2025 Official Hotels
Address:
200 North Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
Phone Numbers:
- Direct: +1 312-565-8000
- Toll-Free: +1 866-540-4408
Group Rate Details
SCMS has secured a limited block of rooms at a discounted rate for attendees:
- Dates Available: April 2-6, 2025
- Rate: $199 per night (Fairmont Room, 1 King or 2 Double Beds)
- Taxes: 17.4% state and local taxes
- Inclusions:
- Complimentary standard guest room internet access (valued at $14.95/day)
- Complimentary access to the 24-Hour Fitness Center (Ballroom Level, B1) (valued at $15/day)
- 10% discount on restaurant and in-room dining when charged to individual guestrooms
- Extended Stay Option: Group rate available three days before and three days after the conference, subject to availability.
Booking Instructions
- Online Reservations: https://book.passkey.com/go/SCMS2025
- Phone Reservations: Call +1 312-565-8000. Mention "Society for Cinema & Media Studies Annual Conference (SCMS)" to access the group rate and concessions.
- ADA or Special Room Requests: Call +1 312-565-8000 and specify your needs (e.g., ADA-compliant room, room near an elevator).
Important Notes:
- Do not use third-party booking sites or the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park website to make reservations; these will not grant access to the SCMS special rate.
- SCMS does not work with housing bureaus or third-party representatives for Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park housing. Beware of potential scams.
Reservation Deadline
Reservations must be made by Monday, March 10, 2025, or earlier, as availability is limited. Reservations should be made as soon as possible as we anticipate the hotel will likely sell out fast.
Hotel Policies
- Check-In: 4:00 PM
- Check-Out: 11:00 AM
- Cancellations: Must be received at least 24 hours prior to arrival to avoid a penalty equal to one night's room and tax.
- Additional Occupants: Each extra person (beyond 2 occupants) is charged $30 per night. Children 18 and under stay free with one adult and existing bedding.
Address:
323 East Upper Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, United States 60601
Phone Numbers:
- Direct: +1 312-565-0565
- Toll-Free: +1 800-637-9477
Group Rate Details
SCMS has negotiated a limited block of rooms at a discounted rate for attendees:
- Dates Available: April 2-6, 2025
- Rate: $199 per night (Run of House King or 2 Double Beds)
- Taxes: 17.4% state and local taxes
- Inclusions:
- Complimentary standard guest room internet access (valued at $14.95/day)
- Complimentary health club access (valued at $15/day)
- Extended Stay Option: Group rate available three days before and three days after the conference, subject to availability.
What is "Run of House" (ROH)?
This reservation type allows the hotel to assign any available room at check-in based on their inventory at that time. Depending on availability, the room may vary (standard, upgraded, or with a view).
Booking Instructions
- Online Reservations: https://book.passkey.com/e/50935292
- Phone Reservations: Call +1 312-565-0565. Mention "Society for Cinema & Media Studies Annual Conference (SCMS)" to access the group rate and concessions.
- ADA or Special Room Requests: Call +1 312-565-0565 and specify your needs (e.g., ADA-compliant room, room near an elevator).
Important Notes:
- Do not use third-party booking sites or the Swissôtel website to make reservations; these will not grant access to the SCMS special rate.
- SCMS does not work with housing bureaus or third-party representatives for Swissôtel housing. Beware of potential scams.
Reservation Deadline
Reservations must be made by Monday, March 10, 2025, or earlier, as availability is limited. SCMS has fewer rooms at the Swissôtel than the Fairmont, so attendees preferring the Swissôtel are encouraged to book early. Reservations should be made as soon as possible as we anticipate the hotel will likely sell out fast.
Hotel Policies
- Check-In: 3:00 PM
- Check-Out: 12:00 PM
- Cancellations: Must be received at least 24 hours prior to arrival to avoid a penalty equal to one night's room and tax.
- Additional Occupants: Each extra person (beyond 2 occupants) is charged $30 per night. Children 18 and under stay free with one adult and existing bedding.
Overview Information for Our Conference Hotels
The 2025 SCMS Annual Conference will take place at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park and the Swissôtel, located just across the street from the Fairmont. Attendees can conveniently move between the two properties either at street level or via the underground pedway that connects both venues.
Cities and hotels are selected based on several criteria: affordability, sufficient meeting space, domestic/international hubs, accessibility to reasonably priced transportation, local attractions, local laws, fair practices, and other critical
concerns such as accessibility, sustainability, and fair labor practices.
The Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park and Swissôtel
Located in the vibrant heart of downtown Chicago, these properties are renowned for their exceptional amenities and prime location. Both venues offer easy access to Chicago's world-class attractions, including Millennium Park, the Chicago
Riverwalk, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Attendees can explore the city with nearby public transportation options, including buses and the 'L' train. Both hotels feature modern amenities, including fitness centers, dining options,
and meeting spaces designed to enhance your stay.
Accessibility and Sustainability
Both the Fairmont and Swissôtel comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, its regulations, and guidelines. For more on accessibility at our conference hotels, please visit our Accessibility page.
Chicago is also recognized for its commitment to sustainability. Both of our conference hotels align with eco-friendly principles, emphasizing energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction.
The Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, is committed to environmental sustainability through several initiatives:
- Green Seal Bronze Certification: The hotel has earned this certification, reflecting its adherence to rigorous environmental standards.
- Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association's "Stay Green" Program: As a member, the Fairmont Chicago actively participates in statewide efforts to promote eco-friendly practices within the hospitality industry.
- PLANET Environmental Improvement Distinction Award: This award recognizes the hotel's significant contributions to environmental improvement and sustainable operations.
- Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Environmental Hotel of the Year - Seedling Category: This accolade highlights the hotel's leadership in environmental stewardship within the Fairmont brand.
Swissôtel Chicago is committed to sustainability, integrating eco-friendly practices throughout its operations. As part of the Accor sustainability program, the hotel invests a portion of its revenue into sustainable community projects in
the Chicago area. It has eliminated single-use plastics and installed water-efficient fixtures in both public areas and guest rooms. The hotel's restaurant, The Palm, emphasizes locally sourced ingredients to minimize environmental impact,
and food waste is actively reduced. Additionally, Swissôtel Chicago offers bicycle rentals, promoting sustainable transportation options for guests.
On a broader scale, Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts has implemented a global sustainability strategy. Between 2009 and 2017, the brand achieved significant reductions across its properties: 13% in energy consumption, 13% in water consumption,
and 27% in CO₂ emissions. These efforts reflect Swissôtel's dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainable hospitality.
Learn more about SCMS's efforts on our Sustainability page.
Overflow Hotel Information
SCMS has contracted for additional guest room nights this year to accommodate more attendees. As a reminder, the organization must meet the room block commitment to avoid significant penalties from the hotels. If the room blocks at both hotels
fill up, we will provide information about overflow hotels. Please check back for updates if you are unable to secure a room. Thank you.
A Note About Our Room Block
For each annual conference, SCMS works diligently to reserve the accommodations and space we need for our attendees and 350-400+ sessions. When a venue is secured, SCMS contracts a number of guest rooms at the conference hotel. To acquire
the meeting and event space we need for our sessions, exhibits and events, we partner with a hotel to bring them revenue in the form of booked hotel room nights. In making an agreement with our annual conference hotel partner, we receive
access to meeting and event space that we then use to further our mission. Without our efforts to book and fill the hotel blocks, the meeting space rental fees would be extremely costly, making the annual conference much more expensive.
The hotel we choose for our annual conference is a safe, reputable, and centrally located property. The rates at the hotel are negotiated on behalf of attendees to be lower, more equitable, and more predictable over time than the regular rates
offered to non-conference attendees. Without the support of attendees staying in the discounted hotel blocks, our fees and prices would need to drastically change to afford those added costs. These price changes would mean that registration
fees and membership dues would need to rise. The ability of SCMS to offer meeting space and AV equipment at no charge would disappear and members would get less support.
SCMS staff work tirelessly to find the best prices for our members and for the society. Please consider staying in the SCMS hotel block.
Roommates
If you're looking for a fellow attendee to share the cost of a hotel room, feel free to post a query to our conference roommate forum.
Questions?
Contact SCMS at hotel@scmsconference.com for assistance.
