Chicago celebrates record-breaking tourism season as city considers new surcharge on hotel stays

Chicago Tourism Saw A Boost In 2025 Even As Trump Tried To Paint City As A 'Hellhole'

Choose Chicago reported upticks in hotel stays, conventions and revenue as visitors rejected federal rhetoric. The tourism bureau hopes to beef up its budget to attract even more people to the city via a proposed Downtown hotel fee.

Chicago celebrates record-breaking tourism season as city considers new surcharge on hotel stays

Chicago is celebrating a record-breaking summer tourism season and is looking to continue the momentum in 2026, with the help of a proposed Tourism Improvement District Ordinance that would add a 1.5% surcharge on downtown hotel stays, generating an estimated $40 million a year.

Leaders to outline 2026 tourism plans at Choose Chicago meeting

After a record-breaking summer tourism season in Chicago, city and state leaders meet Tuesday to plan what's next.