ChooseChicago_2017_AnnualReport

A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 7 

W E L C O M E H O M E

2 / 2017 ANNUAL REPORT

WELCOME TO THE CITY THAT 

FEELS LIKE HOME 

On behalf of Choose Chicago, thank you for your 

guidance, support, and commitment to growing 

our visitor industry. 

WELCOME HOME 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 3

2017 DESTINATION AWARDS & ACCOLADES 

#1 

BEST RESTAURANT CITY 

IN AMERICA 

Conde Nast Traveler, 

May 2017 

RESTAURANT CITY OF 

THE YEAR 2017 

Bon Appétit, August 2017 

25 CHICAGO ESTABLISHMENTS 

AWARDED ONE OR MORE 

MICHELIN STARS 

MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2018, October 2017 

RICK BAYLESS 

Topolobampo 

Outstanding Restaurant 

SARAH GRUENEBERG 

Monteverde 

Best Chef: Great Lakes 

May 2017 


TOP CORPORATE INVESTMENT/ 

CORPORATE RELOCATION METRO 

Site Selection, March 2017 

NATION’S TOP TECH 

SPOT OF THE FUTURE 

Modis, February 2017 

AMERICA’S MOST ASKED 

ABOUT CITY 

Expedia, December 2017 

READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS: 

BEST BIG CITY IN THE U.S. 

Conde Nast Traveler 

October 2017 

2017-2018 GLOBAL AWARDS 

FOR EXCELLENCE WINNER: 

CHICAGO RIVERWALK 

Urban Land Institute, November 2017 

BEST RUNNING RACE IN EACH 

STATE: BANK OF AMERICA 

CHICAGO MARATHON 

Compression + Design, 2017 

BEST OF GAY CITIES 2017, 

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD: 

BOYSTOWN 

GayCities, December 2017 

BEST DESTINATION: 

TRAVEL INFRASTRUCTURE 

Pacific Area Travel Writers Association, 2017 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS 


08 

LETTER FROM 

THE CHAIR & CEO 

10 

2017 OPERATIONS 

11 

ECONOMIC 

IMPACT 

12 

VISITATION 

13 

HOTEL SNAPSHOT 

Central Business 

District 

14 

MEETINGS & 

CONVENTIONS 

16 

RECORD-BREAKING 

EVENTS 

18 

OUR PARTNERS 

19 

RECORD-BREAKING 

PARTNERSHIPS 

20 

CULINARY 

PROGRAMS 

21 

UNION PARTNERS 

24 

MARKETING 

28 

MEDIA RELATIONS 

30 

CULTURAL 

TOURISM 

32 

GLOBAL 

DEVELOPMENT 

33 

PUBLIC POLICY 

& COMMUNITY 

AFFAIRS 

34 

CHICAGO SPORTS 

COMMISSION 

38 

2018 KEY 

PRIORITIES 

40 

BOARD OF 

DIRECTORS 

41 

EXECUTIVE 

STAFF 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 7

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR & CEO 

DEAR PARTNERS, 

On behalf of Choose Chicago, we want to 

thank you for your guidance, support, and 

commitment to growing our visitor industry. 

In collaboration with you, Choose Chicago surpassed 

its goal of bringing 55 million visitors to Chicago. We 

are extremely pleased to share our 2017 Annual Report. 

The year welcomed a projected 55.2 million visitors, 

an increase of 2.5 percent, surpassing Mayor Rahm 

Emanuel’s goal. This growth resulted in an increase in 

overall hotel demand of 3.3 percent, fueled in part by 

a 6.2 percent jump in leisure hotel guests and record 

attendance at over half of our 40 largest conventions. 

Together, Choose Chicago and our partners secured 

commitments from 61 future citywide conventions, 

representing over 1.6 million room nights and over 

2,400 in-house meetings, which is projected to 

generate 2.6 million room nights. We implemented 

two key strategies: target and secure “short term” 

meetings and events to convene in the next three 

years (2017-2019); and capture new and incremental 

meetings to supplement our largest legacy and 

rotational customers. Of the bids won, 33 percent 

were booked for the targeted 36-month window, 23 

percent will convene here for the first time, and 13 

percent had not met here in the past 10 years. A key 

priority is booking for 2019 and over 260,000 room 

nights have been secured so far. 

A new consumer advertising campaign, Welcome 

Home, was launched in May to attract more regional, 

domestic, and international visitors. The campaign 

capitalizes on the sense that Chicago feels like home 

to visitors with its authentic hospitality and diverse 

experiences. We used integrated marketing efforts 

to build upon key visitor experiences and platforms, 

including Food & Culinary, Theatre, Culture & 

Entertainment, Music, Attractions, Art & Architecture, 

the LGBTQ+ Community, and Sports & Urban 

Recreation. In addition, we launched the Welcome 

Home campaign in nine key international markets. By 

targeting 14.6 million households in the U.S. alone, 

we’ve seen growth in unique visitors to our website, 

including a 21 percent spike from regional visitors and 

a 20.8 percent increase in visitors from major US urban 

centers. Since the launch of our new international 

campaign in the fall, there was a 114 percent jump 

in site visits representing increased awareness and 

potential growth in these visitors. In December, 

Expedia named Chicago to its list of “Most Searched 

for Cities in America.” We will continue these efforts 

this year. 

To further support this expanded domestic and global 

outreach, media relations initiatives were significantly 

expanded and integrated with social marketing efforts, 

helping to generate more than 3,400 published 

articles and broadcasts with a combined circulation 

of over 6 billion. Fueled in large part by hosting 368 


media visits, these articles and features represented an 

earned media value of over $37 million. 

Our trade development efforts were also expanded 

internationally this year, creating more cooperative 

programs with partners to elevate our awareness 

and product offerings in 11 key markets. This included 

delivering Chicago’s message at 12 international trade 

shows and co-hosting 28 familiarization tours of 

Chicago from these key international markets. 

Our Chicago Sports Commission boasted another 

banner year, hosting major events that attracted 

more visitors and destination buzz. This propelled 

our ascension as a major sports capital, including the 

NCAA Men’s Hockey Frozen Four Championships, 

the NHL Draft, and the Major League Soccer All Star 

Game. The commission won key bids for future highprofile 

games, such as the 2018 Laver Cup (a global 

international tennis tournament), the 2019 NCAA 

Division I Women’s Basketball Regional Tournament, 

and the 2020 NBA All Star Game. 

While we celebrate these accomplishments, we also 

know we must continue to evolve and rise above 

industry challenges while expanding our footprint 

around the world. Growing investor confidence in 

Chicago has led to an unprecedented growth in 

hotel supply in the past several years. To support this 

growth, we will continue to target new and different 

categories of domestic and international visitors, 

meetings, and events. 

Thank you to our Board of Directors and our many 

partners who share in this mission including over 

1,500 association members. We look forward to 

collaborating with you to inspire more customers to 

“Choose Chicago.” 

Speaking of buzz, in 2017 Conde Nast Traveler readers 

named Chicago the “Best Big City in the U.S.” and 

Bon Appétit touted us as the “Restaurant City of 

the Year.” Chicago again had the honor of hosting 

the prestigious James Beard Awards for the third 

consecutive year and secured a commitment to host 

the awards for the next four years. 

DESIREE ROGERS 

BOARD CHAIR, 

CHOOSE CHICAGO 

DAVID WHITAKER 

PRESIDENT & CEO, 


CHOOSE CHICAGO / 9

2017 OPERATIONS 

REVENUE BY SOURCE 

47.5% 

STATE OF ILLINOIS 

24.7% 

MPEA AGREEMENT 

14.9% 

PRIVATE REVENUES 

12.9% 

CITY OF CHICAGO & CHICAGO 

DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION 

$29,112,095 

TOTAL REVENUE 

EXPENSE BY DEPARTMENT 

4.3% 

Global Development 

Marketing 

32.7% 

1.9% Cultural Tourism 

1.4% Research 

4.1% 

Sports Commission 

$31,088,777* 

2.6% Executive Office 

4.6% Corporate Allocations 

Sales & Services 

32.3% 

2.0% In-kind 

2.1% 

Public Policy 

6.5% 

Administrative 

5.5% 

Media Relations and Communications 

*Includes a $1.8 million investment with Brand USA to leverage international campaigns pre-paid in 2016. 


ECONOMIC IMPACT 

Chicago’s tourism industry plays a critical role in 

economic growth and job development. 

TOURISM-RELATED EMPLOYMENT 

132.4K 

133.5K 

136.0K 

140.5K 

145.1K 

146.6K 

2012 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 

2017 (PROJECTED) 

DIRECT TOURISM SPENDING 

$12.8B 

$13.3B 

$14.1B 

$14.6B 

$14.9B 

$15.2B 

2012 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 

2017 (PRELIMINARY) 

2.1% INCREASE 

TOTAL TAX REVENUE GENERATED 

$805.6M 

$836.1M 

$885.2M 

$891.6M 

$953.1M 

$972.4M 

2012 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 

2017 (PRELIMINARY) 

2.0% INCREASE 

HOTEL REVENUE 

$1.82B 

$1.90B 

$2.03B 

$2.22B 

$2.28B 

$2.31B 

2012 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 

2017 

1.3% INCREASE 

CHICAGO HOTEL TAX REVENUE 

$101.5M 

$106.3M 

$113.6M 

$123.9M 

$127.3M 

$129.0M 

2012 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 


1.3% INCREASE 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 11

VISITATION 

In 2017, Chicago welcomed an estimated 55.2 

million domestic and overseas visitors, an 

increase of 1.4 million more visitors than the 

previous year. 

TOTAL VISITATION 

(Domestic & Overseas) 

55.2M 

2017 (PROJECTED) 

2.5% INCREASE 

53.8M 

2016 

52.6M 

2015 

50.0M 

2014 

48.3M 

2013 

46.4M 

2012 

EVERY VISITOR TO CHICAGO 

GENERATES $18 IN TAXES 


HOTEL SNAPSHOT - CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT 

PERFORMANCE 

DEMAND 

(ROOMS OCCUPIED) 

7,656,659 (+6.2%) 

LEISURE ROOMS 

3,461,491 (-2.5%) 

GROUP ROOMS 

YEAR END SUPPLY 

42,456 

DAILY ROOM SUPPLY 

1,610 

DAILY ROOMS ADDED 

210,444 (+0.0%) 

CONTRACT ROOMS 

127 (+5 NEW PROPERTIES) 

HOTEL PROPERTIES 

REVENUE 

AVERAGE DAILY RATE 

74.7% 

OCCUPANCY RATE 

(-0.6%) 

15.2M (+4.0%) 

ROOMS AVAILABLE 

11.3M (+3.3%) 

ROOMS OCCUPIED 

$152.03 (-2.6%) 

REVENUE PER AVAILABLE 

ROOM (REVPAR) 

$2.307B (+1.3%) 

TOTAL REVENUE 

$129M (+1.3%) 

CHICAGO HOTEL 

TAX REVENUE 

$203.63 (-2.0%) 

AVERAGE ROOM 

$197.84 (-2.6%) 

LEISURE ROOM 

$220.84 (-0.6%) 

GROUP ROOM 

$131.46 (+5.4%) 

CONTRACT ROOM 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 13

MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS 

MCCORMICK PLACE 

61 5O 14 8 

Total future 

meetings secured 

New major future 

meetings and 

conventions 

Will be convening 

in Chicago for the 

first time 

Choosing to meet in Chicago for 

the first time in 10 years or more 

2,498 TOTAL MEETINGS BOOKED IN 2017 

2.64M Room Night Production 

5% Increase and surpassed 2017 goal 

878,000 Room Nights (or +33% of Room Night 

Production) booked within a 36-month window 

$4.04B in economic impact as a result of all 

conventions and meetings booked in 2017 

$1.23B In economic impact as a result of 50 new 

meetings booked at McCormick Place 

SIGNIFICANT CONFIRMATIONS 

Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting 

& Food Expo confirmed Chicago as the home of the 

IFT Annual Meeting on an annual basis from 2020 

through 2030 

National Restaurant Association – The International 

Foodservice Marketplace extended Chicago as the 

home of the National Restaurant Association Show 

from 2022 to 2026 

SIGNIFICANT NEW CONVENTIONS & EVENTS BOOKED IN 2017 

JAN 

APRIL 

JUNE 

JAN 

JULY 

2018 

2018 

2018 

2019 

2019 

Novo Nordisk 

National Meeting 

Oracle Corporation 

Modern Customer 

Experience 

Salesforce 

Connections 

United Soccer 

Coaches Association 

Annual Convention 

Global Business 

Travel Association 

Annual Convention 

JUNE 

MARCH 

JUNE 

AUG 

DEC 

2020 

2021 

2021 

2021 

2021 

Omnichannel 

Retail World 

Society of Surgical 

Oncology Annual 

Cancer Symposium 

Society for Human 

Resource Management 

Annual Conference 

& Exposition 

International Brotherhood 

of Electrical Workers 

Quinquennial Fall 

International Conference 

American Epilepsy 

Society Annual 

Meeting 

AUG 

MAY 

JUNE 

OCT 

APRIL 

2022 

2023 

2024 

2024 

2027 

National Association 

of Letter Carriers 

Biennial Convention 

American Association 

of Endodontists 

Annual Session 

Society for 

Vascular Surgery 

Annual Meeting 

Society of Women 

Engineers Annual 

Conference 

HIMSS Annual 

Conference & Exhibition 


“ 

Every aspect—from airport accessibility for 

our global attendee base to the fantastic 

local restaurant scene to the partnership we 

have with Choose Chicago, McCormick Place 

and the hotel community—entered into our 

decision to choose Chicago as IFT’s annual 

meeting destination from 2020 to 2030. 

– CHRISTIE TARANTINO-DEAN, FASAE, CAE 

CEO, Institute of Food Technologists 

“ 

ECONOMIC IMPACT (2020–2030): $340M | TAX REVENUE GENERATED: $36.6M 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 15

RECORD-BREAKING EVENTS 

We attracted over 30,000 delegates from 150 

countries and booked nearly 10,000 hotel 

rooms... The whole campus transformed into 

“a Lion city during our event. 

“ 

– GLORIA GESKE, CMP 

Manager, Convention Division, Lions Club International 

ECONOMIC IMPACT: $64.4M | TAX REVENUE GENERATED: $6.4M 


ATTENDANCE 

17 OF THE 40 

largest conventions broke attendance records or 

experienced increased attendance over 2016 

EXHIBIT SPACE 

8 OF THE 40 

largest conventions either broke records for 

amount sold, or sold out of exhibit space 

10 CONVENTIONS 

had record attendance 

7 CONVENTIONS 

increased their attendance over 

2016, but did not break a record 

7 CONVENTIONS 

had record-breaking 

exhibit spaces 

1 CONVENTION 

sold out exhibit space, but 

did not break a record 

JAN 6-8 

American Economic Association 

• Record attendance 

• Economic Impact: $19.5M 

MAR 5-9 

Pittcon 

• Pittsburgh Conf/Analytical Chem/ 

Applied Spectroscopy - PITTCON 

Conference & Expo 

• Registration up 20% over 2016 


MAR 18-21 

International Home 

+ Housewares Show 

• Sold out exhibit space 

• Increased international attendance 


APR 3-6 

Material Handling Industry - 

Promat 2017 & Automate 2017 

• Registration up 20% vs last convention 

in Chicago 


APR 21-23 

C2E2: Chicago Comic 

& Entertainment Expo 


APR 22-26 

FASEB: Federation 

of American Societies for 

Experimental Biology 

• First time in Chicago 

• Highest attendance since 1970 


MAY 6-9 

Digestive Disease Week 2017 

• Increased attendance 


MAY 10-13 

Heart Rhythm Society 38 th 

Annual Scientific Sessions 

• First time in Chicago 


MAY 20-23 

National Restaurant 

Association Restaurant 

Hotel-Motel Show 



MAY 23-25 

National Confectioners 

Association - NCA’s Sweets 

& Snacks Expo 


• Record exhibit space sold 


JUN 2-6 

American Society 

of Clinical Oncology - 53 rd 

Annual ASCO Meeting 




JUN 20-22 

Messe Frankfurt, Inc. - Techtextil 

North America 



JUN 22-27 

American Library Association 

2017 Annual Conference 



JUN 30 – JUL 4 

Lions Club International 

100th Lions Clubs 

International Conference 

• Record international attendance 

• Largest LCI convention ever held 

in U.S. 

• +20,000 participants in LCI 

Parade of Nations 


SEP 16-19 

American Academy 

of Pediatrics 2017 Conference 

& Exhibition 

• Record international attendance 



OCT 9-12 

Workday Rising 2017 



OCT 11-14 

American Academy of 

Optometry Annual Conference 



OCT 17-20 

National Assoc. of Convenience 

Stores - NACS 2017 




OCT 21-24 

Academy of Nutrition and 

Dietetics - FNCS 



NOV 3-6 

Society of Manufacturing 

Engineers - FABTECH 



• Record number of exhibiting companies 


NOV 6-9 

National Association of Realtors 

- Realtors Conference & Expo 



CHOOSE CHICAGO / 17

OUR PARTNERS 

Thank you to our distinguished 2017 Strategic 

Marketing Partners who represent the premier level 

of commitment to Chicago and supporting Choose 

Chicago’s goals: 


RECORD-BREAKING PARTNERSHIPS 

New Partners 

PERFORMANCE 

234 1,535 91% 

Total Partners 

(New Record) 

Retention Rate 

PARTNER NETWORKING & 

EDUCATION EVENTS 

Choose Chicago held numerous unique partner 

networking events and educational programs 

designed to help partners build relationships, increase 

awareness, and expand their professional knowledge. 

Some of these include: 

THE ETIQUETTE SCHOOL OF CHICAGO – Partnered 

to offer a highly interactive, experiential, and fun 

learning opportunity designed to teach proper dining 

and social etiquette. 

HOUSE OF BLUES GOSPEL BRUNCH NETWORKING 

EVENT – Partners enjoyed an amazing buffet while 

experiencing the most exhilarating and interactive live 

gospel performances anywhere. 

BOB BROWN – Internationally renowned motivational 

speaker, author, and trainer shared his proven 

techniques and takeaways on how restaurants can 

increase their check average and guest engagement. 

SOCIAL MEDIA MEET UP – The event was designed 

to help partners expand their knowledge and help 

answer questions regarding today’s most engaging 

and evolving social media platforms. 

EXPEDIA – Implemented several seasonal co-op 

programs for hotel partners to drive incremental 

room nights during select need periods. 

BRAND USA – Partnered on a first-ever attractions 

co-op program designed to raise global awareness 

and drive sales for many of our attraction partners. 

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS 

• Launched VIDEO PRODUCTION PROGRAM providing 

partners the opportunity to have custom and 

engaging videos created for their business. 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 19

CULINARY PROGRAMS 

JAMES BEARD AWARDS 

For the third straight year, Chicago 

was the host city of the James 

Beard Awards, held May 1, 2017 

at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. 

Congratulations to Rick Bayless 

and Topolobampo, recipient 

of the Outstanding Restaurant 

Award. Congratulations to Chef 

Sarah Grueneberg of Monteverde, 

recipient of the Best Chef, Great 

Lakes Award. 

Choose Chicago and the Illinois 

Restaurant Association are proud 

to continue to host the James 

Beard Awards through 2021. 

136 $13,600 10 

Restaurants participated in 

James Beard Eats Week 

JBF Scholarship Funds raised via 

James Beard Eats Week 

Chicago Chefs & Restaurants 

nominated for the 2017 James 

Beard Awards 

$28.8M in economic impact 

648,220 diners served 

349 participating restaurants 

$5 statement credit for every $25 spent dining at 

CRW participating restaurants 

THANK YOU to our 2017 Chicago Restaurant 

Week sponsors who continue to make this 

program a huge success: 

FIRST YEAR AT NAVY PIER in the Aon Grand Ballroom 

1500 attendees 

FEATURED SWEET AND SAVORY tastings from more 

than 60 CHEFS and restaurants, along with beer, wine, 

and cocktail pairings 

$10,000 of event proceeds were donated to the 

Greater Chicago Food Depository 

THANK YOU to our 2017 First Bites Bash sponsors: 


UNION PARTNERS 

Choose Chicago and our industry enjoy the strong 

support and service with the Chicago Federation of 

Labor and a collective team all focused on serving 

our customers, clients, and guests. 

Chicago Regional 

Council of Carpenters 

IATSE Locals 2 & 110 

International Brotherhood of 

Electrical Workers Local 134 

Machinery Movers, Riggers 

& Machinery Erectors 

Local Union 136 

Teamsters Joint Council 25 

UNITE HERE Local 1 

United Steelworkers 

Local 17 Decorators Union 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 21


CHOOSE CHICAGO / 23

MARKETING 

Choose Chicago launched the new Welcome Home 

marketing campaign in the spring of 2017. Welcome 

Home is Chicago’s invitation to the world and is based 

on the insight that home is not just where you are 

from, it is where you fit right in. And, when people visit 

Chicago, they feel at home. 

The launch also increased its footprint to not only 

focus on our core regional audience but also expand 

to national and international audiences. 

WELCOME HOME 

CAMPAIGN RESULTS 

(MAY–DECEMBER) 

$14.6M 

3X more vs 2016 

539,366 

+29% vs 2016 

$606.0M 

+37% vs 2016 

$1.6M 

+42% vs 2016 

Households Aware 

of Campaign 

Incremental Trips 

Economic Impact of 

Incremental Visitor Spending 

Total Media 

Investment 

$372 

Return on Media Investment 


WEBSITE ENGAGEMENTS 

(JANUARY–DECEMBER) 

WEB TRAFFIC VS 2016 

The expansion of Welcome Home to national 

audiences generated a significant increase in 

consumer response, including increased traffic 

from the states 

that host the 10 

largest cities and 

increases in our 

core regional 

audience. 

CA 

TX 

NY 

FL 

MA 

DC 

MI 

137,880 +36% 178,964 +14% 

IN 

109,296 +28% 145,203 +31% 

WI 

89,816 +13% 106,970 +9% 

OH 

77,598 +37% 79,015 -5% 

MN 

38,474 +3% 59,630 +48% 

MO 

27,783 +8% 59,250 +8% 

CHOOSECHICAGO.COM 

(JANUARY–DECEMBER) 

7.2M 

+8.6% vs 2016 

1M 

+6% vs 2016 

2.7M 

+29% vs 2016 

Website Visits Returning Visitors Mobile Visits 

220,349 

(+51% vs 2016) 

CHOOSE CHICAGO SOCIAL 

MEDIA FANS & FOLLOWERS 

91,931 

(+14% vs 2016) 

191,243 

(+17% vs 2016) 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 25

INTERNATIONAL MARKETING 

Choose Chicago launched a major international 

marketing effort leveraging the Welcome Home 

campaign in the fall of 2017. This included creating 

language-specific social media channels and 

corresponding web pages in several key markets: 

• BRAZIL (Brazilian Portuguese) 

• CANADA (French Canadian) 

• CHINA (Mandarin simplified) 

• FRANCE (French) 

• GERMANY (German) 

• JAPAN (Japanese) 

• MEXICO (Mexican Spanish) 

Choose Chicago supported these efforts with out-ofhome, 

digital media and social media campaigns that 

resulted in over 34 million impressions. 


T:1200 mm 

Job Number: 10777333 

Client/Brand: Choose Chicago/None 

Date: 5-18-2017 5:42 PM 

APPROVALS 

File Name: 10777333vBsLGBTQE_OOH_1200x2029.indd 

QC: Steve Jablonski 

Bleed: None 

Gutter: None 

Publications: None 

PA: Dan Abrigg 

PR: Pat Owens 

Trim: 1200 mm x 2029 mm Folds: NoneNone 

Notes: None 

RET: Karyn Bieneman 

PP: Audrey Wojtonik 

Safety: None 

Media/Color Sp: OOH/4 COLOR 

AB: Kathleen Candelaria 

TM: Deanna Loperena/John Watson 

Scale: 100% 

Country: US/EUROPE 

Vendor: None 

Actual Size: 1200x2029 

Language: None 

Output%: None 

GCD: Salvatore Russomanno 

Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black 

AD: Jaime Flynn/Brian Lamy 

Fonts: Gotham (Bold, Book Italic, Book; OpenType), Knockout (26 Junior Flyweight; OpenType) 

CW: Jen Stopka/Lorenzo Munoz 

AE: Chase Weigt 

ALL CONTENT WITHIN THIS FILE IS FOR OUTPUT ONLY BY END PRINTER/VENDOR. CHANGES, SHARING AND/OR DISTRIBUTING CONTENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. LICENSING RIGHTS AND APPROVALS MUST BE REQUESTED AND APPROVED TO/BY FCB CHICAGO. 

Images: 10777333c01_r4_LGBTQ_Heart.tif (129 ppi; CMYK), ChooseChicagoWelcomeHome_v_Wht.ai 

T:2029 mm 

B:121 cm 

T:106 cm 

S:96 cm 

Job Number: 10837035vGs 

Client/Brand: Choose Chicago/None 

Date: 9-22-2017 4:00 PM 

APPROVALS 

File Name: 10837035vGsSELFIEFALL_OOH_106x160_U8.indd 

QC: Steve Jablonski 

Bleed: 121 cm x 177 cm 

Gutter: None 

Publications: None 

PA: Dan Abrigg, David Shepherd 

PR: Pat Owens 

Trim: 106 cm x 160 cm 

Folds: NoneNone 

Notes: None 

RET: Greg Olsen 

PP: Marybeth Oskin 

Safety: 96 cm x 150 cm 

Media/Color Sp: OOH Digital/4 COLOR 

AB: Kathleen Candelaria 

TM: Deanna Loperena/Monica Wade 

Scale: 100% 

Country: Mexico City, Unit 8 

Vendor: None 

Actual Size: 106cm x 160cm 

Language: None 

Output%: None 

GCD: None 

Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black 

AD: Jaime Flynn 

Fonts: Gotham (Book, Bold, Book Italic; OpenType), Knockout (26 Junior Flyweight; OpenType) 

CW: Jen Stopka 

AE: Chase Weigt/Michelle Chen 

ALL CONTENT WITHIN THIS FILE IS FOR OUTPUT ONLY BY END PRINTER/VENDOR. CHANGES, SHARING AND/OR DISTRIBUTING CONTENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. LICENSING RIGHTS AND APPROVALS MUST BE REQUESTED AND APPROVED TO/BY FCB CHICAGO. 

Images: 10837035CT03_R3_SELFIEFALL_OOH_1185x1750.tif (145 ppi; CMYK), ChooseChicagoBienvenidosHome_v_Wht.ai 

B:177 cm 

T:160 cm 

S:150 cm 

OUT-OF-HOME 

HIER DARF SICH DEIN HERZ 

BEDINGUNGSLOS 

DAHEIM FÜHLEN 

EL HOGAR ES 

DONDE DE TOMAS 

UNA SELFIE 

No importa qué te guste subir a tu Instagram, 

en el Millennium Park lo tienes todo: comida, 

arte y arquitectura. 

choosechicago.com/welcomehome 

Chicago ist die Heimat einer der integrativsten 

Gemeinden von Schwulen, Lesben, Bisexuellen, 

Transsexuellen, Transvestiten und anderen 

Liebesanhängern. Hier stehen die Türen für jede 

Art der Liebe und sexuellen Ausrichtung offen. 

choosechicago.com/welcomehome 

GLOBAL INFLUENCER 

INSPIRATION TOUR 

Choose Chicago invited 36 global influencers 

from seven key markets to Chicago November 

17-20 to experience our city first-hand. One of the 

highlights was having these influencers ride on the 

Choose Chicago wrapped Welcome Home bus that 

was featured in the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival 

Parade on November 18. 

The collaboration with the Media Relations and 

Marketing teams reached: 

3.12M 

Instagram 

followers 

2M 

Weibo 

followers 

1.8M 

Facebook 

followers 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 27

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER 

 

2017 年 9 月号总第 268 期国际标准刊号 : ISSN 1671-9700 国内统一刊号 :CN11-4898/k 定价 :20 元港币 :30 元 

 

 

MEDIA RELATIONS 

Choose Chicago’s Media Relations team generates 

print, online, social, and television/radio broadcast 

media coverage of the destination by various means, 

including writing and distributing news releases, 

hosting press trips and individual media visits, and 

traveling on in-market media missions. 

The team brings storytelling to life by hosting 

domestic and international media in the destination to 

experience first-hand what Chicago offers and why we 

are a leading global visitor destination. 

China 

National Geographic Traveler 

magazine (China Edition) 

Circulation: 980,000 monthly 

Media Value: $685,440 

Mexico 

Refoma newspaper 

Circulation: 147,609 daily 


芝加哥百年潮范儿 

绿野仙踪奥地利 

京都朝市赶集去 

加州精酿之路 

旅行至更美好的世界 TRAVEL TO A BETTER WORLD 

Brazil 

Prazeres da Mesa magazine 

Circulation: 28,000 monthly 


France 

Femme Actuelle magazine 

Circulation: 649,524 weekly 


非洲守望者 

PERFIL/ 

POR CARLOS MARCONDES, DE CHICAGO 

FOTOS ERIC WOLFINGER, MATTHEW GILSON, 

Guardians of 

CHRISTIAN SEEL E ALLEN HEMBERGER 

H 

á quase dez anos, o americano Grant Achatz 

despontava como um dos mestres da gastronomia 

contemporânea. O restaurante Alinea, recém- 

-lançado na época, mostrava a força e a identidade de seu 

estilo teatral de surpreender com ousadas propostas de cozi- 

Restaurants (ele é o 21 o , em 2017). Entre dezenas de reconhecimentos, 

também foi nominado como o melhor chef dos 

Estados Unidos pela Fundação James Beard e entrou para o 

hall das 100 pessoas mais influentes do mundo, na célebre 

seleção da revista Time. 

nha molecular e vanguardista. Mas o destino impôs um for- 

No Alinea, sempre com espera de semanas, é preciso 

tíssimo golpe ao tentar interromper uma carreira brilhante. 

reservar e pagar por internet. A experiência de 18 pratos saí 

Achatz fora diagnosticado com um câncer na língua – de nível 

por cerca de 1.200 reais, e quem dela participa costuma ser 

4 –, cujo tratamento seria retirar-lhe 75% do órgão muscular. 

categórico em afirmar que vale cada centavo. É sentar e sur- 

Mesmo com a cirurgia, prognósticos davam ao cozinheiro 

preender-se com pratos do artesão. A forma como é apresen- 

apenas dois anos de vida. 

tada uma combinação entre caranguejo, banana e pimentas 

TURES 专辑 

Inconformado, ele buscou opções de tratamento alternativo, 

ainda em estágio de pesquisas. A aposta foi correta. 

foge por completo de um padrão homogêneo de criatividade. 

Arte, texturas, sabores, aromas e visual envolvem o comensal 

Depois de atravessar tufões na perseguição da cura, ele tem 

em um ambiente de intenso prazer. 

hoje o status que em inglês chama-se cancer free, a erradica- 

Há poucas semanas, em Chicago, o chef Achatz falou com 

邮发代号 82-820 

ção total da doença. 

Em sua farda de guerreiro, a trajetória o consagrou com 

exclusividade a Prazeres da Mesa sobre sua visão da gastronomia 

e de seus três empreendimentos na cidade: os restau- 

WWW.NGTRAVELER.CN 

três estrelas Michelin do Alinea, eleito em 2010 o sétimo 

melhor restaurante do mundo por The World’s 50 Best 

rantes Alinea e Next e o requintado bar de coquetel Aviary, 

prestes a ganhar um novo endereço em Nova York. 

TRENDY 

CHICAGO 

芝加哥 

百年潮范儿 

芝加哥历史博物馆的一位长者曾在我寻访时半开玩笑半 

认真地说 :“ 摩天大楼的故乡在芝加哥 , 即便是纽约人 

来我也会这样说。” 的确 , 这座城市值得让每一位芝加 

哥人自豪 ,1871 年它几乎被一场大火焚烧殆尽 , 却在 

浴火重生后建造了世界上第一座摩天大楼。无数建筑大 

师在这里留下了至今都无法超越的建筑设计瑰宝 , 路 

易斯 · 沙利文 (Louis Sullivan)、丹尼尔 · 伯纳姆 (Daniel 

Burnham)、鲁特 (John Wellborn Root)、赖特 (Frank Lloyd 

Wright)…… 正是这些名字共同建造起了无可取代的芝 

加哥最美的天际线。编辑 / 毕欣瑜文 /Queenie 图 / 于冬瑞 

AMERICANO 

TEATRAL 

Em Chicago, na entrega do James Beard Awards – considerado 

o Oscar da gastronomia americana –, entrevistamos o estrelado 

Grant Achatz, dos restaurantes Alinea e Next. A trajetória de um dos 

chefs mais aclamados do mundo vai além de simples inspiração 

Detalhes da elegante 

escadaria do Alinea, um 

dos icônicos coquetéis 

do Aviary 

e a sala de jantar 

chinesa do Next 

50 

A reportagem de prazeres da mesa teve o apoio de Choose Chicago, órgão oficial de turismo da cidade – choosechicago.com 

51 

28 / 2017 ANNUAL REPORT 

U.K. 

The Mail on Sunday newspaper 

Print Circulation: 2.3M weekly 

Online Circulation: 230M daily 

Media Value: $180,845

DECEMBER–JANUARY 2017 HIGHLIGHTS 

+$37M 

Earned 

media value 

+6B +3,400 368 

Readers, listeners, 

and viewers 

Published articles and broadcasts 

highlighting travel to Chicago 

Media hosted 

34 9 

6 

Domestic and 

international press tours 

Domestic and 

international in-market 

media events 

Domestic and 

international media 

marketplaces 

513 

Media hosted 

and/or supported 

Germany 

Spartacus Traveler magazine 

Circulation: 50,000 quarterly 


JULI – 

SEPTEMBER 2017 

SCHWULE KULTUR: 

TAIPEI, DUBLIN, GRAZ 

Japan 

Sankei newspaper 

Circulation: 700,000 daily 


Canada 

Toronto Star newspaper 

Print Circulation: 361,323 daily 

Online Circulation: 3.6M daily 


CHICAGO 

IN DEN BARS VON BOYSTOWN 

€ 3,95 | CHF 7,10 

SOMMER OHNE ENDE: 

GEWINNE ZWEI FLÜGE MIT CONDOR AUF DIE KANAREN! 

U.S. 

USA Today newspaper 

Print Circulation: 1.9M daily 

Online Circulation: 24.3M daily 


CHOOSE CHICAGO / 29

CULTURAL TOURISM 

The Cultural Tourism department is responsible for 

increasing awareness and visitation to Chicago’s 

cultural attractions, events and neighborhoods by 

promoting Chicago as a global cultural destination. 

Supporting our city’s Cultural Tourism Strategy, 

Choose Chicago’s initiatives are successfully 

increasing awareness and driving visitation to our 

attractions, cultural institutions and neighborhoods 

throughout the year. 

CHICAGO THEATRE WEEK 

Choose Chicago, in partnership with the League of 

Chicago Theatres, presented the fifth annual Chicago 

Theatre Week in 2017. 

115 PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS 

OFFERED VALUE-PRICED TICKETS TO 

635 INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES. 

A total of 11,750 TICKETS were sold in 2017, marking a 

rapid increase in sales over the course of the initiative. 

11,750 


10,500 

2016 

9,600 

2015 

7,900 

2014 

Chicago Theatre Week continued to bring in new 

audiences to area theaters with an average of 

65% OF THE THEATRE WEEK ATTENDEES VISITING 

THEIR CHOSEN THEATRE FOR THE FIRST TIME. 

CHICAGO FRIDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS 

The inaugural Chicago Friday Night Flights program, 

produced in partnership with the Illinois Craft Brewers 

Guild, was created to raise awareness and drive 

visitation to Chicago’s craft breweries throughout 

city neighborhoods. An epicenter of the craft beer 

movement, Chicago’s neighborhoods are home to 

more than 65 breweries which create a diverse array 

of styles, flavor profiles, and award-winning beers. 

• EIGHT EVENTS produced throughout the city 

from June – October 

• SIX NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS and two along the 

Chicago Riverwalk 

• 3,695 TOTAL TASTING PASSES SOLD 

• 41 BREWERY PARTICIPANTS 

CHICAGO GREETER 

The Chicago Greeter program matches 

visitors with a friendly, enthusiastic, 

knowledgeable local volunteer as their 

guide! The free service introduces 

visitors to various neighborhoods, 

cultural attractions, partners, and events 

throughout the city. 

2017 Visitation Numbers 

• Greeter Visits: 4,765 

• InstaGreeter: 2,360 

• Media & Global Development FAM trip 

participants: 378, 200% INCREASE 

OVER 2016 

• International Greeter Day participants: 338 

• Seasonal Millennium Park, Hyde Park, and 

Uptown Neighborhoods: 1,300 

• TOTAL: 9,141 

The program proved to 

be a draw for visitors from 

outside Chicago with 

13% OF PATRONS COMING 

FROM BEYOND 50 MILES 

OF THE CITY, INCLUDING 

36 STATES. 

INTERNATIONAL GREETER DAY 

• 338 visitors participated in 2017, a 50% 

INCREASE OVER 2016 

• 37 WALKS WERE OFFERED to five 

neighborhoods and three downtown locations, 

8% increase over 2016 

• 50 GREETERS PARTICIPATED in IGD Saturday 

September 9th, a 8% increase over 2016 


Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 

between Choose Chicago and the 

Ministry of Culture of the People’s 

Republic of China. 

Choose Chicago signed a historic MOU with the 

Ministry of Culture in 2015 to strengthen cultural 

cooperation and further develop cultural bridges 

to strengthen each as a prominent global cultural 

tourism destination. In 2017, under the MOU, Choose 

Chicago hosted the following cultural exchanges: 

CHINESE NEW YEAR 

The Year of the Rooster marked the 4 th year of 

Chicago’s citywide Chinese New Year Celebration 

and the 3 rd year Choose Chicago featured Chinese 

performing troupes as the signature events of 

the celebration. 

• 2017 programming was extended by INVITING 

TWO PERFORMING TROUPES from China to 

perform in Chicago. 

• Jackie Chan’s Long Yun Kung Fu Troupe performed 

to a SOLD OUT AUDIENCE at the Auditorium 

Theatre, entertained spectators during the 

Chinese New Year Kickoff Event at the Chicago 

Cultural Center, and conducted TWO COMMUNITY 

OUTREACH PERFORMANCES at Von Stueben and 

Benito Juarez High Schools. 

• The China National Peking Opera’s performances at 

the Studebaker Theatre and Art Institute of Chicago 

wowed audiences with their vocal skills. 

WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL 

Choose Chicago continued to partner with the 

Chicago World Music Festival to present a music 

ensemble from China during the festival. 

• CHINESE QUARTET YAO YE showcased intense 

rhythm and their own meditative, texture-rich 

sound made from a mixture of traditional Asian 

instruments during their performances at Ping 

Tom Park in Chinatown and the Chicago 

Cultural Center. 

• WFMT had Yao Ye in their studio for a LIVE 

FACEBOOK RECORDING SESSION and interview 

to promote their performances. 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 31

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT 

In 2017, the Global Development Team took 

Chicago’s message to 25 countries around 

the globe. 

140% 

above goal 

in FAMs 

120% 

above goal in international 

tradeshows attended 

CANADA 

Sales Calls, Tradeshows 

USA 

Sales Calls, Tradeshows, 

Client Events, FAMs, Promotions 

MEXICO 

Sales Calls, Client Events, 

FAMs, Trainings, 

Promotions 

CHILE 

FAM 

ARGENTINA 

FAM 

UK/IRELAND 

Sales Calls, Tradeshow, 

FAMs, Trainings, Promotions 

GUATEMALA 

FAM 

BENELUX 

Promotions 

SPAIN 

Tradeshow 

FRANCE 

FAM, Promotions 

SWITZERLAND 

Promotions 

NORDIC 

Tradeshows 

GERMANY 

Sales Calls, 

Tradeshow, FAMs, 

Promotions 

ITALY 

FAM, 

Promotion 

UAE 

Tradeshow 

INDIA 

Sales Calls, FAM, 

Trainings, Promotions 

CHINA 

Sales Calls, Tradeshows, Client Events, 

FAMs, Trainings, Promotions 

TAIWAN 

Sales Calls, 

Promotions 

JAPAN 

Sales Calls, FAMs, 

Promotions 

SOUTH KOREA 

Sales Calls, FAM 

AUSTRALIA/ 

NEW ZEALAND 

FAMs, Trainings, 

Promotion 

SALES MISSIONS & SALES CALLS 

A total of 20 missions and calls conducted, reaching 

over 1,839 Travel Trade Professionals 

TRADESHOWS 

Attended 12 international and 4 domestic tradeshows 

with over 539 appointments sharing Chicago’s story 

CLIENT EVENTS 

Global Development hosted 10 key client events 

FAMILIARIZATION (FAM) TRIPS 

30 FAM trips hosted in Chicago for 374 Travel Trade 

Professionals and key decision makers 

TRAININGS 

19 international destination trainings held 

PROMOTIONS 

43 initiatives to promote international and domestic 

tourism to Chicago 

The team collaborated 

with Brand USA to join 

their Discovery Program 

and launched the Chicago 

badge in six markets: 

UK, Ireland, China, India, 

Australia, and New Zealand 

633 agents certified 


PUBLIC POLICY & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 

The Public Policy & Community Affairs Department 

oversees Choose Chicago’s relations with local, state, 

and federal levels of government as well as community 

and civic leaders. The team takes a leadership role 

in working to make the travel and meetings industry 

a public policy priority and inform, educate, and 

engage partners. The team will continue to educate 

our elected officials on the impactful return on 

investment that lesuire, travel, and meetings bring to 

the economies of the city, county and state. 

Choose Chicago also helped to launch the first 

Hospitality Hires Chicago event in the spring of 2017. 

In partnership with the Chicago Cook Workforce 

Partnership, the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, 

the Illinois Restaurant Association, and the Magnificent 

Mile Association, Hospitality Hires Chicago successfully 

provided 50 employers with access to more than 

500 pre-screened work-ready candidates. We look 

forward to our continued partnership with these 

organizations, as well as the Chicago Loop Alliance, in 

order to provide hospitality employers with eager job 

seekers to fill their open positions. 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 33

CHICAGO SPORTS COMMISSION 

The Chicago Sports Commission recruits and supports 

high-profile, major sporting events that drive economic 

impact, create jobs, and generate positive media 

exposure for the city of Chicago. Our vision: to establish 

Chicago as the #1 U.S. destination for sporting events. 

2017 HIGHLIGHTS 

85,000 

Room nights generated 

20 

Global Sports cities index rating 

11 

Number of events hosted 

2017 MAJOR EVENTS 

NCAA MEN’S DIVISION 1 ICE HOCKEY 

CHAMPIONSHIP – THE FROZEN FOUR 


• Record-Breaking Attendance: 19,783 for final game 

• Room Nights: 27,508 

NHL DRAFT 

• Record-breaking attendance: 47,514 

MLS ALL-STAR GAME 

• Attendance: 61,428 

• Record-breaking U.S. viewership: 2.1M 


COMING TO CHICAGO IN 2018 

COMING TO CHICAGO IN 2018 

WINTER VOLLEYBALL 

CHAMPIONSHIPS 

JANUARY 13 - 15 | McCORMICK PLACE 


CHAMPIONSHIPS 

JANUARY 13 - 15 | McCORMICK PLACE 

BIG EAST WOMEN’S 

BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 

MARCH 3 - 6 | WINTRUST ARENA 


BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 

MARCH 3 - 6 | WINTRUST ARENA 

ADIDAS WINDY CITY 

NATIONAL QUALIFIER 

MARCH 30 - APRIL 1 | McCORMICK PLACE 

N 

MARCH 3 


CHAMPIONSHIPS 

January 13-15 

McCormick Place 

NCAA MEN’S GYMNASTICS 

CHAMPIONSHIPS 

APRIL 20 - 21 | UIC PAVILION 


BASKETBALL CAMPIONSHIP 

March 3–6 

Wintrust Arena 

NCAA MEN’S GYMNASTICS 

CHAMPIONSHIPS 

APRIL 20 - 21 | UIC PAVILION 

NBA COMBINE & 

DRAFT LOTTERY 

MAY 15 - 20 | DOWNTOWN CHICAGO 

ADIDAS WINDY CITY 

NATIONAL QUALIFIER 

March 30–April 1 


NBA COMBINE & 

DRAFT LOTTERY 

MAY 15 - 20 | DOWNTOWN CHICAGO MAY 31 

NHRA ROUTE 66 

NATIONALS 

MAY 31 - JUNE 3 | ROUTE 66 RACEWAY 

NCAA MEN’S 

GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 

April 20–21 

UIC Pavilion 

NBA COMBINE AND 

DRAFT LOTTERY 

May 15–20 

Downtown Chicago 

KPMG WOMEN’S 

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP 

JUNE 26 - JULY 1 | KEMPER LAKES 

NHRA ROUTE 66 NATIONALS 

May 31–June 3 

Route 66 Raceway 

KPMG WOMEN’S 

PGA 

KPMG 

CHAMPIONSHIP 

WOMEN’S 

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP 

June 26–July 1 

JUNE 26 - JULY 1 | KEMPER LAKES 

STARS AND STRIPES 

NASCAR WEEKEND 

JUNE 28 - JULY 1 | CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY 

Kemper Lakes 


LEADERS SPORT 

PERFORMANCE SUMMIT 



June 28–July 1 


July 10–11 

Chicagoland JUNE Speedway 28 - JULY 1 | CHICAGOLAND Soldier SPEEDWAY Field 

LEADERS SPORT 

PERFORMANCE SUMMIT 

JULY 10 - 11 | SOLDIER FIELD 

PE 

JU 

NIKE TOURNAMENT 

NIKE OF 

OF CHAMPIONS 

July 10–12 

JULY 10 -12 | McCORMICK PLACE 


SPECIAL OLYMPICS 50 TH 

ANNIVERSARY 

July 17–21 

CIBC Fire Pitch, Toyota Park, 

Soldier Field 

NIKE TOURNAMENT OF 

CHAMPIONS 

JULY 10 AVP -12 | GOLD 

SPECIAL OLYMPICS McCORMICK SERIES PLACE 

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS 

50TH ANNIVERSARY 

JULY 17 - 22 | SOLDIER FIELD 

August 30–September 2 

Oak Street Beach 

SPECIAL OLYMPICS 

50TH ANNIVERSARY 

LAVER CUP 

AVP GOLD SERIES JULY 17 - 22 | SOLDIER FIELD 

September 21–23 

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS 

United Center 

AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 2 | OAK STREET BEACH 

BE PART OF THE ACTION 

BANK OF AMERICA 


October 7 

Downtown Chicago 

LAVER CUP 

BANK OF AMERICA 

SEPTEMBER 21 - 23 | UNITED CENTER FOLLOW US @CHISPORTSCOMM 


BIG LAVER WINS CUP IN 2017 BANK OF AMERICA 

OCTOBER 7 | DOWNTOWN CHICAGO 

SEPTEMBER 21 - 23 | UNITED CENTER 


SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER 

OCTOBER 7 | DOWNTOWN CHICAGO CHICAGOSPORTSCOMMISSION.COM 

2018 LAVER CUP 

2019 UNITED 

2020 NBA ALL-STAR 

SEPTEMBER 21-23, 2018 

at the United Center 

• Chicago is the 1 st U.S. city to host 

SOCCER COACHES 

JANUARY 9-13, 2019 

at McCormick Place 

FEBRUARY 14-16, 2020 

with All-Star Game at the 

United Center 

• Broadcast in 224 countries 

• +34,500 contracted room nights • 27,000 contracted room nights 

(+11,500 per year) 

• Similar to golf’s Ryder Cup: Team 

• $100M in economic impact 

Europe vs Team World 

• Multi-year contract, convention will 

• Broadcast in +200 countries 

return in January of 2025 and 2031 

• Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, 

and territories 

and other major tennis stars 

will compete 

T 

AUGUST 30 - 

BE P 

FOLLO 

SIGN 

CHICAGO 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 35

Follow us @ChiSportsComm 

Sign up for our newsletter at 

ChicagoSportsCommission.com 


THANKS TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS 

Executive Committee (Hall of Fame) 

Board (MVP & All-Star) 

bKL 

ARCHITECTURE 

bKL 

bKL 

ARCHITECTURE 

ARCHITECTURE 

In Affiliation With 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 37

2018 KEY PRIORITIES 

Convention Sales & Services 

• 36 Month (Short-Term) Focus 

öö5% Growth in Room Nights Booked 

(January 2018 – December 2020) 

• 2019 Priority Year 

ööProduce Additional 200,000 Room Nights in 2019 

• Continue New Client/Customer Focus 

ööIn 2017, 36% of Meetings Hosted First Time in Chicago 

or First Time in 10 Years 

• Increase Lead Volume by 15% 

öö5,538 Leads Produced for Partners in 2017 

ööGoal for 2018 – 6,400 Leads 

• Intermediary Initiative 

öö15% Year Over Year Growth in Bookings 

• Confirm 1,630,000 Future City-Wide Room Nights 

ööOver 55 Future Major Meetings 

• Confirm 1,020,000 Future In-House Room Nights 

ööOver 2,400 Future In-Hotel Meetings 

• Solidify Success for Major Clients and Partners 

ööProvide Award Winning Client Services to 41 City-Wide 

Conventions in 2018 (up from 36 in 2017) 

Consumer Marketing 

• “Always On” Digital/Social Strategy (Paid, Organic, Curated) 

öö7,218,097 Website Visits in 2017 (8.6% increase) 

öö755,587 Repeat Visitors to Site (8.4% increase) 

• Fully Integrated Content Strategy Aligned Along 9 

Key Platforms 

ööPaid and Organic Search, Social Channels, On-Line Videos, 

Themed “Story Telling”, Re-Marketing Strategy Closely 

Coordinated with Influencer Strategy 

• Sustain Regional Programs Year-Round 

ööWelcome Home Campaign Reached 6.5 Million Regional 

Households in 2017 

• Expand National “Urban Center” Outreach/Engagement 

öö8.1 Million National Households Reached for the First Time 

in 2017 (Primarily Targeting Major US Cities) 

• Expand International Engagement (11 Key Markets) 

ööInternational Visitors to Website Increased 114% 

• Continue to Target “High Value” Customers 

ööNational US Overnight Visitors Average Length of Stay 

– 3.3 Nights 

ö ö Regional Overnight Visitor Average Length of Stay 

– 2.0 Nights 

Media Relations 

• Continue Expansion of Awareness and Coverage 

öö3,400 Published Articles 

öö6 Billion Total Circulation 

ööEarned Media Value: 

öö2016 - $9.6 Million 

öö2017 - $37.3 Million 

• Collaborate with Partners to Pitch and Host Media Visits 

to Chicago 

öö350 Hosted Media in 2017 (75 Hosted in 2016) 

• Market Specific Press Tours in Chicago 

öö25 Hosted in 2017 

• In-Market Media Events 

öö10 Activations in 2017 


• Complete Schedule of International Trade Shows 

öö12 in 2017 Completing 386 Client 

Appointments/Presentations 

öö13 Planned in 2018 

• Organize and Host Key Trade/Agent/Buyer FAMs to Chicago 

öö30 FAMs Hosted in 2017 Welcoming 374 Agents/Buyers 

from 14 Countries 

• Conduct Sales Missions 

öö20 Sales Missions Conducted in 2017 Interacting with 1,839 

Agents/Clients in 10 Countries 

• Continue In-Market Agent/Product Training 

ööCompleted 19 Training Seminars in 2017 Interacting with 

1,161 Agents as Well as Training Another 633 Agents 

World-Wide Who Participated in a Chicago Specialist 

Program in Partnership with Brand USA 

Chicago Sports Commission 

• Win Future Major, High-Profile Sporting Events that 

Positively Impact Chicago 

• Successfully Host the 11 Sports Events in CSC’s 2018 

Line Up 

• Leverage the Star Power of the Laver Cup to Generate 

more International awareness and interest in Chicago 

• Solidify Chicago as #1 U.S. Destination for International 

Rugby Matches 

• Create New Revenue Streams and Maintain Engagement 

with and Support of CSC Board 

Public Policy & Community Affairs 

• Strengthen and Expand Government and Civic Partnerships 

• Act as a Liaison and Build Alliances Among all Sectors of 

the Industry 

• Continue to be a Resource for Partners 

• Foster New Opportunities for Participation 

• Continue to Educate and Advocate on the Impact and Reach 

of the Visitor Economy 


CHOOSE CHICAGO / 39

OFFICERS 

DESIREE ROGERS 

Board Chair 

Choose Chicago 

GILLIAN DARLOW 

Vice Chair 

CEO 

Polk Bros. Foundation 

LOU RAIZIN 

Treasurer 

President 

Broadway In Chicago 

PATRICK DONELLY 

Secretary 

General Manager 

Hyatt Regency Chicago 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

RALPH AFFRUNTI 

President 

Chicago & Cook County 

Building & Construction 

Trades Council 

HOLLY AGRA 

Owner & CEO 

Chicago’s First Lady Cruises 

JOHN COLLETTI 

Managing Partner 

The Gibsons 

Restaurant Group 

ROSA ESCARENO 

Commissioner 

Chicago Department 

of Business Affairs and 

Consumer Protection 

GINGER EVANS 

Commissioner 


of Aviation 

LAURENCE GELLER 

Chairman 

Geller Investment Co. LLC 

KWANG-WU KIM 

President & CEO 

Columbia College Chicago 

MARK LAUER 

General Manager 

Sheraton Grand Chicago 

TOM LOUGHLIN 

Area Vice President 

Hilton Worldwide 

KEVIN MCLAUGHLIN 

Business Representative 

United Brotherhood of 

Carpenters, Local 10 

JERRY MICKELSON 

Chairman and Co-Founder 

Jam Productions 

LYNN OSMOND 


Chicago Architecture 

Foundation 

JORGE RAMIREZ 

President 

Chicago Federation of Labor 

MANNY SANCHEZ 

Founding Partner 

Sanchez Daniels & 

Hoffman LLP 

HARRIET SEITLER 

Chief Marketing Officer/ 

Executive Vice President 

OWN | Harpo Studios 

ALPANA SINGH 

Restauranteur, 

Master Sommelier 

The Boarding House 

& Seven Lions 

MELODY SPANN-COOPER 

Chairman | President 

Midway Broadcasting 

Corporation | WVON 

SAM TOIA 


Illinois Restaurant Association 

CARLOS TORTOLERO 

Founder and President 

National Museum of 

Mexican Art 

EX-OFFICIO 

WALTER BURNETT JR. 

Alderman, 27th Ward 

City of Chicago 

DON FINN 

Business Manager, 

Financial Secretary 

I.B.E.W. Local 134 

BILLY GLUNZ 

Regional Director, 

Government Affairs 

American Airlines 

LORI HEALEY 

CEO 

Metropolitan Pier & 

Exposition Authority 

AMY HUGHES 

Managing Director, 

Market Executive 

Bank of America 

MARK KELLY 

Commissioner 


of Cultural Affairs & 

Special Events 

BRETT HART 

Vice President and 

General Counsel 

United Airlines 

JAKE HENRY 

Director 

McKinsey & Company 

MATT HYNES 

Managing Director 

GCM Grosvenor 

MARKO IGLENDZA 

Founder & CEO 

Terminal Getaway Spa 

MARIA RAZUMICH-ZEC 

Regional Vice President 

and General Manager 

The Peninsula Chicago 

SANDRA REYNOLDS 

Partner 

IntraLink Global LLC 

TOM RICKETTS 

Chairman 

Incapital LLC 

RON VLASIC 

Regional Vice President 

of Hotels 

Kimpton Hotels & Resorts 

MARK WATSON 

Executive Director 

Radiological Society of 

North America (RSNA) 

KEVIN WILLER 

Partner 

Chicago Ventures 

BARBARA LAKEN 

Regional Sales Director 

United Airlines 

SEAN MCCARTHY 

Director 

Illinois Department 

of Commerce and 

Economic Opportunity 

JOHN TOMASIEWICZ 

Director, Client Management 

American Express – 

Global Merchant Sales 


EXECUTIVE STAFF 

MARC ANDERSON 

Executive Vice President 

LORI ADLESICK 

Vice President 

Industry Relations and 

Special Events 

RITA CHEN 


Marketing 

DAVID CZECHOWSKI 

Director/Senior Economist 

Research and Analysis 

EDIE GLAVEY 


Hotel Sales 

ROSE HORCHER 


Client Services 

AL ORENDORFF 

Director 

Corporate Communications 

MAYANK PATEL 

Director 

Information Technology 

DARRELL BAKER 


Trade Show Sales 

KARA BACHMAN 

Executive Director 

Chicago Sports Commission 

KEN BENNETT 

Senior Advisor 

Public Policy/ 

Community Affairs 

LISA DIXON 

Director 

Human Resources 

CAROLYN EARNER 

Executive Assistant to the 


JORDAN ENGERMAN 

Director 

Partnerships 

JASON LESNIEWICZ 

Director 

Cultural Tourism 

JIM MEYER 

Chief Financial Officer 

JULIE MULLINS 


Convention Sales 

MICHELLE GONZALEZ 

(REVUELTA) 


Media Relations 

BRIAN SAID 



DAVID WHITAKER 

President & Chief 

Executive Officer 

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 41

42 / 2017 ANNUAL REPORT 

THANK YOU 

TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS FOR 

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR

CHOOSE CHICAGO / 43

S T A Y 

C O N N E C T E D 

CHOOSECHICAGO.COM 

@CHOOSECHICAGO 

@CHISPORTSCOMM 

@CHOOSECHICAGO 

@CHISPORTSCOMM 


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