Conference Hotel

Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Midtown Hotel
1305 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
1 888 HOLIDAY (1 888 465 4329) | 215 735-9300 | himidtown.com

All workshops and plenaries will take place at the Holiday Inn. Although Summer School attendees are not required to stay at the Holiday Inn, it will make your experience a lot more convenient if you do so. Contact the hotel directly to reserve rooms at the conference hotel (alternatives listed below).

Guests attending the first Summer School session on Friday morning (Aug. 3) should consider arriving for check-in (after 3:00pm) on Thursday (Aug. 2). The school will close at 2:00pm on Sunday, (Aug. 5), so most should plan on staying three (3) nights (Thursday-Saturday).

To guarantee the conference rate of $159/day plus tax (15.2% = $24.17) for a double room (with two double beds), you must ask for booking with the “Center for Changes” by July 2. The hotel is holding by contract 30 double rooms at the conference rate until JULY 2. “After this date, rooms will be sold on a space available basis only.” In other words, if you want a room at the guaranteed conference rate, you must reserve one of the 30 double rooms as they remain available until July 2. After that date, any of those 30 rooms still not reserved will be made available for other hotel patrons.

Driving Directions to Conference Hotel

From Airport and Points South:

I-95 North to I-676 East/Callowhill Street (Exit #22 to the left, then first exit on the right to Callowhill). Follow Callowhill to 8th Street. Turn left on 8th Street to Walnut Street (8 city blocks). Turn right on Walnut Street to hotel (5 blocks), Holiday Inn Express Midtown, 1305 Walnut Street.

From I-76 (Schuykill Expressway) and Points North and West:

Follow I-76 East to I-676 East (Vine Street Expressway). Follow I-676 East to (Exit #344) 8th Street exit and turn right on 8th Street. Turn right on Walnut Street to hotel.

From New Jersey Turnpike and Points East:

Take Exit 4. Follow Rt. 73 to Rt. 38 West. Follow Rt. 38 to US 30 West over the Ben Franklin Bridge. Coming off bridge stay far LEFT and follow sign to 8th street. Turn left on 8th Street to Walnut Street. Turn right on Walnut Street to hotel.

Note: In Philly, Front Street is equivalent to 1st Street, and Broad Street is equivalent to 14th Street.

Parking

The hotel offers parking from a contracted provider on-site with in-out privileges. Recent rate was $21/day, but this is subject to change. Please call the hotel for latest rate. This is a discounted rate for Center City with typically high rates for eastern urban centers. Most parking facilities do not offer in-out privileges (ie, you pay the rate as you go with minimums applicable for each time in).

There is an alternative facility about 10 blocks north and west of the hotel at 1540 Vine St. Enter from 15th & Spring Streets (between Vine and Race Streets next to Hahnemann Hospital). The weekday special rate is $18, but you can park for $5/day starting at 5pm Friday if out by 9am Monday. There are no in-out privileges. http://philapark.org/garages/gateway/

Rates are lower the further away from Center City you go.

Trains

There are two systems of trains in Philadelphia: SEPTA (the local and regional public transit) and AMTRAK (the main rail service for the US). All trains (SEPTA and AMTRAK, except for the Broad Street Subway) stop at the main 30th Street train station (at 30th & Market Streets). Most SEPTA regional trains and the Market-Frankford Elevated/Subway also stop at the Suburban Station at 16th & JFK Blvd, and Market East Station at 11th & Market Streets. If you are on a train that stops at Market East Station, that is the closest to the hotel (only four blocks away). If your train does not stop there, see next…

Market-Frankford Elevated/Subway (east-west)
If your train stops only at 30th Street Station, you will need to catch the eastbound Market-Frankford Elevated/Subway (Blue Line) at the corner of 30th & Market (outside the train station) to 13th & Market Street stop. From there walk three blocks south to the hotel on Walnut Street.

Broad Street Subway (north-south)
Take the Broad Street Subway (Orange Line, running north-south) to Walnut-Locust stop, then walk east on Walnut one block to the hotel.

Important: NiteOwl buses (at street level) replace both the Market-Frankford and Broad Street trains between Midnight and 5:00 am.

Clickable Regional Rail & Rail Transit Map provides all the information you need including fares, schedules and accessibility: http://www.septa.org/maps/system/index.html

Note: The PATCO line is a regional train to New Jersey with underground stops (marked by stairs painted red) in the vicinity of the conference hotel. This is only recommended for travelling to NJ.

SEPTA: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

Transportation To and From Hotel

The easiest and best way to get from the airport to the hotel is on the Airport Train (SEPTA “R1”) which you can catch at any terminal. See http://www.septa.org/welcome/airport.html

Distance from the airport to the hotel is approx. 8 miles and 25 minutes by train. Fare is $7.00 (one-way). Do not get off at 30th Street Station, but continue on to Market East Station (11th & Market Streets). From there, walk three blocks south, and two blocks west to the hotel.

Shuttle Charge (one way): $ 10.00
Taxi Charge (one way): $ 25.00. Time by Taxi: 30 minutes
Train Charge (one way): $ 7.00. Time By Train: 25 minutes

The Official Convention and Visitors web site: http://www.philadelphiausa.travel/

Alternative Union Hotels

Click here for a list of nearby hotels, including at the International Airport, where UNITE HERE members are employed. When you patronize these establishments, you are supporting these people and their families.

The Solidarity Summer School will take place at the Holiday Inn Express Midtown, 1305 Walnut Street. As for the list linked above, The Comfort Inn Penn’s Landing is also recommended because it is a favorite for its lower room rates, but requires a short ride on the Frankford Elevated-Subway line (westbound to 13th/Market St. stop). Hotels in Center City are not likely to cost less than the conference rate at the Holiday Inn Express Midtown, but hotels at the airport and in West Philly should be significantly cheaper.

Note that some Sheraton hotels are currently picketed by the Carpenters’ Union (as of May 2012).

Apple Hostel

A nonunion but very affordable alternative is the Apple Hostel, 32 Bank Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

Summer School Logistics