More than 300 hospitality, tourism, business, and civic leaders gathered at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on June 25 for Choose Chicago’s 2026 Mid-Year Outlook, an afternoon dedicated to celebrating the city’s tourism momentum and exploring opportunities ahead for Chicago’s visitor economy.
Chicago Saw Solid Visitation Growth During a Challenging 2025
During opening remarks, Choose Chicago President & CEO Kristen Reynolds unveiled new tourism data demonstrating the continued strength of Chicago’s visitor economy.
Chicago welcomed 56.8 million visitors in 2025, an increase of nearly 1.5 million visitors over the previous year. Those visitors generated a record-breaking $21.5 billion in direct spending and supported more than 135,000 jobs.
Industry Experts Share Market Insights
The afternoon featured a presentation from Cindy Decker of Tourism Economics, who provided a detailed overview of current travel trends and economic forecasts impacting destinations across the country.
A panel discussion featuring Decker, Choose Chicago Chief Sales Officer Dustin Arnheim, and Hyatt Regency Chicago Director of Sales & Marketing Andrea Kasnic explored what meeting planners and event organizers are signaling about future booking trends and opportunities for Chicago. The conversation reinforced Chicago’s position as one of the nation’s premier meeting and convention destinations, supported by a strong calendar of major events and conventions.
Competing for the Global Traveler
Choose Chicago Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Nucci joined Brand USA Chief Marketing Officer Leah Chandler for a conversation focused on international visitation and destination marketing. The discussion highlighted Chicago’s growing appeal among international travelers and examined new strategies for reaching global audiences through storytelling, partnerships, and digital innovation. The session also offered attendees a first look at how Choose Chicago and Brand USA will work together to elevate Chicago’s profile in key international markets.
The Future of AI and Travel
The event concluded with a keynote presentation from Tyler Kirsh, Chief Operating Officer of Unchained, who explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping the travel industry. Kirsh shared practical examples of how destinations, hotels, attractions, and tourism organizations can leverage emerging technologies to better understand travelers, improve decision-making, and enhance the visitor experience. His presentation underscored a key theme of the afternoon: the destinations that embrace innovation today will be best positioned to compete tomorrow.
Building Chicago’s Next Chapter Together
As Chicago continues to attract visitors from around the world, Choose Chicago remains focused on three long-term priorities: competitiveness, global reach, and neighborhood inclusion.
The organization’s work is increasingly supported by the recently launched Tourism Improvement District, a strategic investment designed to strengthen destination marketing, sales efforts, research, and visitor development initiatives for years to come.
The 2026 Mid-Year Outlook served as a reminder that Chicago’s tourism success is built through collaboration among hotels, attractions, restaurants, cultural institutions, meeting venues, neighborhood organizations, and civic leaders. Together, we are helping ensure that Chicago’s current momentum turns into sustained growth for our city, our neighborhoods, and our visitor economy.
