DESTINATION AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
2013
American Style Magazine ranks Chicago No. 3 on its list of the "Top 25 Big Cities for Art."
WalkScore.com names Chicago as one of their "Top 10 U.S. Cities to Travel Car-Free." Using concrete measureables, including access to public transportation and walkability of hotels and attractions, were used in determining that Chicago is the fourth most walkable major city in the United States.
Cheapflights.com names Chicago as one of their "Top 10 Most Stunning Skylines in the World."
Four Chicago restaurants made Open Table's 2013 list of "Top Restaurants for Service in the U.S." including:
Chicago's Lao Sze Chuan makes Travel + Leisure's list of the "Best Chinese Restaurants in the U.S."
Forbes Travel Guide 2013 announces their list of "Five Star Award Winners," including three Chicago hotels:
And three Chicago restaurants:
AAA announces its "Five Diamond" restaurants and hotels, recognizing eight Chicago institutions. Chicago restaurants include:
AAA Five Diamond hotels include:
- The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (23 years)
- The Peninsula Chicago (11 years)
- Waldorf Astoria Chicago (3 years)
- Trump International Hotel & Tower (3 years)
Additionally, 59 restaurants and hotels were honored with the AAA Four Diamond rating.
Seven Chicago bars are included in Draft Magazine's "America's 100 Best Beer Bars" including:
According to Yahoo!, Chicago is the world's second most searched for city online.
Travel + Leisure readers select seven Chicago properties to its list of "500 Best Hotels in the World" including:
- Waldorf Astoria
- Peninsula Chicago
- Four Seasons Hotel
- Park Hyatt
- Trump International Hotel & Tower
- Ritz-Carlton, Chicago , A Four Seasons Hotel
- Sofitel Chicago Water Tower
Business Traveler names Chicago the "Best North American Business Meetings Destination"
Chicago has 19 Michelin starred restaurants. Click here for a comprehensive look at Chicago's 2013 Michelin Guide.
There are 64 Chicago restaurants listed as "Bib Gourmands" in the 2013 Michelin Guide, up from 56 last year. This prestigious mark is given to restaurants of outstanding quality and a reasonable price point.
2012
Six Chicago hotels were listed on US News and World Report's list of the "Best Hotels in the USA" including:
- Waldorf Astoria Chicago (No. 10)
- Four Seasons Chicago (No. 30)
- The Peninsula Chicago (No. 34)
- The Ritz-Carlton (No. 52)
- Park Hyatt Chicago (No. 61)
- Trump International Hotel & Tower (No. 116)
Trump International Hotel & Tower was recognized on Travel + Leisure's list of hotels with the "World's Best Service," ranking No. 9 on the planet.
Sheffield's Chicago is named as one of "America's Best Beer Gardens" by Food & Wine. With its "strong selection of American craft brews" and "comfy patio" this bar has been a Lakeview staple since it opened more than a quarter century ago.
Conde Nast ranks Chicago #3 on its Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards for the "Top 10 Cities in the U.S." The publication relied on the input of a record 46,746 readers for the 25th iteration of the awards. The publication cited "terrific architecture" and "great ethnic food" for what make Chicago a "perfect city for solo, friend, family, or romantic getaways."
Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile has been awarded with a prestigious "Four Diamond" rating from AAA. The rating is a reflection of the hotel's design, far-reaching amenities and distinguished style. AAA inspectors thoroughly evaluated the hotel, graded the establishment's hospitality and used feedback from members as a criteria for recognizing the InterContinental's notable accomplishments.
Celebrated Chicago staple Spiaggia makes Travel and Leisure's list of the "20 Best Italian Restaurants in the Country."
The world-renowned Lincoln Park restaurant Alinea topped Zagat's 2012-2013 best restaurant list. The guide reviewed over 1,300 establishments in the Chicago and Milwaukee area. Alinea, the only three-star Michelin rated restaurant in Chicago, came out on top as the "best restaurant" and "most popular" in the area with a near-perfect score from Zagat - 29 points out of 30. The "Top 10" list is as follows:
- Alinea
- Katsu
- Next
- Riccardo Trattoria
- Les Nomades
- Takashi
- Avec
- Green Zebra
- MK
- Schwa
ABC City Guide for Kids named Chicago's Art Institute of Chicago as one of its "Top Five Art Museums" and the Eli's Cheesecake Tour as one of its "Top Five Factory Tours."
Six Chicago Hotels ranked in the 2012 World's Best Awards list of the Top 50 Large City Hotels in the U.S.
- Waldorf Astoria Chicago (#1)
- The Peninsula Chicago (#3)
- Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (#22)
- Park Hyatt Chicago (#27)
- Trump International Hotel & Tower (#29)
- Ritz-Carlton Chicago, A Four Season Hotel (#37)
The family owned, Chicago based Hoosier Mama Pie Company makes Food and Wine's list of the "Best Pie Shops in America."
Chicago is ranked as "the second best city in the U.S. and Canada," according to the Travel + Leisure 2012 World's Best Awards readers' poll. Readers rated cities on six characteristics: sights, culture/arts, restaurants/food, people, shopping, and value. This is Chicago's highest-ranking ever in the 17 years of the survey.
Travel + Leisure ranks Chicago third on its "Best Burger Cities" list. Deep dish pizza is a bit saucy about Chicago becoming a beef town, and we all know how much hot dogs hate to share the spotlight. But relax guys, there's room for everyone. Kuma's Corner (located in the Avondale neighborhood) was singled out for its charmingly irreverent restaurant environment and downright impeccable burger.
Soldier Field was recently named the first certified green stadium in the NFL.
GQ lists a pair of Chicago restaurants on its "Ten Best New Restaurants in America." Next and Ruxbin ranked third and ninth respectively.
The Violet Hour in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood is named the seventh "Best Bar in America" by Esquire.
Chicago is called one of the "Top 10 US Travel Destinations for 2012" by Lonely Planet. Those guys do a lot of traveling, so they would know.
Chicago's Millennium Park ranks #7 on the "World's Most Popular Landmarks" by Travel + Leisure.
Chicago's Girl and the Goat wins a Travelers' Choice Award as one of Trip Advisor's "Favorite Restaurants 2012." Two words: ham fries.
The Waldorf Astoria Chicago ranks #1 on Trip Advisor's "Top 25 Hotels in the United States."
Chicago's Alinea ranks sixth at 2012's "50 Best Restaurants" Awards."
The Chicago Sinfonietta wins two national awards for excellence from the League of American Orchestras. Music to our ears.
Chicago is named one of the "World's Top Destinations for 2012" by CNN.
Zagat names three Chicago restaurants (Alinea, Les Nomades and Schwa) to its 2012 list of America's Top Restaurants.
Chicago earns one three-star (Alinea), two two-star (Charlie Trotter's and Ria) and eighteen one-star restaurants in the MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2012.
Fifty-six Chicago restaurants
receive recognition as Bib Gourmand restaurants in the Michelin Guide. Bib Gourmands are defined as "Inspector's Favorites for Good Value," and denote high-quality restaurants that serve two courses and either dessert or wine (minus tax and gratuity) for less than $40. Eighteen restaurants are new to this year's list, including Avec, Perennial Virant and GT Fish & Oyster.
2011
Chicago tops Forbes List of "America's Best Downtowns." When it comes to beauty, our skyline is all business.
Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards names the Elysian Hotel #1 and The Peninsula #3 in the United States.
Travel + Leisure magazine names three Chicago hotels in its World's Best Hotels awards: The Peninsula, The Elysian and Trump International Hotel & Tower.
Travel + Leisure magazine names five Chicago hotels in its Top 50 Large City Hotels in the U.S. Awards: The Peninsula, Elysian Hotel, Trump International Hotel & Tower, Ritz-Carlton a Four Seasons Hotel and Park Hyatt.
The TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice names Chicago's The Wit, a Doubletree Hotel, a winner of the "Top 10 Trendiest Hotels in the U.S."
The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants names Alinea the #6 restaurant in the world and the #1 restaurant in North America.
Seven Chicago restaurants earn the prestigious
Five Diamond Award from the AAA, more than any other North American city and the fifth year in a row Chicago has led the nation. Restaurants awarded include Tru, Alinea, Arun's, Avenues, Charlie Trotter's, Everest and Seasons.
Chicago earns two three-star (Alinea and L20), three two-star (Avenues, Charlie Trotter's and Ria) and eighteen one-star restaurants in the first-ever MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2011.
Forty-six Chicago restaurants receive recognition as Bib Gourmand restaurants in the Michelin Guide. Bib Gourmands are defined as "Inspector's Favorites for Good Value," and denote high-quality restaurants that serve two courses and either dessert or wine (minus tax and gratuity) for less than $40.
Chicago is the only city where Michelin inspectors considered breakfast as a meal type. And, they were so impressed by the offerings that "Breakfast Specialists" was included in the MICHELIN Guide highlighting Chicago restaurants with standout breakfast preparations.
2010
Chicago wins #1 city for pizza, skyline views and business hotels in Travel + Leisure's "American's Favorite Cities" survey. So, if you love deep dish, postcards, and closing the deal, then what are you waiting for?
Chicago ranks #3 on list of cities with the most Twitter users by twitter.grader.com. Wow @Chicago! Is there an emoticon for #awesome?
Travel + Leisure magazine names Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago the #1 Large City Hotel in the Continental U.S. and Canada.
Forbes magazine ranks Chicago the "4th Coolest City in the U.S." How many street festivals, Top Chef finalists, and Kanye West bangers do we need to be #1, Forbes!?
Alinea awarded #7 on the annual World's 50 Best Restaurants list by Restaurant Magazine.
Chicago's Montrose Avenue Dog Beach voted one of the nation's best by Fido-Friendly Magazine.
AmericanStyle magazine readers name Chicago the #2 Top Arts Destination in the U.S.
TripAdvisor.com awards Chicago #5 on the Top 10 Food & Wine Destinations in the World.
Chicago Voted #10 on the "America's Top 50 Bike-Friendly Cities" in Bicyclists Magazine.
News & Updates
Chicago Social
via twitter & facebook
@ChooseChicago