For international travel professionals and receptive operators, Chicago offers a variety of programs and services, many in languages other than English. Additionally, voucher programs are available through a number of Chicago area hotels, attractions, restaurants, transportation providers, and tour companies.
CHICAGO OFFERS
- 900 North Michigan Shops - Featuring Bloomingdale's and 70 fine boutiques and shops on six levels.
- American Sightseeing Chicago offers a voucher program for their motorcoach or trolley sightseeing tours.
- The Art Institute of Chicago offers their 64-page Pocket Guide in Spanish, French, German and Japanese for a minimal charge. The book contains a detailed floorplan, color images, and an overview of the permanent collections.
- The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers self-guided audio tours in French, German, Japanese and Spanish. Now, international visitors can enjoy the experience in their own language and at their own pace. The easy-to-use devices can be rented at the box office in the Chicago Architecture Foundation Shop and Tour Center.
- The free Chicago Greeter service offers visitors the chance to see the city through the eyes of a local – Greeters speaking twenty different languages are available.
- Chicago Place - Anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Chicago Place features other fine stores and restaurants.
- CityPass offers half-price admission to six of Chicago's top attractions.
- Continental Airport Express provides regularly scheduled airport transfers from both O'Hare International and Midway Airports to area hotels and venues.
- The Field Museum offers brochures/hand out guides in six languages, including French, Spanish and German.
- The Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio in Oak Park offers self-guided exterior audio tours of the National Historic District in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. Translated text handouts of the interior studio tour are available in the same languages.
- The Hancock Observatory’s Sky Tours gives you "inside" information on Chicago. The 16 recommended stops of 1-3 minutes each can be experienced in any order - at any pace, and are available in English, Spanish and German. Soundscopes, 3-D talking telescopes, are also offered in French, Japanese and Spanish.
- Receive the Macy's Visitor Appreciation brochure, which includes savings, certificates on shopping and dining at Macy's location, 111 N. State Street at the seventh floor Visitor Center, or at the Water Tower Place seventh floor Coat Check. Complimentary self-guided, self-paced audio tours in English, Spanish and German available at the State Street location only.
- The Sears Tower Skydeck offers InfoVision kiosks featuring Chicago’s landmarks in eight languages: English, German, Spanish, Japanese, French, Polish, Chinese, and Italian.
- Water Tower Place - More than 100 specialty shops and restaurants, all wrapped around an eight level atrium are located at Water Tower Place. Available to tour operators is the Ultimate Shopping Experience, offering exclusive savings at many stores.
- The Shops at North Bridge - Enjoy Nordstrom and 50 specialty shops with something for everyone! Visitors can stop by the Concierge Desk on level one and present their hotel room key or out-of-town driver’s license to receive a complimentary Passport to North Bridge savings book.
For more information on international products and services in Chicago, contact Patrick Steffes with the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau at 312-567-8569 or psteffes@choosechicago.com.