Choose Chicago Celebrates 2024 Visitation and Record-Breaking Economic Impact at 2025 Annual Meeting

Choose Chicago estimates 55.3 million visitors in 2024, generating $20.6 billion in economic impact.

Choose Chicago hosted its 2025 Annual Meeting of Partnership last week at the historic James M. Nederlander Theatre, where leaders from across the local tourism, hospitality, business, and civic sectors gathered to celebrate their collective accomplishments and learn about the latest trends impacting the tourism industry. At the Annual Meeting, Choose Chicago announced that Chicago welcomed over 55 million visitors in 2024, honoured local hotelier and Chair of the Choose Chicago Foundation, Juan Leyva, with the 2025 Tourism Champion Award, and announced the long-term extension of the National Restaurant Show to take place annually in Chicago through 2032. Speakers at the event included Mayor Brandon Johnson, the organisation’s new President and CEO Kristen Reynolds, outgoing Board Chair Glenn Eden, and head of U.S. operations for the Premier League, Akash Jain. Attendees also heard from Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, who reviewed the current obstacles and opportunities within the international travel landscape ahead of IPW 2025, taking place in Chicago from the 14^{th –} 18^th of June.

“Chicago is a city that knows how to host,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Whether it’s conventions, major sporting events, or family vacations, visitors from around the world know they’ll find an experience that’s welcoming, inspiring, and unique to Chicago. The numbers released today show that the future of our tourism industry is bright, and thanks to the leadership of Choose Chicago I am confident that tourism will continue to serve as a cornerstone of our economy, generating critical tax revenues and supporting thousands of good-paying jobs if we continue to work together.”

Chicago welcomed an estimated 55.3 million visitors in 2024, a 6.5% year-over-year increase. Preliminary estimates indicate that international visitation topped 2 million for the first time since 2019, representing a year-over-year increase of over 10%. The total economic impact of visitation was estimated at $20.6 billion. On the conventions and events front, 1,891 meetings and conventions booked by Choose Chicago took place in 2024, with an economic impact of over $3 billion. The Choose Chicago Sales department surpassed all key goals in 2024, booking 2.65 million future hotel room nights and 49 citywide conventions.

“I am thrilled to be stepping into this role at a critical time for our industry,” said Kristen Reynolds, President & CEO of Choose Chicago. “We have incredible momentum coming out of a record-breaking year for the economic impact of tourism. While our industry is facing international and economic headwinds, we have much to celebrate, with so many world-class events coming to Chicago this summer—including Sueños, IPW 2025, The James Beard Foundation Awards, NASCAR Chicago Street Race, Lollapalooza, and even the first American Pope hailing from Chicago. Choose Chicago is poised to leverage every opportunity to tell our story to the world.”

Juan Leyva, General Manager of London House Hotel, Senior Vice President of Operations with Oxford Hotels & Resorts, and Chair of the Choose Chicago Foundation, was honoured with the 2025 Choose Chicago Tourism Champion Award. Leyva began his career in the tourism industry as a parking garage attendant. As he has risen to become a key executive in Chicago’s world-class hotel community, he has consistently given back to his community and helped pave the way for future leaders in the industry. Under Juan’s leadership, the Choose Chicago Foundation has expanded its scholarship programs, honouring ten scholarship winners at last week’s Annual Meeting.

“It is truly an honour to be recognised by my colleagues at Choose Chicago with this award,” said Leyva. “The hospitality industry has been very good to me, and I am committed to continuing to give back to my community and finding ways to uplift the next generation of leaders in this space. Thank you to everyone who supports the important work of the Choose Chicago Foundation, through donating their time, expertise, or money.”

At the Annual Meeting, Lisa Malikow, Informa Connects Senior Vice President for the National Restaurant Association Show, announced a long-term commitment to hold the show in Chicago through to 2032. Taking place each spring, the National Restaurant Association Show is one of the largest and most important annual conventions in Chicago, with nearly 60,000 total attendees at last year’s show. The 2025 show kicked off on Saturday, May 17, at McCormick Place.

“Chicago is without a doubt one of the greatest convention cities in the world,” said Malikow. “This city has the infrastructure, venues, and skilled labour to host events of any proportion. The fact that it is also one of America’s most exciting culinary destinations makes it the perfect home for the National Restaurant Association Show.”

Choose Chicago’s Board Chair Glenn Eden reflected on his six-year tenure during the Annual Meeting and announced the incoming Board Members, who will officially join the Board on July 1, 2025. New Board Members are:

• Board Chair: Guy Chipparoni, CEO, Res Publica Group
• Keiana Barrett, CEO, Business Leadership Council
• Misoon Kong, General Manager, Chicago Hilton and Towers
• Andrea Kluger, Chief of Staff, Chicago Federation of Labor
• José Ochoa, President and CEO, National Museum of Mexican Art
• Tracey Payne, Acting Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation
• Dan Russell, Co-Chief Operating Officer, City Experiences Group
• Mark Wagner, General Manager, Hyatt

“It’s so hard to summarise my experience over the last six years with Choose Chicago,” said Eden. “I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside so many incredible leaders to promote Chicago to the world, and I’m grateful I had this opportunity to give back to my city. Together, we’ve overcome incredible obstacles—including navigating the organisation through a once-in-a-century pandemic—and done so much to position Chicago as a must-visit global destination for leisure travel and events of all kinds. With Kristen Reynolds in place as President and CEO and Guy Chipparoni stepping in as Board Chair, I am confident that the next chapter in Choose Chicago’s story will be spectacular. I look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the years ahead.”

Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be another strong year for tourism and events in Chicago. Next month, Chicago will host the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW 2025, the largest international inbound travel trade show in the U.S. In his keynote remarks at the Annual Meeting, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman shared what to expect at IPW 2025, along with details on how national travel trends could impact Chicago.

“We are standing in front of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to attract visitors from around the world,” said Freeman. “There is so much we are and will be doing to let the world know that America’s destinations are open for business. U.S. Travel’s IPW in Chicago next month will be a critical driver of future inbound travel to the U.S., and we’re working closely with the Choose Chicago team to ensure that the thousands of global travel trade professionals and media attending finish their visit with a clear message: the U.S. is a welcoming, world-class destination.”

Following extensive engagement with the local community, Choose Chicago will unveil a new marketing campaign in June at IPW. More information about the impact of tourism and hospitality, as well as source information for all data citations, are available in the Choose Chicago 2024 Annual Report.