Choose Chicago held its annual meeting at the Auditorium Theatre on Wednesday. The event brought together city leaders, industry partners, civic officials, and media to celebrate its 2023 accomplishments and set the stage for “Chicago’s Next Act”.
Highlights of the meeting included a special Q&A between Choose Chicago Board Chair Glenn Eden and Mayor Brandon Johnson, the announcement of the organization’s 2023 impact report, the presentation of awards for contributions to city tourism, and recognition of recipients for the Choose Chicago Foundation scholarships.
Choose Chicago revealed that Chicago welcomed almost 52 million domestic and international travelers in 2023, up from just 3.3 million from the previous year. According to Choose Chicago, the increase in tourism contributed to an estimated $19.2 billion in economic impact, 8% higher than in 2022, and generated nearly $2.65 billion in state and local taxes, an 11% increase from 2022.
International visitation, a priority of Choose Chicago, increased by 27% over a year to 1.8 million. Chicago's hotels saw an impressive 11 million occupied rooms, 10% more than in 2022.
The impressive growth of the Chicago tourism sector marks a turning point for the city, as it continues to rebound from the devastating economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. With a year of prosperity under its belt, Choose Chicago is poised to ensure Chicago continues its upward trend of growth.
“This city’s unmatched hospitality, vibrant cultural scene, and strategic initiatives led by Choose Chicago have propelled us to new heights as a destination,” said Choose Chicago Board Chair Glenn Eden.
“As we look forward to all that lays ahead of us in 2024 and the coming years, we are dedicated to ensuring Chicago remains top-of-mind for families and individuals planning their next vacation, for meeting planners looking for venues for their next big events, and travelers from every corner of the world looking for an urban destination with boundless culture and incredible natural beauty.”
Visit Choose Chicago’s site to view the full Annual Report and view the full list of award winners and scholarship recipients.
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