The print version of the 2012 Annual Meeting Program of the 126th Annual Meeting of the AHA, scheduled to be held January 5–8, 2012, in Chicago, was mailed to members in late October. The Program is also available as an online version.

Registration

The meeting registration form was included in the September and October issues of Perspectives on History. Members and nonmembers can also register online. Attendees must preregister to access the accommodation reservation system to obtain discounted meeting rates. Registration must be completed no later than midnight EST of Wednesday, December 19, 2011. After this date, onsite registration rates will be assessed.

Accommodations

The AHA has reserved blocks of rooms at four hotels: Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers (headquarters), Chicago Marriott Downtown (co-headquarters), Westin Chicago River North, and Courtyard Chicago Downtown/River North. The rates at the Sheraton, Marriott, and Westin are $109 single, $129 double, and the rates at the Courtyard are $99 single, $119 double. Guestrooms and suites are subject to city and state occupancy taxes, currently 15.4 percent per room, per night. Rates are in effect three days before and after the meeting dates of January 5–8, 2012.

Standard Guestroom Reservations: Once preregistered, attendees will be provided with information to make a standard room reservation through the AHA's Housing Desk. Reservations can be made via the internet or via the housing desk's toll-free number.

Suite Reservations: Suite reservations can only be made in writing, via e-mail or fax. The necessary information for this process will be made available after preregistration has been completed and will also be included in the e-mailed meeting registration confirmation.

Cut-off Date: The cutoff date for the AHA's official blocks at all hotels is 5:00 p.m. CST, December 16, 2011. After this date, remaining inventory in each hotel's block will be released and rooms will be available at the AHA's convention rates on a space-available basis at the time of reservation. If all hotels sell out, the AHA will secure additional hotel rooms.

Travel Arrangements

Association Travel Concepts (ATC) is the official travel agency for the annual meeting and can book air or train fares and car rental. Attendees can fly into O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Midway International Airport (MDW). Those traveling by train can disembark at Chicago's Union Station (CHI). Airfare, train, and car rental discounts apply for travel January 2 and January 11, 2012. Attendees can contact ATC between 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. Fares can be booked with ATC online, or by e-mail reservations@atcmeetings.com.

Discounted fares and rentals are also available by contacting carriers directly: American Airlines (800-433-1790; Fare code 1112BK), United Airlines (800-521-4041; Fare code 510CK), Amtrak (800-872-7245; Convention Fare Code X57H-932), Enterprise (800-593-0505; Fare code 32H7476), and Hertz (800-654-2240; Fare code CV#031C0017). Please note that American, United, and Amtrak discounts cannot be booked via the carriers' web sites—attendees must call directly and mention fare codes.

Sharon K. Tune is the AHA's director of meetings.