- Region:
- USA
- Category:
- Tourism
Chicago has been named the Best Large City in the United States by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards for the 8th consecutive year
For the eighth consecutive year, Chicago has been awarded the title of "Best Large City in the United States" in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards. This recognition, granted by more than 575,000 voters worldwide, highlights the city's popularity and appeal, surpassing other U.S. destinations.
Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson celebrated the accolade, emphasizing the cultural strength and resilience of Chicago's residents, as well as the city's constant innovation in tourism and hospitality. Both agreed that the award reflects the commitment and efforts of the community.
The recognition comes at a particularly successful time for the city, following a summer with record-breaking numbers in visits and hotel occupancy. Between June and August 2024, Chicago recorded 3.4 million hotel nights, surpassing 2023 summer figures by 5%. Events such as Lollapalooza and the NASCAR Chicago Street Race contributed to these results, boosting both leisure tourism and the city's revenue, which reached $942 million.
The city also saw an 11% increase in international tourism, with over 671,000 foreign visitors, including a 21% rise in visitors from Canada.
With the support of Choose Chicago, the city's official tourism agency, Chicago is expected to continue attracting tourists through the end of the year with events like Christkindlmarket and the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.
Chicago experienced an exceptional summer in terms of tourism, with a total of 3.4 million hotel nights occupied between June and August 2024, a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Group hotel room demand, driven by the Democratic National Convention and other major events, reached 1.1 million nights, 7% higher than in 2023 and surpassing pre-pandemic levels from 2019. Key events like Lollapalooza and the NASCAR Chicago Street Race also contributed to the growth in leisure tourism, with 2.3 million accommodation nights, a 4% increase over the previous year.
This strong surge in hotel demand led to historic revenues for the city, with a total of $942 million in hotel revenues and $53 million in tax revenues, both 13% higher than in 2023. Additionally, Chicago welcomed over 671,000 international visitors during the summer, an 11% increase compared to the same period last year, with a notable 21% increase in Canadian visitors.