Chicago Tourism: How would you improve it? (Paris, Liberty: 2013, hotel)

[Lucky Clover]

Just want to get an idea from people on how they would improve the tourism in the city. I would say, as I've said before, Chicago's a pretty underrated tourist city. With that said, there's always room for improvement. Adding amenities, making certain things more accessible, etc. So what kind of amenities would you add to boost tourism? I know Rahm is trying to make it a competitive tourist city among the other great tourist cities in the U.S. like NYC and SF, I believe there was an article last month about some of the ideas he has of adding things.

[Vlajos]

Chicago hotel occupancy rises in March - Tourism News - Crain's Chicago Business

Very timely

[Chicagoist123]

As tacky is this is, having an extremely iconic and monumental landmark helps spark interest and can act as bait to get people to come. You want people to say "I have always wanted to see the _________ in Chicago".

Think of why Sydney is so much more popular than Melbourne. Barcelona over Madrid. Rio de Janeiro over Buenos Aires ( yes I know different countries).

It's pretty much a way to help build the city's brand. I look at it as being the logo for the city, and right now Chicago doesn't have much of a logo.

The only thing Chicago now has that could become that is cloud gate/the bean. Of course there is a lot more to improve tourism, but in order this would certainly help.

[urza216]

It's ironic. I think a significant number of Chicagoans are tired of and annoyed by tourists, particularly those who work downtown or live in trendy north side neighborhoods. But we still want to catch up with New York.

[JBVirtuoso]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

As tacky is this is, having an extremely iconic and monumental landmark helps spark interest and can act as bait to get people to come. You want people to say "I have always wanted to see the _________ in Chicago".

Think of why Sydney is so much more popular than Melbourne. Barcelona over Madrid. Rio de Janeiro over Buenos Aires ( yes I know different countries).

It's pretty much a way to help build the city's brand. I look at it as being the logo for the city, and right now Chicago doesn't have much of a logo.

The only thing Chicago now has that could become that is cloud gate/the bean. Of course there is a lot more to improve tourism, but in order this would certainly help.

Do you have any ideas as to what such a logo might be? Awesome buildings seem to be our strong point, but would one really awesome building bring more tourists? We can't really go back in time and build some historic landmark, but there could be something else to do here.

Maybe an Al Capone theme park? That seems to be what everyone knows about Chicago.

[Drover]

Sell wildings as a spectator activity.

[thefallensrvnge]

The cheesy way: lure Hollywood to make more films about Chicago, some of your best marketing right there. Hollywood is what helped perpetuate the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty as recognizable landmarks.

However, I feel like some of Chicago's tourism stems from being the underrated city for off-the-beaten-path international travelers. To a degree that image sells, maybe not as well as glamourous, but still...

[Chicagoist123]

Originally Posted by JBVirtuoso

Do you have any ideas as to what such a logo might be? Awesome buildings seem to be our strong point, but would one really awesome building bring more tourists? We can't really go back in time and build some historic landmark, but there could be something else to do here.

Maybe an Al Capone theme park? That seems to be what everyone knows about Chicago.

Oh I don't know really. I think Chicago just falls in the same category as cities like Buenos Aires, Madrid, Montreal, Melbourne, etc. they are cities that don't have that "logo".

Think of Paris without the Eiffel Tower, or London without Big Ben. No, those landmarks don't really make the experience of those cities, but they do help market those cities to vistors.

It doesn't have to be a building for Chicago. I really think cloud gate is starting to become that logo for Chicago, albeit a weak one, but at least it's different. It just takes time.

My mom has international students on a regular basis, and one of the first things they always want to see is the "bean".

[Chicagoist123]

Originally Posted by thefallensrvnge

Lure Hollywood to make more films about Chicago, some of your best marketing right there. Hollywood is what helped perpetuate the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty as recognizable landmarks.

However, I feel like some of Chicago's tourism stems from being the underrated city for off-the-beaten-path international travelers. To a degree that image sells, maybe not as well as glamourous, but still...

That's where I bring in my landmark point. In disaster movies they always show cities that have iconic landmarks being blown up. Those iconic landmarks act as a marketing tool and builds a brand of sorts to attract people and basically say " come see me!"

[thefallensrvnge]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

That's where I bring in my landmark point. In disaster movies they always show cities that have iconic landmarks being blown up. Those iconic landmarks act as a marketing tool and builds a brand of sorts to attract people and basically say " come see me!"

Which do you think should become the landmark? The Wrigley Building or the Water Tower? The Sears Tower has a good start, but as other buildings get taller, it's getting more competitive. Cloud Gate has potential. It's a shame the White City is not still around.

The Chicago Spire could've been the one.