Bank of America Chicago Marathon AbbottWMM Six Star Journey
IMPORTANT: THIS PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE AN ENTRY.
If you have questions regarding the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) Six Star Journey Chicago Marathon Package please: EMAIL or CALL 617-242-7845
As the Official Travel Agency and Tour Operator of AbbottWMM, we have created packages specifically designed for those who have been selected in their drawing or for those who have secured their own entry and are on their Six Star Journey.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is known worldwide for its fast, flat course and its thrilling world-class athlete competition. One of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, this race is a great choice if you want to chase after a personal record or simply finish your first marathon. Packed with spectators, the scenic course will take you past many historic landmarks and through numerous diverse neighborhoods including colorful Old Town, Little Italy and Chinatown.
Come for the run but take advantage of all that Chicago has to offer. Many of the city’s attractions are conveniently located within walking distance of one another including the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and the Museum of Science and Industry located at Chicago’s lakefront Museum Campus. Visit Navy Pier, stroll (or run) along the pedestrian pathway that stretches for miles along Lake Michigan and shop the Magnificent Mile along Michigan Avenue.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is an AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel World Age Group Qualifying Race.
Meals Included
Welcome Reception and Pre-race dinner
Guide
Welcome meet and greet
Transfers
Our team will be on hand to direct you to the race start
Accommodation
Excellent 4* hotel less than one mile from marathon start/finish
Celebration Party
Post-race celebration get together
Excursions
Escorted to Expo and shake-out run
Travel Package Information
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Itinerary
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Friday, October 10
Arrive in Chicago and transfer on your own to the Renaissance Chicago Downtown. You will be greeted at your hotel by a Marathon Tours & Travel staff. The Abbott Health & Fitness Expo at McCormick Place will be open today. This evening enjoy a Welcome Reception with your hosts and running peers. The rest of the evening is free to enjoy this beautiful city.
Saturday, October 11
We start the day with an optional shakeout run along the Riverwalk to loosen your legs. We will also offer an escorted trip to the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo at McCormick Place if you have not already been. Our pre-race pasta dinner will conveniently be at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown. (dinner included)
Sunday, October 12
Race Day!
Your Marathon Tours & Travel team will be in the lobby of the hotel offering escorted walks to the start area in Grant Park. Following the race you will make your way back to the hotel for some well-deserved rest before we gather for a celebratory toast! The evening is free to experience one of the many fine restaurants in the city.
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Extensions
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Additional nights can be added upon request (based on availability) to enjoy more time in the city.
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Packages & Rates
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Chicago AbbottWMM Six Star Journey | Three-Night Package: October 10 – 13, 2025
Features:- Three nights hotel accommodations at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown
- All hotel taxes
- MTT Welcome Desk on day of arrival
- Welcome Reception on Friday evening
- Shake-out run on Saturday morning
- Escorted trip to the Expo on Saturday morning
- Pre-race dinner on Saturday evening
- Escorted walk to the start area (less than one mile from the hotel!)
- Post-race celebration on Sunday evening
- Designated Marathon Tours & Travel VIP Concierge at the hotel
- Branded AbbottWMM/MTT Merchandise*
*Applicable only to AbbottWMM Drawing Entrants
Please Note:
- Room types available are Double Rooms (one bed/ two persons), Twin Rooms (two beds/two persons) or Single (one bed/one person).
- Triple and Quad and Children rates available upon request.
- Additional nights based on request and availability.
- Marathon Tours & Travel’s policy is that anyone staying in our room block must be part of our package. If you plan to bring a spouse or guest, they must purchase our package. For example, if there are two of you, the rate would be the double occupancy rate (per person). If you purchase a single occupancy rate package, then only you are allowed in your room. To attend any of our activities, you must be part of our package.
Not Included:
- Race entry
- Meals unless noted above
- Gratuities and tips unless noted above
- Travel Insurance
- Transportation to/from Chicago
Travel Insurance:
Travel Insurance for U.S. Residents
Travel Insurance for Canadian Residents2024 Rates (all prices are per person in US dollars) – 2025 Rates Coming Soon
Chicago Marathon | Three-Night Package Double Occupancy Single Occupancy Renaissance Chicago Downtown $1130 per person $1830 Additional Hotel Nights On Request On Request
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Hotels
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Chicago, IllinoisRenaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel
Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel is ideally situated in the Chicago Loop and within walking distance of the Chicago Marathon start and finish. From the moment you step into the hotel’s modern lobby, you have everything you need for a first-class stay in the Theatre District. Delight in contemporary hotel rooms near the Riverwalk, each offers a host of fantastic amenities. Many accommodations also boast panoramic views of the downtown Chicago skyline. Take a refreshing swim in the hotel’s heated indoor pool or unwind with a cocktail and creative American cuisine at Raised bar, offering a sensational rooftop setting and a unique, modern ambiance. Style and substance blend seamlessly at Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel.
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Event Information
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Race Date: Sunday, October 12, 2025
Race Time: The first wave begins at 7:30 AM.
Minimum Pace/Cut-Off Time Policy: The event has a course time limit of 6 hours and 30 minutes. The official end vehicle will start following the last starter and maintain a 15-minute per mile pace along the race course. Chicago Marathon Website
Course: Flat and fast, the start and finish is in Grant Park. The looped-course through the city offers numerous opportunities for spectators to catch the action.
Temperature: The Windy City can be just that or it could be a chamber of commerce perfect day. Expect anything and everything from temperatures in the low 40’s Fahrenheit at the start to upper 70s at the finish. The average high and low is 64 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit in October.
Number Pickup: Each runner is responsible for picking up their own race bib and packet at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo at McCormick Place (2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago) from Thursday October 9 through Saturday, October 11. Find details here.
Difficulty: Easy. This is a flat and fast course.
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Registration & Booking
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Rates: Air and land prices may change due to currency fluctuations and fuel surcharges.
Reservations and Payments: A completed tour application together with a deposit of $750 per person must be received before confirming your reservations. Final payment must be received by July 8, 2025.
Cancellations: All payments, including your deposit, are non-refundable and non-transferrable. Non-transferrable includes applying your balance to another person, another year or another trip. Should you cancel for any reason, you will forfeit your trip investment. Therefore, travel insurance for every trip is highly recommended. All cancellations must be received in writing.
Not included in price: All items not specifically listed under tour features. Entry fees are additional. Entry fees are non-refundable.
Insurance: For your protection, trip cancellation, baggage, health and accident insurance is highly recommended for all participants. However, no representation or description of the insurance made by our staff constitutes a binding assurance or promise about the insurance.
Travel Insurance for U.S. Residents
Travel Insurance for Canadian ResidentsSecurity Policy: Marathon Tours & Travel’s security policy requires that anyone staying in our room block must be registered as part of our package. If a registered client attempts to house a non-registered guest and /or invite them to attend any of our scheduled activities, the registered guest’s tour package will be forfeited and parties may be denied access to future tours. Please note that no exceptions will be made as this policy will be strictly enforced.
Responsibility: These tours are operated by Marathon Tours, Inc. of Chelsea, MA who acts only as an agent for the passenger to the companies offering such services and assumes no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity caused by any reason whatsoever by any party offering such services. All terms and conditions offered are governed by the laws of Massachusetts. The right is reserved to cancel the tour prior to departure with a refund, less applicable credit card and processing fees, made as full settlement to the passenger. The right is reserved by Marathon Tours, Inc. to deny acceptance of a booking application by any person. Marathon Tours, Inc. may make any changes or alterations in the itinerary as it deems necessary for the proper handling of the tour. The sole responsibility of any airline used is limited to that set out in the passenger contract evidenced by the ticket. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time that the passengers are not on board their aircraft.
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Testimonials
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"First of all I wanted to thank you and Marathon Tours & Travel..." - 2021
First of all I wanted to thank you and Marathon Tours & Travel for the Chicago Marathon. Everything went very well, the perfect hotel, well located and very nice. Your management was excellent from the hotel to the registration for the marathon. So thank you very much. I am really very happy and very grateful.
"I just want to write a note to THANK YOU!" - 2021I just want to write a note to THANK YOU! For helping me register to the Chicago Marathon. It was my first and LOVED IT! Looking forward to continue my 7 continent journey with your team.
"The Blackstone is a LOVELY hotel..." - 2018The Blackstone is a LOVELY hotel, and with its extremely easy access to the start and finish lines, it is by far the best venue I have ever had for a marathon.
"Such a beautiful hotel..." - 2017Such a beautiful hotel – perfect for the start of the race as well as finishing right there as well!!
"I enjoyed this hotel..." - 2017I enjoyed this hotel and I felt that it was close enough to everything that I wanted to see including the start line of the race.
"Chicago is a lovely city..." - 2015Chicago is a lovely city and the general atmosphere was warm and welcoming. The crowd support throughout the marathon was fantastic and the volunteers did a great job. It was well organized and went smoothly even before marathon day – the bib packet pickup in particular.
"Thanks for your help with the hotel accommodation..." - 2015Thanks for your help with the hotel accommodation in Chicago. You made the marathon possible. My hotel stay at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown was very comfortable and all went well!
"Just wanted to say thank you for all your help..." - 2014Just wanted to say thank you for all your help with the arrangements for the marathon. It was great. And the Blackstone was perfect. Best location I have ever had. Thank you for making sure I could stay there. I am hopeful to do it again next year.
"Just wanted to say “Thank You” for all your help..." - 2014Just wanted to say “Thank You” for all your help in making my Chicago Marathon experience a memorable one.
It was a great experience and something that I will always remember.
Will definitely consider and recommend Marathon Tours for future marathon events!
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Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group World Championship
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This event is an Abbott World Marathon Majors Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Championship Qualifying Race. If you achieve the automatic qualifying time for your age group, found here, you’ll be invited to the 2025 Age Group World Championship race (destination still to be announced). For more information on the Age Group World Rankings and Championship click here.
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Meet the Reps
Karen Hoch
Business Development Officer | Senior Trip Designer
Karen Hoch
Business Development Officer | Senior Trip Designer
With more than twenty years of experience in travel logistics, conference planning, and marketing it has been a dream to blend her passion of running and travel with her career. Karen has completed 30 marathons, including Boston (2011, 2022, 2023), one ultra-marathon, and many half marathons and local races. She earned her Abbott Six Star Finisher Medal in London (April 2023).
Karen is certified as a running coach with Road Runners Club of America, a member of USATF and Marathon Maniacs, is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), earned her MS in Marketing Communications from the University of Kansas and BS in Economics/Finance from Bentley University. In addition to working on Marathon Tours & Travel marketing efforts, Karen manages our programs to Bermuda, Israel, Kenya, the Italy Coast to Coast Relay, Madagascar, Scotland, Athens and supports our U.S. packages to Big Sur and Boston. She is always looking forward to the next adventure!
