Panel
How to Scale & the Art of the Stack: Points, on Top of Points, on Top of Points
Todd Evans: Disability Parenting
Manufactured Spend with Online Gambling: Integrating MS and Earning Other Benefits
Justin Vacula: Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast
MS Starter Pack: Zero to Hero with Manufactured Spending
Anthony Garritano
Additional Feature Seminars
Elina Geller: @themissmiles
Spencer Howard: Straight to the Points
Express Seminars
Airlines
Behind the Scenes at Airlines: Tales of IROPS Management from an Air Traffic Controller
Craighton Miller: @craighton
Benefits of Airline Status Matching: Unlocking Additional Perks
Marty Paz: Notiflyr & Seth Levy: @sethlevy
How to Land A Plane: Pilot Stuff You Know You Want to Know
Kevin Song: @kev.song & Brandr Beekman-Ellner: @brandr.beekmanellner
Casinos
The Status Matching Merry-go-round: Turning Gambling Into a Travel Strategy
Dave Grossman: MilesTalk
Large Expenses
Make Wedding Expenses Work for You: Turning Big Costs into Big Rewards
Brian Cohen: Award Magic
Maximizing Your Miles While Paying for College: Turning Tuition into Travel
Basil Karampelas: @bigspendbasil
Quick Travel
Binge Travel: How to Maximize Your Trip Experiences
Tippe Morlan: @tippemorlan
Layover Life: Making the Most of Your Extended Stopovers
Mike Zaccheo : Award Travel 101
Relationships
Building Bridges: Getting Your Reluctant P2 to Help More
Ryan Smith: @ryansmithtravel
Starting Out
Back to Basics: Terms You Hear About but Don't Understand
Ryan Smith: @ryansmithtravel
Raising Globalists: Gen Z and Starting Travel
Emilia I. Rutigliano: emiliarutigliano13@gmail.com
Community Seminars
Full Circle Award Travel: Building Friendships in the Points & Miles Community
Joseph Petrovic: Award Travel 101
The Art of Persuasion: Cultivating Friendships at Travel Conferences
Ben Komenkul: Ben’s Big Deal
The Value of Relationships: Building Connections in the Points and Miles Community
Jason Dimaio: @jdimaio
What I Wish I Knew Way Back When: Tips from Experienced Travelers
Toni Perkins Southam: @tonisoutham
Who Are These Points & Miles Fanatics?: A Survey of the Community
David Ocamb: The Ocamb Group
Tentative Schedule
Friday, September 20, 2024
3:00 PM: Registration Opens
5:30 PM: Opening Remarks
6:00 PM: Friday Night Sessions
8:30 PM: Reception (One drink included)
Saturday, September 21, 2024
7:30 AM: Registration Opens
8:00 AM: Saturday Morning Sessions
12:00 PM: Saturday Lunch (Included)
1:00 PM: Saturday Afternoon Sessions
6:30 PM: Dinner (Not included)
8:00 PM: Chicago Seminars After Dark (Add on)
Sunday, September 22, 2024
8:00 AM: Sunday Morning Sessions
12:00 PM: Sunday Lunch (Included)
1:00 PM: Sunday Afternoon Sessions
4:00 PM: Closing Remarks
5:00 PM Late Night Flight Hang – at Airline Lounges or Hotel Bar (Not included)
Call for Presentations
Chicago Seminars is proud to be a community-run event. This year, in addition to our usual docket of phenomenal presenters, we’re opening the door and inviting YOU to submit presentations for consideration.
You do not need any prior speaking experience and all are welcome to apply. If you have a topic you think would be interesting, but aren’t the right person to present, submit your suggestion and we’ll find a presenter for it.
2024 Submissions closed May 31st. A big THANK YOU to those who submitted presentations and ideas!
Cost
On June 1, the cost of a General Admission ticket changed fro $299 to $329. On August 20, the price will increase to $359.
A new After Dark event is available for $30 and must be purchased with a General Admission ticket.
Please remember prices of goods and services have increased tremendously in the past years.
We have worked diligently to manage costs for this three-day event while providing an excellent attendee experience.
Please remember all organizers, speakers, and volunteers are unpaid and all profits generated are be donated to charity.
Tickets
General Admission tickets include the following:
- Access to all Encore, Feature, Express, and Community Seminars
- Lunch on both Saturday and Sunday
- A complimentary drink at the Friday night Reception
There is no virtual option and sessions will not be recorded.
Although registration is nonrefundable, registration is transferable for a $25 fee and must be completed by Monday, September 16, 2024. Email team@chicagoseminars.org if you would like to transfer a ticket.
Important Policies
Since the first Chicago Seminars, we have had the following policies, and by attending, you agree to such:
- Tickets are nonrefundable but are transferable for a $25 fee
- No chargebacks on tickets
- If you break any of the terms or are asked to leave by the organizers for any reason, you will not be allowed to attend any future events
Sponsorship Information
Sponsorship packages start at $1,000 and can be personalized to suit any needs.
Please email sponsorships@chicagoseminars.org if you would like to be a sponsor or if you know a person or business which might want to be a sponsor.
Travel Information
Hotel
9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue
Rosemont, IL 60018
+1 847 696 1234
Hotel Booking
Rooms can be booked for 8,000 Hyatt points. Attendees can also book directly with Hyatt and may have further discounts via AAA, AARP, Leverage rates, etc.
Airport
Chicago O’Hare (ORD) is the closest airport to the Hyatt Regency Chicago O’Hare. The hotel runs a shuttle to and from ORD every 15 minutes. Chicago’s Midway Airport (MDW) is far and no transportation is provided. Public transportation or ridesharing can be used from Midway Airport.
Charity Raffle & Auction
Through the years, Chicago Seminars has raised tens of thousands of dollars for charitable organizations through its Charity Raffle & Auction. 100% of these proceeds go to charity. We will share our 2024 Charity Partners soon.
Both travel- and non-travel-related items are being sought for the Charity Raffle & Auction. If you have items to donate, bring the item(s) with you to the event. No value is too small. Raffle tickets can be purchased via credit card and you do not have to be present to win.
If you have a larger item or experience to donate, please email team@chicagoseminars.org.
Volunteer Opportunities
It takes a village to run an event such as this, and your help is still needed, especially during the event. If you would like to assist, please email team@chicagoseminars.org. Volunteering does not provide a complimentary registration.
Etiquette and Rules
This is a volunteer event for the points and miles community. Each attendee is expected to be respectful during all official and non-official events. The following are a few rules that need to be expressed at each event as they are particularly important:
- Recording any presentation in any way is not allowed without advance explicit permission from both the event organizer and presenter. Violators will be immediately dismissed without refund. This policy respects the presenters’ content and allows open discussion of topics, some of which are intended to not be made public.
- The purchase of a ticket requires acceptance to all terms and conditions stated during the ticketing process including, but not limited to, liability of any kind.
Closing Thoughts
Please remember this event is organized by unpaid volunteers. If you have a serious and immediate concern, ask to speak to one of the main organizers immediately.