Rapid Travel Chai

The 15th edition of Chicago Seminars is seeing the biggest program expansion since the event’s launch. While the traditional home of the seminars, Holiday Inn Chicago Elk Grove, undergoes a transition, we are at sister property Holiday Inn Chicago Oakbrook on October 24-26, 2025.

The support of the Holiday Inn team, speakers, and sponsors keeps the conference registration a relative bargain, $219 this year, use code RTC20 for $20 off, register here.

Disclaimer: there is an unaffiliated event operating in the Chicago area in November under a similar name.

New for 2025:

• Monthly attendee virtual events, July – December 2025, for pre- and post-seminars socializing
• Friday masterclasses (separate registration) for small cohorts of speakers and attendees to go deep on a topic for a half-day
• 2025 Chicago Seminars Inaugural 5k Run/2k Walk on Saturday, October 25, 2025, pitting the Holiday Inn Team against the Hyatt Lodge Team

Announcing the 2025 Chicago Seminars Inaugural 5k Run/2k Walk:

• The Teams: Holiday Inn team captained by Allen Liu vs Hyatt Lodge Team captained by Kathy Kass (Will Run for Miles, 100 Marathons Club)
• The route: the lakeside trails of Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook, the former McDonald’s Hamburger University
• When: 7:00 am, Saturday, October 25, 2025, prizes and refreshments at 7:45
• Where: in front of Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook, 2815 Jorie Blvd, Oak Brook, IL 60523
• Who: free for Chicago Seminars 2025 attendees, their family and friends, join to participate or to cheer on  the teams
• RSVP details in your conference registration confirmation email

15th Chicago Seminars at Holiday Inn Heritage Edition 2025 Full Event Details:

NEW VENUE for 2025: Holiday Inn Chicago Oakbrook

Holiday Inn Chicago Oakbrook, 17 W, 350 W 22nd St, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181. NOT Elk Grove Village, which is in the process of a transformation in 2025.

Chicago Seminars room block at Holiday Inn Chicago Oakbrook is $129/night + tax and includes breakfast for one adult, book here. (No increase from 2024 event rate.)

Airport Transport:

There is no hotel airport shuttle. Oakbrook is a bit closer to Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) than Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD). We are working on shared airport transport options. Updates will be added to this and page and emailed to the email you provided at ticket registration.

There are many dining and entertainment options walkable and short drive nearby to Oakbrook Terrace shopping mall and surrounds for those who are explorers of brands.

Event full schedule to be announced in August 2025.

New for 2025: July-December Attendee Virtual Events

Our first attendee virtual event is July 31 at 9 pm EDT. Upcoming monthly dates to be announced.

New for 2025: Friday Masterclasses

The Friday Masterclasses are separately ticketed half-day in-depth programs, each consisting of four 45-minute sessions. These allow more intensive coverage than can be fit in the traditional weekend program. Whereas the weekend might have 1-2 sessions on a topic, the Masterclasses can cover the subject in more depth.

Friday Masterclasses Ticketing:

Each Masterclass is $99 with no discount codes and are space limited.

Weekend Seminars registration is required to attend a Masterclass. If you have purchased your weekend Seminars registration and later would like to add a Masterclass, you can return to EventBrite to add that.

You have the option to attend one in the morning, one in the afternoon, both morning and afternoon, or none at all. For the continuity of the learning process, there is no switching among the Masterclasses.

Friday Masterclasses Schedule Overview:

Each masterclass consists of four 45-minute sessions. Co-directors of each Masterclass work with the speakers to have the sessions build on the prior for a comprehensive program.

All of these topics will be covered in the weekend Seminars in at least one session, though not necessarily the same speakers or focus area.

The Masterclasses are:

Friday Morning Masterclasses (8 am – 12 pm; registration opens at 7:30 am):

• Gift Cards, directed by Michael Cao and Shabbir Hakim
• Churning, directed by Andrew Derthick and Candace Keene
• Beginners, directed by Chris Carley and Dave Homyak
• Extreme and Exotic Travel, directed by Andy Hicks and Lucy Hsu

Friday Afternoon Masterclasses (1-5 pm):

• Buying Groups and Gold, directed by Aaron Hurd and Matthew Weyer
• Award Booking, directed by Sarah Ramkissoon and Rachel Yuan
• Canada Focus, directed by Andrew D’Amours and Moli
• Content Creators, directed by Ben Komenkul and Julia Menez

Masterclasses full speaker and sessions list to be announced in August 2025.

Weekend Seminars:

The weekend Seminars are the traditional program, with an extra breakout room that will allow up to 4 concurrent sessions in a smaller group setting.

Seminars Ticketing:

A NON-REFUNDABLE registration fee of $219, includes:

1. Monthly attendee virtual events, July-December 2025.
2. Admittance to the Seminars sessions that kickoff Friday 5:30 pm and run through the weekend. Excludes Friday morning and afternoon Masterclasses.
3. Lunch Saturday and Sunday.
4. Coffee/snack breaks.
5. Two drink tickets for Saturday evening reception.

Use promo code IMUSTHAVEAPROMOCODE20 for $20 off.

Excess funds donated to event charities. 2025 event charities TBA.

Seminars October 24-26 Schedule Times:

All Seminars sessions included with Seminars ticket.

Friday, October 24:

• 4:00 pm registration opens
• 5:30-8:00 pm evening program, keynote speakers, music performance and comedy show

Saturday, October 25:

• 8:00 am registration opens
• 9:00 am-6:00 pm seminars sessions (lunch included)
• 6:00-7:00 pm reception (2 drink tickets included)
• 7:00 pm-late self-planned group dinners and parties

Sunday, October 26:

• 8:00 am registration opens
• 9:00 am-5:00 pm seminars sessions (lunch included)
• 5:00 pm see you next year!

Seminars Speakers:

• Allen
• Sash Bhavsar, Points Partners
• Mindy Bumgarner, MS FIRE
• Chris Carley of Eye of the Flyer
• Eunice Chow of Points Alchemy
• Andrew D’Amours of Flytrippers
• Andrew Derthick
• Amy M. Gardner
• Shabbir Hakim of cardZTravel
• Andy Hicks, everycountryby50
• Dave Homyak, bikeguy
• Senitra Horbrook, Points Travelher
• Aaron Hurd, PointsAndTravel
• Chris Hutchins of All the Hacks Podcast
• Lucy Hsu of Every Passport Stamp Facebook Group
• Kathy Kass of Will Run for Miles
• Ben Komenkul of Ben’s Big Deal
• Stefan Krasowski of Rapid Travel Chai
• Gaurav Kuchhal
• Linda Lay of SoloPear Travel
• Moli of Maple Miles
• Julia Menez of Geobreeze Travel Podcast
• Sarah Ramkissoon
• Dawn Royski of Share Traveler
• Anshul Singh of Points Miles and Bling
• Amy Tung of Prince of Travel
• Justin Vacula of Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast
• Rachel Yuan of Prince of Travel
• more to come!

Volunteer Staff:

• Angie Burrus
• Michael Cao
• Candace Keene
• Chris Lin
• Prat Parekh, chevygiant
• Lela Shifton
• Jerry Udell, jigger
• Sadaf W.
• Matthew Weyer

Sponsors:

• Aligned Incentives
• Bullion Gold Store
• Eye of the Flyer
• M and A Industries
• Mobius Enterprises