Plan Your Visit to Grand Rapids

Before You Travel

1. Register for the Seminar

Make sure your ETS seminar registration is complete before arranging travel. Retain your registration confirmation with your travel records.

2. Reserve Your Hotel

Attendees are responsible for making their own hotel reservations. ETS does not reserve hotel rooms for individual attendees. We strongly recommend reserving your room as soon as possible. See the hotels section below for downtown options near the venue.

3. Book Your Flight

When searching airfare, search for Grand Rapids, Michigan — GRR rather than assuming Detroit is the best airport. GRR is approximately 15–25 minutes from downtown by car.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport — GRR

Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) Google Maps Apple Maps

GRR is approximately 13–15 miles from downtown Grand Rapids. Under normal traffic conditions, the drive takes approximately 15–25 minutes.

The airport provides airline service from major U.S. hubs, rental cars, taxi service, Uber/Lyft, public transportation, accessible transportation, parking, restaurants, and passenger amenities.

International Travelers

If you are traveling internationally, you will generally connect to Grand Rapids through a major U.S. gateway. Common connection cities include Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte, Denver, Minneapolis, New York/Newark, and Washington, among others.

Getting from GRR Airport to Grand Rapids

Rental Car

GRR opened a new consolidated rental-car facility in 2026, bringing the airport’s rental-car companies together in one location.

Current airport rental-car partners:

• Avis — 800-230-4898
• Budget — 800-527-0700
• Enterprise — 800-736-8222
• Hertz / Dollar — 800-654-3131
• National / Alamo — 800-227-7368

GRR Rental Cars & Ground Transportation

Do you need a rental car?

Probably not if you are staying downtown and primarily attending the seminar. A rental car makes more sense if you plan to visit clients outside downtown, explore West Michigan, visit Frederik Meijer Gardens, visit Lake Michigan, or extend your trip. For a hotel-and-seminar-only itinerary, rideshare + walking + public transportation is often simpler.

Uber or Lyft

Uber and Lyft operate at GRR. Rideshare pickup is at the designated Rideshare Shelter. Exit through Door #4 (across from the Delta ticket counter) and follow signs.

Taxi

Metro Cab is GRR’s authorized curbside taxi provider with 24-hour service.

• Phone: 616-827-6500
• Metro Cab Grand Rapids

Exit through Door #5 or Door #7 and follow signs to the climate-controlled transportation shelter. Reservations are recommended for scheduled pickups.

Public Transit — The Rapid Route 27

The Rapid Route 27 serves GRR Monday through Friday. The airport stop is at the climate-controlled shelter across from Door #6.

Current adult fare: $1.75. Cash riders need exact change. Contactless payment is also accepted (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) with daily fare capping.

Check the current Route 27 schedule before relying on the bus, particularly for late-evening arrivals.

Driving to Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is accessible from throughout Michigan and the Midwest via I-96, I-196, US-131, and M-6.

Venue address: Richard M. DeVos Center, 401 Fulton Street West, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 Google Maps Apple Maps

GVSU Maps & Directions

Parking

Parking at GVSU

GVSU operates a permit-controlled parking system. Do not assume that a normal downtown parking receipt permits you to park in a GVSU lot.

GVSU has implemented a license-plate-recognition system (TIBA) in selected Grand Rapids campus parking facilities. Where TIBA is operational, visitors take a ticket and pay on exit unless parking is validated or an event rate applies. The currently stated rate is $2.50 per hour.

GVSU Parking Services

Downtown Public Parking

If you prefer not to use GVSU parking, downtown Grand Rapids has multiple public parking facilities near the DeVos area:

City of Grand Rapids — DeVos Parking & Mobility Guide

Public Transit & Free Downtown Shuttle

DASH — Downtown Area Shuttle (Free)

One of Grand Rapids’ best features for visitors is the Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH).

• Fare: Free
• Frequency: Approximately every 8 minutes
• Weekday hours: 6:30 a.m.–midnight
• Saturday: 11:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.
• Sunday: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

The DeVos area has a DASH stop. For an attendee staying downtown, DASH can eliminate many short Uber trips.

DASH Information

The Rapid

The Rapid is the regional public transportation system. Current adult fare: $1.75. Contactless payment available.

Important routes for visitors: Route 27 (Airport), Route 14 (Fulton), Silver Line BRT, Laker Line.

The Rapid — Routes, Fares & Trip Planner

Bicycles, E-Bikes, and Scooters

As of September 2026, Veo is Grand Rapids’ exclusive shared-micromobility provider (standing e-scooters, seated e-scooters, e-bikes, and e-trikes). Availability varies by time, weather, and location.

Grand Rapids Shared Micromobility

Amtrak & Intercity Bus

Amtrak Pere Marquette

If you are traveling from Chicago or connecting through the Midwest, consider Amtrak. The Pere Marquette provides daily service between Chicago and Grand Rapids (~176 miles, ~4 hours).

Grand Rapids station: Vernon J. Ehlers Station, 440 Century Avenue SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Google Maps Apple Maps

Amtrak — Grand Rapids

Intercity Bus

Intercity bus service is also available. The downtown transportation network includes connections through Central Station and the area near the Amtrak station. Check the operator directly before booking for current schedules.

Where to Stay

The easiest option for most seminar attendees is a downtown hotel. Depending on your hotel, you may be able to walk to the DeVos Center, walk to dinner, use the free DASH shuttle, use Uber/Lyft, and rent a car only when you actually need one.

Rates, availability, and parking charges are subject to change. Confirm current details directly with the hotel.

Dining

Grand Rapids has a strong restaurant scene. Downtown provides enough choices that attendees do not need to travel far after class.

Easy & Casual

• ROAM by San Chez — 250 Monroe Ave NW. Global street food, cocktails, shareable dishes. Directly across from DeVos Performance Hall.
• Uccello’s Downtown — 122 Monroe Center St NW. Italian-American, pizza, sandwiches, sports-bar atmosphere. Good for informal group dinners.
• Downtown Market — Food-hall-style destination with multiple concepts under one roof. Useful when a group can’t agree on one cuisine.

Business Dinner

• Bistro Bella Vita — 44 Cesar E. Chavez Ave SW. French/Italian-inspired cuisine. Good for informal business dinners.
• Leo’s Seafood Restaurant & Bar — 60 Ottawa Ave NW. Upscale seafood, steaks, wine.
• The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck — 187 Monroe Ave NW (Amway Grand Plaza). River views.

Special Occasion

• MDRD — 27th floor of the Amway Grand Plaza. Spanish-inspired cuisine with panoramic city views. Reservations strongly recommended. Ideal for a final-night celebration.

Things to Do After Class

The seminar ends at 4:30 p.m. each day, giving attendees several hours every evening.

Grand River

The Grand River runs directly through downtown. Walk along the river, cross one of the pedestrian bridges, and explore the parks and downtown riverfront. No admission required — one of the easiest ways to decompress after a full day.

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum

303 Pearl Street NW. Mon–Sat: 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun: noon–5 p.m. Adult admission: $17. Free parking. Best suited to pre-seminar Monday or a post-seminar extension day.

Grand Rapids Public Museum

272 Pearl Street NW. Science, natural history, Michigan history, culture, technology. Includes Streets of Old Grand Rapids and the 1928 Spillman Carousel. Particularly appropriate for engineers and technically minded attendees.

Grand Rapids Art Museum

101 Monroe Center St NW. Design, art, architecture, visual culture. Check current hours before visiting.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Botanical gardens, outdoor sculpture, indoor galleries, walking trails. Outside downtown — best reached by car or rideshare. Allow several hours. Ideal for a Friday extension day.

Grand Rapids Nightlife & Breweries

Grand Rapids is nationally recognized for its brewery scene. The city and surrounding area have dozens of breweries, taprooms, and brewpubs. For non-drinkers, downtown also has coffee shops, live music, comedy, arcades, board-game venues, and the riverfront.

What’s Happening During Seminar Week

October 20–22 falls during an active stretch for Grand Rapids entertainment.

Wednesday, October 21

• Grand Rapids Griffins vs. Manitoba Moose — 7:00 p.m. at Van Andel Arena. The Griffins are the Detroit Red Wings’ primary AHL affiliate. This is an excellent group activity after Day 2 of the seminar. Griffins Schedule
• High Score Comedy — 8:00–10:00 p.m. at The Pyramid Scheme. Free, 21+. A no-advance-ticket-needed option that starts after dinner.

Tuesday, October 20

• Balance and Composure + Midrift — 7:00 p.m. at The Pyramid Scheme.

Thursday, October 22

• Phabies + Ohly + Kate Pillsbury — 7:00 p.m. at The Pyramid Scheme.

The Pyramid Scheme — Event Calendar

Other downtown venues regularly hosting events: Van Andel Arena, DeVos Performance Hall, The Intersection, 20 Monroe Live, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.

Weather in October

October in Grand Rapids is fall. Plan for variable weather: cool mornings, mild afternoons, cold evenings, rain, wind, and rapid temperature changes.

Pack: comfortable walking shoes, business-casual clothing, a jacket, a rain jacket or umbrella, layers, and clothing suitable for cool evenings. You may spend more time walking outdoors than expected if you stay downtown.

International Attendees

U.S. Entry Requirements

International attendees are responsible for determining their own U.S. entry requirements based on nationality, passport, and travel history. Do not wait until the week before the seminar to investigate this.

U.S. Department of State — Tourism & Visit

Business Visa / B-1

Attending a professional conference is specifically identified by the U.S. Department of State as an activity that can be performed under a B-1 visitor visa. If you require a visa, begin the process as early as possible.

ETS can provide documentation confirming your registration for the seminar when appropriate, but ETS cannot determine whether you qualify for a U.S. visa or admission to the United States.

U.S. Visitor Visa Information

Visa Waiver Program / ESTA

Citizens of participating Visa Waiver Program countries may travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays of 90 days or less without a visa, but must obtain an approved ESTA before boarding. An approved ESTA does not guarantee admission — final admission is determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the port of entry.

Visa Waiver Program

Money & Payments

Currency: U.S. Dollar (USD). Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are widely accepted. Check foreign transaction fees, currency-conversion fees, ATM fees, and daily limits before departure. ATMs are available throughout downtown.

Electricity

120 V / 60 Hz. Standard outlets: Type A and Type B. International travelers may need a plug adapter. Verify that your equipment supports 120 V before connecting.

Mobile Phones & Internet

Hotels, the university, restaurants, and coffee shops generally provide Wi-Fi. Check your mobile provider’s U.S. roaming rates before departure. Options include international roaming, travel eSIM, U.S. SIM, and international calling/data plans. Downloading offline maps before departure is recommended.

Time Zone

Eastern Time Zone. In October, Grand Rapids observes Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC−4) until the November daylight-saving transition.

Tipping

Tipping is customary in many U.S. service industries. Common examples: restaurants (~15–20%), bartenders (per-drink or percentage), taxi/rideshare (discretionary percentage), hotel housekeeping (discretionary).

Accessibility

Attendees requiring accessibility accommodations should contact ETS before the seminar whenever possible. GVSU provides accessibility resources across campus, and The Rapid’s fixed-route buses and DASH buses are wheelchair accessible.

For specific accommodation requirements, contact ETS before arrival so arrangements can be addressed in advance.

Emergency Information

For emergencies in the United States: 911 (police, fire, and emergency medical services).

For non-emergency assistance on the GVSU campus, consult GVSU Public Safety.

Suggested Attendee Itinerary

Monday, October 19 — Arrival

Arrive at GRR. Taxi, rideshare, rental car, or public transportation to your hotel. Check in. Explore downtown. Dinner.

Tuesday, October 20 — Seminar Day 1

8:00 a.m. — Registration
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. — Seminar
After 4:30 p.m. — Walk the Grand River. Explore downtown. Dinner. Optional: Balance and Composure + Midrift at The Pyramid Scheme (7 p.m.).

Wednesday, October 21 — Seminar Day 2

8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. — Seminar
5:00–6:30 p.m. — Dinner downtown
7:00 p.m. — Grand Rapids Griffins vs. Manitoba Moose (Van Andel Arena)
OR 8:00 p.m. — High Score Comedy at The Pyramid Scheme (free, 21+)

Thursday, October 22 — Seminar Day 3

8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. — Final seminar session
After the seminar — Celebrate completion. Options: MDRD (premium), Leo’s / Bistro Bella Vita (business dinner), ROAM / downtown brewery (casual), The Pyramid Scheme (entertainment).

Friday, October 23 — Optional Extension

If your travel schedule permits, possible activities: Frederik Meijer Gardens, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids Art Museum, downtown shopping, brewery tour, Lake Michigan excursion, Holland, Grand Haven, Saugatuck.