Chicago, a world class city, is a most appropriate venue for the year 2000 meeting of the Global Finance Conference. Chicago is a highly influential money center. There are more than 300 U.S. banks and 40 foreign bank branches doing business in the City. Chicago is also the international leader in the trading of commodities, stock options, currency, and interest rate futures. Eighty percent of the world's commodities are traded through three of Chicago's exchanges.

The city has a wide range of hotels, restaurants and shops, as well as hundreds of artistic and cultural institutions. The possibilities are limitless, featuring world class museums, such as the Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Contemporary Art just to name a few plus a host of smaller, special-interest art galleries and performance spaces. From the world-famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra to blues and bluegrass – from improvisational theater to heavy metal rock concerts, you'll find a wealth of after-hours entertainment just minutes away from your hotel. With Chicago’s sophisticated melting pot of the world’s cuisine you’ll find many choices from which to whet your appetite.