Choose Chicago

We did it -- again! 🏆 Chicago has been named Best Big City in the U.S. by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards for an unprecedented 8th consecutive year! 🎉 Over 575,000 readers from around the world cast their votes, and yet again Chicago came out on top. Thank you to all of our incredible partners in the tourism and hospitality community whose hard work and dedication ultimately led to this award. And thank you to each and every Chicagoan who goes out of their way to create welcoming experiences for our visitors. You are truly the reason we continue to win this award year after year! 🔗 Read all about what makes Chicago the Best Big City here: https://lnkd.in/eJdi4BEz

We have a new record (thanks to Queen Bey's concerts at Soldier Field - ASM Global and Informa Connect's National Restaurant Association Show at McCormick Place)! 💛 Last Saturday, 46,450 hotel rooms were filled — an all-time Chicago record for any single day! The impact was felt all week; May 11-17 was one of the strongest on record with nearly 280,000 hotel filled in total, generating $84.7 million in hotel revenue, $14.7 million in hotel taxes, and an average occupancy rate of 85% As a world-renowned destination, Chicago is more popular than ever.

Join us as a volunteer to welcome this global event to our city! We’re looking for passionate, knowledgeable locals to assist with various activities across the city from June 13-18. As a thank you, volunteers who complete two or more shifts will receive special perks such as gift cards, attraction passes, and other fun bonuses. REGISTER NOW: https://bit.ly/43aCreQ #IPW25 U.S. Travel Association

Another engaging edition of the Choose Chicago PR Roundtable this morning spotlighting museums that have either recently opened, re-opened, or are undergoing meaningful program or facilities expansions. Today we heard from: • Lisa Lee, Executive Director at the National Public Housing Museum on exhibitions and programming at the recently-opened museum in the Near West Side • Meghan Curran, Chief Operating Officer at the Shedd Aquarium on the new Wonder of Water exhibit and other new features currently under development at the 95-year-old institution on our Museum Campus • Deb Kerr, President and CEO of Intuit Art Museum on their re-opening this week, re-branding efforts, museum renovation and expansion, and upcoming exhibits • Gwendolyn Perry Davis, Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago on expansions to performing arts programs made possible by a recent generous and anonymous donor Kudos to today's moderator Jason Lesniewicz, Senior Director of Cultural Tourism at Choose Chicago, and much appreciation as always to Beth Heller of M. Harris & Co. for outstanding work bringing our panel together. Thank you to all the PR, marketing, and communications professionals from across Chicagoland's tourism, hospitality, cultural, and attractions communities who make these gatherings so meaningful. Our continued collaboration is our greatest strength. 🫶 Lots more to come!

Is this one of our most exciting Choose Chicago Roundups yet?! Tap through to see these share-worthy Chicago news stories! 🔗 Subscribe to our Choose Chicago Roundup newsletter to have the best news in the city delivered straight to your inbox: https://lnkd.in/g-VJeeVc

Congratulations to Juan D. Leyva on being named our Choose Chicago Tourism Champion. Juan received this award at our Annual Meeting last week and shared remarks about his journey in Chicago's hospitality industry. He started as a parking attendant and has risen to the position of General Manager of LondonHouse Chicago and Senior Vice President of Operations for Oxford Hotels & Resorts, LLC. Juan dedicates much of his free time to mentoring and supporting the next generation of hospitality professionals in our city as the Chair of the Choose Chicago Foundation. We are so thankful for his continued leadership and the passion he infuses into everything he does. Learn more about the work of the Choose Chicago Foundation and donate here: https://lnkd.in/gmyReetU And read about the latest and largest class of our Foundation scholarship recipients here: https://lnkd.in/gMHZnXhe

Congratulations to the entire team behind the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show on an impeccably executed event. This is America's premier trade show for the food and beverage industry, and we are thrilled that they continue to make Chicago their home, recently announcing an extended commitment through 2032. We look forward to welcoming the culinary world back to the greatest food city in the country for many years to come! ♥️🍽️

Great connecting with so many industry partners and colleagues at the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association's (IHLA) annual State of the Industry Luncheon & Awards event. Congratulations to Mark Hoplamazian of Hyatt on receiving the IHLA's Lifetime Achievement Award, and to Maria Razumich-Zec of The Peninsula Hotels and Marilynn Gardner of Navy Pier on receiving Ambassadors of Hospitality Awards. Thank you for your immeasurable service to our industry and our city.

Choose Chicago is kicking things off at IMEX Frankfurt! Over the next three days, our team will be meeting with global meeting professionals to attract more conventions, meetings, and events to Chicago. 👇 Thanks to our partners for joining us to represent Chicago to the world! • Harper Counts, Hyatt Regency Chicago • Jordan Bakovic, Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk • Alison Wallace, Hiltons of Chicago #IMEX25

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