The National Main Streets Conference

Conference Hotel:

Palmer House Hilton
17 East Monroe Street,
Chicago, Illinois

Most conference activities, incuding registration, educational sessions, Main Street Expo, bus and tour departures, and affinity events will take place at the main conference hotel, the Palmer House Hilton.

Make your reservation today

2009 Conference Rate: $199

Make your reservations online or by phone: 877-865-5321

Please note:

• The room block and special rate are available until January 30, 2009, or until the rooms are filled
• We request that you use the conference hotel for your stay in Chicago. The National Trust Main Street Center takes a financial risk when securing rooms for the conference. Registrants reserving rooms at other hotels increase this risk, which could result in fewer available rooms and higher room and registration rates in the future.

About the hotel

The Palmer House, landmarked inside and out and member of the National Trust's Historic Hotels of America (HHA) Program, is the longest continuously operating hotel in North America. It has has been the destination of choice for every U.S. president since Ulysses S. Grant, world leaders and dignitaries, celebrities, and Chicago's movers-and-shakers. Read about their recently completed $150 million restoration (pdf)

Conference Theme: Becoming Main Street 2.0

Join us in the Windy City as we showcase the technology that can take your revitalization program to the next level. What are the tech tools Main Street programs need to succeed in the 21st century? How do you use new technologies to manage your program and engage your constituents? What is social networking and how does it apply to Main Street? How can you get your local businesses to take advantage of e-commerce? How do you recruit volunteers online? From “MySpace” to financial management software, our 2009 conference will focus on the use of technology to implement all four points of the Main Street approach. Technology novices will put the fear of software and social media behind them and experienced techies will explore new uses for new tools so all Main Street program can keep ahead of the curve.