Bank of America Chicago Marathon Official AbbottWMM Package
IMPORTANT: THIS PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE AN ENTRY.
If you have questions regarding the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) Official 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, Pre-race dinner and Post-Race Reception
Guide
Welcome meet and greet
Transfers
Our team will be on hand to direct you to the race start
Accommodation
Excellent 4* hotel close to the marathon start/finish
Entry
Entry NOT included
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 Blackstone, an Autograph Collection Hotel. 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 5K shakeout run let by your Marathon Tours & Travel Host. We also offer an escorted trip to the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo at McCormick Place, if you have not already been. Tonight, enjoy the pre-race dinner will your fellow runners and companions. (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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Packages & Rates
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Chicago Marathon Official AbbottWMM Package | Three-Night Package: October 10 – 13, 2025
Features:- Three nights hotel accommodations at The Blackstone, Autograph Collection Hotel
- All hotel taxes
- Companion Guaranteed Race Entry (additional cost and very limited)
- 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
- Post-race celebration on Sunday evening
- Designated Marathon Tours & Travel Host at the hotel
- Branded AbbottWMM/MTT Merchandise
Please Note:
- Room types available are King Rooms (one bed/ one or two persons), Double/Double Rooms (two beds/two persons).
- Triple and Quad and Children rates available upon request.
- Additional nights based on request and availability. Very limited.
- 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 (must secure your own)
- Daily breakfast and all other meals unless noted above
- Airport transfers
- Gratuities and tips unless noted above
- Travel Insurance
- Transportation to/from Chicago
Travel Insurance:
Travel Insurance for U.S. Residents
Travel Insurance for Canadian ResidentsRates (all prices are per person in US dollars)
Chicago Marathon | Three-Night Package Double Occupancy Single Occupancy The Blackstone $1400 per person $2215 Additional Hotel Nights On Request On Request Companion Race Entry (limited)*COMPANION Only: Chicago Marathon Race Entry - Must be an SCC Member (or join). $580
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Hotels
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Chicago, Illinois
The Blackstone Hotel in downtown Chicago is a storied architectural icon rooted in the city’s legendary past. Updated with all the modern amenities and features of today. The Blackstone delivers a distinguished hospitality experience perfect for the discerning traveler. Ideally located downtown and close to Grant Park, the hotel is blooming as a point of cultural and creative discovery on the Cultural Mile. It offers modern accommodations boasting views of Lake Michigan and Grant Park, acclaimed dining at Mercat a la Planxa, and thoughtful details like the state of the art fitness center and personalized service plus more. With stories to tell The Blackstone is set to surprise, entertain and inspire with a clever, contemporary attitude.
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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 $500 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. Runner must secure their own entry.
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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"I loved how easy you made everything..." - 2024
I loved how easy you made everything from not having to worry about what to eat for a pre-race dinner to not having to worry about how to get to the start line of the race.
"Personal attention — I feel like they knew my name even though..." - 2024Personal attention — I feel like they knew my name even though I’m just a regular participant. Hotel location was great. Dinner was great and the receptions were also.
"Well organized, no hassle, great hotel..." - 2024Well organized, no hassle, great hotel and location. Ease in making it to the start line with the marathon organizers.
"The ease of everything, going with marathon tours was fantastic..." - 2024The ease of everything, going with marathon tours was fantastic, and the staff definitely made the experience that much better!
"What an amazing and efficient process..." - 2024What an amazing and efficient process. I had such a great time meeting new people and hope to travel with you again soon!
"Tank you again for making this past weekend possible!..." - 2024Thank you again for making this past weekend possible! My husband and I had the MOST AMAZING TIME! You took the guesswork out of everything and it was so well organized and perfectly planned! We are huge fans and we are thrilled to be a part of the Seven Continents Club!
"First of all I wanted to thank you and Marathon Tours & Travel..." - 2021First 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 (AGWC) Qualifying Race. If you achieve the automatic qualifying time for your age group, found here, you’ll be invited to the 2026 Age Group World Championship. Location still to be determined. The qualifying period begins on January 1, 2025, and will conclude on December 31, 2025.
If you received an AGWC invitation for the 2025 race to be held in conjunction with the TCS New York City Marathon on November 2, 2025, Congratulations! We invite you to book the Official AGWC Package here.
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 close to 40 marathons, including Boston (2011, 2022, 2023), sevral ultra-marathons, 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!
