CHICAGO — The city has been named the best big city in the United States for the seventh year in a row.
The results of Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards were announced Tuesday. More than 520,000 readers submitted their input this year, according to a news release from Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism arm.
“We have something for everyone — 77 amazing communities, beautiful parks and lakefront, world class arts, culture and food, and much more,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in the release. “This is a distinction to be proud of, and we will continue to welcome travelers from all over the world to experience all our city has to offer and the soul of Chicago.”
Summer 2023 performance data from Choose Chicago shows the city is on track to surpass last year, when almost 50 million visitors came to town.
The city is also becoming more popular for tourists worldwide — international visitation this summer increased by 13% from last year, Choose Chicago data shows.
Condé Nast Traveler has surveyed readers on the best big U.S. city since 2015. Chicago beat out New York City in 2017 and has held the title ever since.
“Winning this award seven straight years is a recognition of the resilience of Chicago’s tourism and hospitality sector and the unwavering affinity that travelers have for our city,” said Glenn Eden, chairman of the Choose Chicago Board of Directors. “It gives me confidence that we are going to see continued growth in our local visitor economy for years to come.”
Chicago also broke its all-time record for hotel revenue this summer, raking in $825 million between June and August, according to Choose Chicago.
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