Chicago voted best big city by Condé Nast readers for 9th straight year
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
For the ninth straight year, Chicago has been voted the best big city in the U.S. by Condé Nast readers.
The winning streak is the first in the award's 30-year history.
The magazine cited Navy Pier, McCormick Place, theaters and sporting arenas for attracting visitors. Over 750,000 readers voted. They were asked about their previous experiences in Chicago, rating the city's culture, attractions, hospitality and more.
That's no surprise to Colorado native Dylan Bell.
"I have wanted to come to Chicago for many years, and it's very beautiful, especially this part of town," he said.
Choose Chicago reports people booked 3.56 million hotel rooms from June through August of this year, generating $949 million in revenue. Both are record numbers.
All that was driven by major events, including Lollapalooza, the downtown NASCAR race and numerous large-scale concerts at Soldier Field this summer, as well as a host of conventions.
Choose Chicago says tourism is a major economic driver for Chicagoland's economy, generating over $20 billion economic impact, over 55 million visitors and over 130,000 jobs in the Chicago area every year.
"We saw more tourists filling hotel rooms in Chicago than ever before. Over 3.5 million hotel rooms filled. That is a record up over 4% over last year and surpassing our pre-pandemic record in 2019," said Stephen Crano, with Choose Chicago.
It comes as the Department of Homeland Security continues to ramp up its immigration enforcement efforts.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly bashed Chicago as being an unsafe city despite crime numbers being on the decline.
It's a concern for one woman who is in town from Nashville with her three children for fall break.
"We're just gonna be doing to and from. Other than that, we're not venturing out. We're gonna stick to safe to us," tourist Natalie Murchie said.
Other tourists in town say it's the city's diversity and other offerings that made them want to visit.
"We haven't experienced anything unusual. It's the same thing when I came here 10 years ago as it is today. I don't see any difference," tourist Veronica Lister said.
"It really hasn't affected us. We just want to come out here for a birthday weekend and enjoy some festivities," tourist Kevin Drake said.
San Francisco, California was this year's runner-up, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin came in third.
Those who love the city of Chicago say they hope that all the qualities that make the city shine continue to do so, maybe enough to garner the award for the 10th year.
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I am not going to say Conde Nast Travelers is the authoritative source on such things, I am sure I am not a Conde Nast sort of person and I cant say I know much about this poll. But it is what it is, and it demonstrates how bizarre Trump and MAGAs depiction of this city is.
I was there not long ago. I love Chicago.
We didn't see anything that would indicate a lawless city of any kind, but we also stuck mostly to tourist attractions.
I think large cities where there is no violence problem are few and far between. Chicago has had a lot of gangs going back to the early 20th century. Generally, if you dont mess with them they dont mess with you.
When people visit a city, any city, they dont intentionally seek out the "bad side of the tracks". They seek out the fun or interesting things or the landmarks. Chicago is no different like that than anywhere else.
Rucker has been arrested 38 times and convicted 18 times, describing a repeated history of punching strangers. “But misdemeanor battery is not a detainable offense under Illinois’ cashless bail system.”
If woman don't mind being punched by large men who, for god knows what reason, can't be jailed for it, they'll love it.
Trump Tower in Chicago still has high praise for Chicago being an amazing city on their website, encouraging customers to visit and stay at the Trump property.
Why isn't Trump shutting down his property in Chicago?
During his first term the city tried to get the huge lettering of his name removed from the front of the building on the grounds of it being an eyesore, but they lost the case in court.