Chicago Records 86% Increase in Tourism in 2021 Compared to 2020
After re-opening in June, Chicago’s tourism industry saw strong recovery despite international travel bans and COVID-19 surges.
Tourism-related employment has returned to 60% of pre-pandemic levels, and last year generated an estimated $1.3 billion in tourism tax revenue.
The city’s lodging industry similarly continued to recover. Key performance indicators for 2021 include:
-$1.13 billion in hotel revenue
-$127.2 million in local hotel tax revenue, 163% higher than 2020.
-Average occupancy rate in 2021 was 43%, a 63% increase over 2020, with
-Average daily room rate ending the year at 90% of pre-pandemic levels.
