Chicago Ranks Top Meeting Destination
Chicago is a top meeting destination- of course! There’s no place like the Windy City and this new report from USA Today confirms that Chicago has claimed the top spot among US destinations where companies and associations hold meetings and events.
According to the USA Today article, “…looking at its booking data from July 2013 to June 2014, the company found that Chicago had inched up to first place compared with the previous year, overtaking Orlando, which now is second, followed by Las Vegas.”
Chicago has seen extensive investment in its hotels, including major renovations of the Hyatt Regency Chicago and The Langham. The fact that Chicago and other Midwestern cities are more centrally located is also appealing to companies because they may be more convenient and affordable for attendees traveling from various cities around the country and the world.
“Chicago in particular is very attractive to association meetings as they’re trying to draw their membership from around the country,” Eden says. “It’s not just the hotel rates that might be more competitive than some other locations. But because it’s centrally located, the airfare and total cost for people to attend are lower versus if people have to fly from one coast to the other.”
And when people get to Chicago for their meetings they are greeted by a plethora of ground transportation options (see the post A Guide to Getting Around Chicago for more on this), a variety of restaurants, nightlife options and events to attend. All of this combines to make Chicago a great destination for leisure and business travelers alike.
This is great news for Chicago. According to USA Today, “Meetings can be more lucrative for hotels than individual travelers because of the tabs accrued from catering and providing audio/visual assistance along with other services.” This means bring on the business trips because it’s a win-win all around.
Chicago is more than just a place to hold your meeting or event; it’s about the culture of hospitality that surrounds the city. When people get here, they get it.
Remember to book SMART for your next Chicago-bound meeting or leisure trip. The Windy City is waiting for your arrival!
