Registration
Do I need to register?
This is our most frequently asked question. Yes, you need to register. Online registration is available here. You can register onsite at the Stephens Convention Center in Hall B beginning Tuesday, September 25 at 6:45 AM.
How do I get my badge?
Your badge is available in Hall B at the Stephens Convention Center. You can pick up badges from 6:45 AM – 5 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
What does my registration include?
This depends on the registration level you selected. (Check the confirmation emailed to you.) Full Convention VIP includes exhibit floor, general sessions and workshops (Wed and TH), 1 seminar (Tues), breakfast & lunch (Wed and TH), supplier-sponsored reception (Wed), gala & awards dinner (TH). Annual Meeting & Workshops includes exhibit floor, breakfast & lunch (Wed), supplier-sponsored reception (Wed), breakfast & lunch (TH), gala & awards dinner (TH). Exhibits Only includes the exhibit floor (Wed and TH). Spouse/Guest includes exhibit floor, breakfast (Wed, TH), supplier-sponsored reception (Wed), gala & awards dinner (TH). Retired includes exhibit floor, gala & awards dinner (TH).
Can I change my registration?
Yes, click here and enter your confirmation number.
Who is registered?
Our attendee list (last updated September 20) is here.
Schedule
When are the exhibits open?
The exhibit hall is open Wednesday 1:30 – 6:30 PM and Thursday Noon – 5 PM.
What’s the rest of the schedule?
The schedule is available here. The online schedule will be updated to include room numbers. The schedule will also be available in the show guide which is given to each registrant and there will be a schedule behind your name badge.
Is the meeting at the Hotel or the Convention Center?
Most of the meeting is held at the Convention Center.
All tours depart from the Hilton Rosemont Lobby. Tuesday’s Board reception, Thursday’s gala, and Friday’s Board meeting will also be held at the Hilton. There are some Tuesday evening social events (details below) held outside of the Convention Center.
Everything else is at the Convention Center.
Are there breaks between sessions or will I be running everywhere?
It’s very unlikely you will need to run. There are thirty-minute networking breaks in the middle of the general sessions (9:10 AM Wednesday and 8:45 AM Thursday) and before the workshops (10:40 AM Wednesday and Thursday).
These networking breaks will include refreshments. You can call them coffee breaks but we call them networking breaks.
What’s the difference between the general session and workshops?
The general session is the only rotomolding programming from 8 AM – 10:40 AM. All Annual Meeting and Full Convention registrants will attend this session.
Multiple workshops run at at the same time (11:10 – 11:55 AM) Wednesday and Thursday. Annual Meeting and Full Convention registrants choose one out of seven or eight to attend each day.
Can I still sign up for a tour?
Probably. We can accommodate additional guests for Monday’s Harley Davidson steel toe tour, probably for Tuesday’s Architectural boat tour, and for the Cubs v Reds game at Wrigley on Friday. The Rotomolding plant tour is sold out and the Morton Arboretum is surprisingly strict about ticket purchase deadlines.
What’s happening on Tuesday night?
We have two free social events:
››› Human Resources Happy Hour
Tuesday, September 26, 6:30pm – 7:30pm at the Hilton Bar
Join Karen Moser (our HR teleconference moderator) and other HR professionals to network and discuss the issues that are keeping rotomolders up at night. The first round of drinks is on ARM!
››› Young Members “Committee Meeting”
Tuesday, September 26, 7:00pm at Bub City
Network and discuss how young members can influence the rotomolding community while enjoying appetizers, drinks and live band karaoke. Anyone born during or after the Carter administration is encouraged to attend. (All others are encouraged to buy a round.) Bring your significant other!
The Exhibit Hall
Who is exhibiting?
You can review a list of our exhibitors here.
What can I do on the show floor in addition to meeting with exhibitors?
You can vote on the Product Competition by the ARM booth, play ping-pong or bags or a number of other games at the Entertainment Zone, attend presentations on the show floor Wednesday and Thursday, and grab a boxed lunch on Thursday.
Where is the Product Competition?
Along Row 600 near the ARM Booth and Presentation Theater. This year you will vote on your phone or on a tablet at the ARM Booth.
What if all this walking around makes me thirsty?
There will be cash bars on the floor for the entire afternoon. There’s a Starbucks in the convention center, just outside our Halls. At 5:30 PM on Wednesday, we’ll conduct a one-hour reception (with passed appetizers and open bar) in the Exhibit Hall.
When is exhibitor setup?
Monday 12:30pm-4:30pm, Tuesday 8:00am-4:30pm, and Wednesday 8:00am-11:00am. Most questions about exhibiting are covered in the Exhibitor Service Manual.
What is suitcasing?
Suitcasing is an unprincipled business practice in which companies who are not exhibiting gain access to an event by obtaining event credentials (attendee badge, expo-only badge etc.) and then solicit business in the aisles or other public spaces used for the conference. Please note that while all meeting attendees are invited to the exhibit floor, any attendee who is observed to be soliciting business in the aisles or other public spaces, or any company’s booth will be asked to leave immediately.
Travel
Can I get a hotel room?
As of September 20, Aloft has rooms available again for our guests. Contact Director of Sales Kerri Oots directly. (By the way, Kerri has personally helped put our most-procrastinating guests in hotel rooms for three Rotoplases in a row!)
We also have a block of budget rooms available at the Comfort Inn O’Hare Convention Centre at a rate of $99.99 + tax. The hotel is located 2.5 miles from the Convention Center. They are offering complimentary shuttle service is included to/from Rotoplas. Call 847-635-1300 and mention ROTOPLAS or email.
If you still need help, we recommend you use this link which sorts hotels in Rosemont by their distance from the Convention Center. As of this writing, they show rooms available at the Embassy Suites and the Hyatt Regency O’Hare which are as close as our host hotels. Room prices decrease the farther you get from the Convention Center.
Lyft and Uber are highly available in Rosemont.
Do you have a coupon I can use for Uber?
If you’ve never used Uber before use the code cfyk8 for $5 off your first four rides.
Does my hotel offer a shuttle to/from the airport?
Hilton Rosemont: Yes. The shuttle picks up at O’Hare at the Shuttle Bus center at Door #3. The shuttle departs every 20-25 minutes from 3:25 AM until 1:15 AM. International travelers should call the hotel for pick-up: 847-678-4488.
Aloft: Yes. It departs every thirty minutes between 5 AM and Midnight. (Arriving outside of that time? Click here and scroll down for more information.) The hotel shuttle is a large white van or bus, with a blue Aloft logo outside Door #3.
Crowne Plaza: Yes. It departs every thirty minutes from Door 2 of the Shuttle Bus Center. International travelers must call (847)-671-6350. Details.
Where is the Shuttle Bus Center a.k.a Bus/Shuttle Center?
Domestic travelers: Upon exiting your plane, follow the overhead signs to the Shuttle Bus Center. This will direct you through baggage claim. The Bus/Shuttle Center can be reached by foot, and is centrally located between all 3 Terminals.
International travelers: Please call your hotel. Or use Uber or Lyft.
What else?
What should I wear?
The meeting is business casual. Some people will wear blue jeans. Dress up a bit for Thursday night’s gala dinner and — if you’re up for it — wear something that fits the 1920s Chicago Mobsters theme.
Is there free Wifi?
Yes, the Convention Center offers free Wifi. Connect your device to the Wi-Fi signal BOINGO HOTSPOT. Once connected, launch your web browser. A Boingo splash page will appear. Click link to connect to “Complimentary WiFi” and follow instructions to get online. If you are having any issues, please call Boingo Support at 1-800-880-4117. You must have your device with you so the representative can help you directly.
What if I need help at the show?
Our registration staff will be able to answer many questions and can contact ARM staff for help. ARM staff will be wearing bright orange shirts so you can find us easily. (We are wearing ugly shirts for your convenience.) If there’s an emergency, contact security.
Are there translation services?
Simultaneous Spanish translation will be offered during the General Sessions (8 AM – 10:40 AM) on Wednesday and Thursday.
What can I buy at the ARM Booth/Presentation Theater?
A variety of ARM books, some rare rotomolding text books, the In-Mold DVD, t-shirts, cycling jerseys, and posters. Stop by and we’ll give you a surprise freebie.
What should I do if I arrive Sunday night but don’t have any plans for Monday?
Find the ARM show staff in the Hilton lobby from 7:00 – 8:30 AM on Monday. We’ll be seeing off our Monday morning tours and will be happy to feed you donuts and coffee while we share recommendations for your day in Chicago. (We bought extra donuts just for you. So please stop by and say hello.)
I’ve got some free time. What should I do?
Nearby Dining and Entertainment: MB Financial Park is right behind your hotel but you probably need to walk through a parking garage to find it. The site features eight restaurants/bars, a comedy club, movie theater, and indoor sky-diving.
Shopping: The Fashion Outlets of Chicago is a multi-story mall that’s one big block away from the meeting. Approximately a 10-15 minute walk.
Get to the city: Take the Blue Line Rosemont station (a ten-minute walk from the meeting) to Chicago. Thirty minutes to hipster neighborhood Logan Square. One hour to downtown.
Art: The Chicago Architecture Biennial at the Chicago Cultural Center. (Free.) The Cultural Center is a short walk to the Art Institute of Chicago.
Local Junk Food: Your best close Deep Dish pizza option is Lou Malnati’s. Gene and Judes (since 1946) is an authentic hotdog stand open late. Paradise Pup was featured on Diners Drive-In and Dives.
I have a question you didn’t answer!
Ask your question here and we’ll add it to the blog post.
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