Announced last week, TripAdvisor revealed its 2014 top U.S. destinations as voted by traveler reviews and your very own Chicago has landed at number two! Chicago's ranking surpasses San Francisco from last year, and sits just behind New York. Coming just on the heels of U.S. Travel Association's IPW conference being held in Chicago, the city couldn't be more jazzed to hear the news.
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How is this ranking determined, you ask? Travelers' Choice Destinations honor top travel spots worldwide based on the millions of valuable reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travelers. An algorithm to determine the winners took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, attractions and restaurants in destinations worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period. In other words, this is an award earned by the entire city.
This award is a large step in the right direction towards reaching Mayor Emanuel's goal of 55 million visitors to the city annually by 2020.
"This ranking is another indicator that Chicago continues to deliver a memorable experience for visitors," said Don Welsh, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. "Chicago continues to reinvent and elevate itself as a leading destination for domestic and international travelers. Our market is responding to the heightened demand in leisure tourism with highly anticipated hotel openings this year, including the world's first Virgin Hotel."
The top cities from the Travelers' Choice U.S. list are:
1. New York, New York
2. Chicago, Illinois
3. San Francisco, California
4. Las Vegas, Nevada
5. New Orleans, Louisiana
6. Los Angeles, California
7. San Diego, California
8. Seattle, Washington
9. Washington, D.C.
10. Orlando, Florida
11. Honolulu, Hawaii
12. Houston, Texas
13. Charleston, South Carolina
14. Boston, Massachusetts
15. Portland, Oregon
16. San Antonio, Texas
17. Palm Springs, California
18. Austin, Texas
19. Branson, Missouri
20. Atlanta, Georgia
21. Phoenix, Arizona
22. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
23. Saint Louis, Missouri
24. Nashville, Tennessee
25. Miami Beach, Florida