Why doesn't Chicago come across as touristy? (Manhattan, Victoria: club, airport)

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by MiamiRob

Miami does have more media exposure world wide than Chicago does. That's not a knock on Chi town either but people world wide have heard of Miami more than Chicago. Of course having the President of the US come from the Windy city has elevated it to international exposure.

Miami is so unique in the U.S., i think it's definitely deserving of it's recognition.

Chicago will always be a 2nd fiddle to New York City, in my mind. NYC is pretty amazing, so you can be pretty amazing like Chicago, and have a ton to offer. But NYC just has a tad bit more.

Miami would be a 10th or 15th fiddle or something to NYC, but just seems so incredibly different, that I can see why it get's its explosure.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Chicago76

Until you've seen a Great Lake, you can't really understand how similar it is to being on a huge bay or the ocean. If the city just decided to dump an ungodly amount of salt in the Lake and rename it Sea of Michigan, that would go a long way. I'm only half joking here.

So true!

Being from Michigan, I've routinely surprised how many people imagine 'Iowa' or 'Nebraska'...just some monolithic land-locked cornfield with industrial deteriotation in places.

'Sea of Michigan' would certainly better describe the feel of the Great Lakes along the waters. 'Lakes' is just such an understatement.

[reppin_the_847]

I hear that BUT I've met folks from Tennessee and they'd be more likely to visit Chicago since they're so close to the Midwest. Most people I met from Tennessee (didn't meet them in IL) had been to Chicago before but not necessarily NYC.

With New Mexico, yeah maybe they'd be more likely to hit up NY. But to a lot of people there, it's probably a lot more likely they might end up visiting Los Angeles or Houston (sprawling sunbelt-ish cities, true) 10X more than hitting up Chicago or NYC unless it's for a business trip or to visit family.

Originally Posted by grapico

He was just using Arizona as an example, you could insert New Mexico or Tennessee. Same scenario.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by reppin_the_847

I hear that BUT I've met folks from Tennessee and they'd be more likely to visit Chicago since they're so close to the Midwest. Most people I met from Tennessee (didn't meet them in IL) had been to Chicago before but not necessarily NYC.

With New Mexico, yeah maybe they'd be more likely to hit up NY. But to a lot of people there, it's probably a lot more likely they might end up visiting Los Angeles or Houston (sprawling sunbelt-ish cities, true) 10X more than hitting up Chicago or NYC unless it's for a business trip or to visit family.

You are still taking it too literally. I still don't mean Tennessee or New Mexico, just saying NYC has a much bigger culture draw in the U.S. and around the globe than Chicago does. I am not sure why you think they are likely to go to NYC only for a business trip or family.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by MiamiRob

You really don't know much about Miami then. Throw the name around in Europe or Asia and they know Miami. I'm not saying they don't know Chicago as well but most couldn't even name the state it's in.

So now we're measuring a city's media presence based on how many people around the world know what state it's in? Man, Washington D.C. is so screwed.

[Chicago76]

EuroMonitor US city ranking of most visited cities by international visitors, 2010:

New York 9.0 million
Miami 6.0 million
Las Vegas 5.1 million
Los Angeles 4.6 million
Orlando 3.3 million
San Francisco 2.9 million
Seattle 1.9 million
DC 1.6 million
Chicago 1.3 million

[Chicagoist123]

Originally Posted by Chicago76

EuroMonitor US city ranking of most visited cities by international visitors, 2010:

New York 9.0 million
Miami 6.0 million
Las Vegas 5.1 million
Los Angeles 4.6 million
Orlando 3.3 million
San Francisco 2.9 million
Seattle 1.9 million
DC 1.6 million
Chicago 1.3 million

I highly doubt Seattle gets visited ore than Chicago and DC. Or Miami THAT much more than LA.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

I highly doubt Seattle gets visited ore than Chicago and DC. Or Miami THAT much more than LA.

Seattle doesn't surprise me. People from Asia love to go to Seattle and San Fran, plus don't forget how close Seattle is to Vancouver, Victoria, etc. Canadians are international visitors, too.

Miami surprises me a little more. If anything, when I think of international visitors going to Florida I think of Orlando. I'll admit I don't know much about Miami, though. Their behemoth media machine has apparently somehow failed to reach me.

[5Lakes]

I would say that Chicago does come across as touristy, just not at the top of the tourist food chain like some on here fancy it should be. It does not bring in the tourists like NYC, Miami, or Vegas do; however, compared to most American cities I think it does quite well. It seems like there is a constant stream of tourists up and down Michigan Avenue, even if the vast majority of them are regional. I even see some international tourists here from time to time as well.

Cities that don't come across as touristy would be places like St. Louis, Denver, or Sacramento. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Frankly, Chicago's best feature that will attract visitors is its "big city" experience and it will always be second fiddle to NYC in that regard.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

Seattle doesn't surprise me. People from Asia love to go to Seattle and San Fran, plus don't forget how close Seattle is to Vancouver, Victoria, etc. Canadians are international visitors, too.

Miami surprises me a little more. If anything, when I think of international visitors going to Florida I think of Orlando. I'll admit I don't know much about Miami, though. Their behemoth media machine has apparently somehow failed to reach me.

That makes perfect sense. I too was a little about Seattle.

While Miami does seem a bit high, it is top on the radar screen for South Americans. Telemundo and Univision are headquartered there. A lot of wealthy South Americans I believe have second homes there.