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Chicago Voted Best Big City in the U.S. by Readers of Condé Nast Traveler for Ninth Consecutive Year
The Readers’ Choice Awards outcomes come on the heels of a record-breaking summer season for Chicago lodge room demand and income
Chicago, IL (October 7, 2025) — Chicago has as soon as once more been topped the Best Big City in the U.S. in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, one of the most prestigious recognitions a vacation spot can obtain. This is the ninth consecutive year Chicago has claimed this title, a streak unprecedented in the awards program’s greater than 30-year historical past. Over 750,000 votes had been forged for this year’s Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
In addition to incomes Best Big City in the U.S. for the ninth straight time, this year’s version of the influential awards additionally acknowledged Chicago’s popularity for welcoming guests of all origins and backgrounds. In the United Kingdom’s version of the 2025 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, Chicago was named one the friendliest cities in the world, the solely U.S. metropolis to earn this recognition.
“Being named the Best Big City in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler readers for the ninth consecutive year is an extraordinary honor—and one that feels more meaningful than ever,” stated Kristen Reynolds, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. “This recognition comes from some of the world’s most experienced and discerning travelers, and it affirms what we know to be true: Chicago is a world-class city with unmatched beauty, culture, and hospitality. At a time when negative narratives too often overshadow our reality, this distinction helps showcase the true spirit and vibrancy of our city to the world. It’s also a powerful driver for our tourism economy, which generates more than $20 billion annually and supports over 130,000 local jobs. We’re deeply proud of this achievement and grateful to everyone who makes Chicago a destination unlike any other.”
“This recognition is a testament to the people of Chicago—their welcoming spirit, creativity, and grit,” stated Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Chicago’s strength has always come from its residents, whose hard work and pride shine through in every neighborhood, restaurant, theater, and hotel across our city. Being named the Best Big City in the U.S. for a record ninth consecutive year is an unprecedented achievement, and it wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our hospitality workers and industry partners who make visitors feel at home every single day. Chicago truly is the best freaking city in the world—and now, once again, the world agrees.”
“While critics try to paint Chicago as something to fear, the rest of the world knows the truth—this is the best big city in America,” stated Governor JB Pritzker. “Chicago is a city of strength, resilience, and heart, powered by the people who welcome visitors from every corner of the globe with unmatched warmth and pride. For the ninth consecutive year, the world’s most discerning travelers have recognized what we already know: no one does it like Chicago. No narrative can change that because the spirit of this city is simply unstoppable.”
Choose Chicago released a blog post at the moment sharing 9 explanation why Chicago is the Best Big City in the U.S. Residents and guests are inspired to affix in the celebration of this milestone by sharing the information on social media with the hashtags #NeverOutdoneChi and #AllForTheLoveOfChicago. Over the coming days and weeks, we shall be curating unique content material showcasing the many explanation why Chicago retains successful this award, which shall be shared and promoted throughout Choose Chicago’s social platforms and on our web site. Social media sources can be found here.
The announcement of this award comes as Chicago continues to expertise important momentum in the tourism trade. Last week, Choose Chicago introduced that native accommodations had the strongest summer season on file in phrases of each room demand and revenues, bucking nationwide developments in a difficult year for the tourism trade. Over 3.56 million lodge rooms had been occupied throughout the months of June, July, and August 2025, marking a 4.3% enhance over 2024 demand ranges and surpassing the earlier file year of 2019. Hotel revenues over the identical months surpassed $948 million, surpassing the earlier file set in 2024.
In 2024, Chicago welcomed an estimated 55.3 million guests, producing $20.6 billion in financial impression and supporting greater than 130,000 jobs. Events are a key part of the metropolis’s broader customer economic system, producing over $3 billion in financial exercise final year and introducing tons of of 1000’s of new guests to all our vacation spot has to supply.
Chicago’s conferences and conventions infrastructure stay a key pillar of its attraction. From McCormick Place to Navy Pier to theaters, banquet halls, sports activities arenas, and simply accessible airports, the metropolis’s capability to host world-class occasions of all sizes and profiles continues to lure each leisure vacationers and enterprise teams.
“Congratulations are due to Chicago’s entire hospitality and tourism industry,” stated Michael Jacobson, President and CEO of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association. “Your creativity and dedication make every stay, every event, every visit an experience that makes people want to come back again and again.”
Chicago’s cultural belongings are equally central to its success as a worldwide vacation spot. Landmarks, museums, music venues huge and small, dwell theatre, year-round out of doors festivals, arts in each neighborhood, and a world-renowned culinary scene are all magnets for regional and worldwide guests alike.
“Our culinary industry has a well-earned reputation for pushing the boundaries of what excellence in cuisine and service looks like,” stated Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association. “I’m convinced that it’s our chefs, servers, restaurateurs—all of us working together—that make this city’s food scene so special, and a major reason why people keep voting Chicago Best Big City in the U.S.
This announcement comes just weeks after Choose Chicago launched the “All for the Love of Chicago” marketing campaign, encouraging residents and guests to share their genuine experiences and tales for example what the metropolis means to them.
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About Choose Chicago: Choose Chicago is the official vacation spot advertising and marketing group accountable for selling Chicago as a worldwide tourism and conferences vacation spot—the metropolis that’s Never Done and Never Outdone. Choose Chicago leverages the metropolis’s unmatched belongings to complement the group by attracting conferences, occasions, and greater than 55 million annual guests, producing over $20 billion in financial impression. Follow @choosechicago and tag #NeverOutdoneChi on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X/Twitter. For extra info, go to choosechicago.com.