“The city by the lake proved a pretty attractive destination for visitors over the summer, generating records for hotel occupancy and revenue.
“From June through August, hotels in Chicago’s central business district booked nearly 3.6 million room nights, a 4.3% gain over 2024 that topped the pre-COVID record in the summer of 2019, according to data released Tuesday by Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism arm.
“Chicago hotels also set a new revenue record, generating $949 million over the three months, up .8% over last summer.
“‘We had a record-breaking summer,’ said Kristen Reynolds, Choose Chicago’s president and CEO. ‘And we’re doing it in a time with incredible headwinds, where most other tourism destinations are happy to be flat and not significantly down.’
“International tourism to Chicago was down 3% year-over-year during the summer, but the increase of domestic visitation was up, boosted by the “drive market” — people within five hours of the city — including suburbanites booking downtown hotels for a weekend getaway, Reynolds said.
“‘We’re seeing a much bigger demand from the drive market and regional market, so that’s where we’re putting a lot of attention,’ Reynolds said. ‘You’re going to be seeing a lot of Chicago marketing to those people.’
“In 2024, the city welcomed an estimated 55.3 million visitors, generating $20.6 billion in economic impact, according to Choose Chicago. The increase in summer hotel demand is a ‘great indicator’ for the trajectory of tourism this year, Reynolds said.
“‘Hotels throughout Chicago are encouraged by this momentum and look forward to continuing to welcome more visitors to our amazing city,’ Michael Jacobson, president and CEO of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, said in a news release. ‘But we cannot rest on recent successes, as our industry faces a host of challenges caused by rising costs and ongoing economic uncertainty.’
“Topping pre-pandemic hotel occupancy and revenue over the summer is a source of both revenue and civic pride for Chicago, Reynolds said.” (Channick, Chicago Tribune, 10/1/25)
“In 2024, the city of Chicago saw an impressive 7.7% rise in overnight visitors, further highlighting the state’s appeal as a premier destination for domestic tourists.” (Governor Pritzker, Illinois.gov, 08/26/2025)