Chicago voted Best Big City for 9th year in a row by travel magazine

CHICAGO — Chicago has been voted the “Best Big City” for the 9th year in a row by readers of the travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler.

Over 750,000 votes were cast for this year’s readers’ choice awards and the magazine said the 9-year streak is unprecedented.

“While critics try to paint Chicago as something to fear, the rest of the world knows the truth—this is the best big city in America,” said Gov. Pritzker. “Chicago is a city of strength, resilience, and heart, powered by the people who welcome visitors from every corner of the globe with unmatched warmth and pride. For the ninth consecutive year, the world’s most discerning travelers have recognized what we already know: no one does it like Chicago. No narrative can change that because the spirit of this city is simply unstoppable.”

Choose Chicago announced that local hotels had the strongest summer on record in terms of both room demand and revenues.

Over 3.56 million hotel rooms were occupied during the months of June, July and August, marking a 4.3% increase over 2024 demand levels and surpassing the previous record year of 2019.

San Francisco was voted the second-best big city with Milwaukee behind it. The best small city voted by readers was Charleston, South Carolina.