(CHICAGO) — Chicago has once again been crowned the Best Big City in the U.S. in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
This is the ninth consecutive year Chicago has claimed this title, a streak unprecedented in the awards program’s more than 30-year history. Over 750,000 votes were cast for this year’s Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
In the United Kingdom’s edition of the 2025 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, Chicago was named one the friendliest cities in the world, the only U.S. city to earn this recognition.
“Being named the Best Big City in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler readers for the ninth consecutive year is an extraordinary honor—and one that feels more meaningful than ever,” said Kristen Reynolds, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. “This recognition comes from some of the world’s most experienced and discerning travelers, and it affirms what we know to be true: Chicago is a world-class city with unmatched beauty, culture, and hospitality. At a time when negative narratives too often overshadow our reality, this distinction helps showcase the true spirit and vibrancy of our city to the world. It’s also a powerful driver for our tourism economy, which generates more than $20 billion annually and supports over 130,000 local jobs. We’re deeply proud
of this achievement and grateful to everyone who makes Chicago a destination unlike any other.”
The announcement of this award comes as Chicago continues to experience significant momentum in the tourism industry. Last week, Choose Chicago announced that local hotels had the strongest summer on record in terms of both room demand and revenues, bucking national trends in a challenging year for the tourism industry. Over 3.56 million hotel rooms were occupied during the months of June, July, and August 2025, marking a 4.3% increase over 2024 demand levels and surpassing the previous record year of 2019. Hotel revenues over the same months surpassed $948 million, surpassing the previous record set in 2024.
In 2024, Chicago welcomed an estimated 55.3 million visitors, generating $20.6 billion in economic impact and supporting more than 130,000 jobs.
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