THE LOOP — Chicago's typical peak tourism season from May to August this year boasted record highs on both hotel room bookings and room rates, according to a report issued by the city's tourism marketing agency Choose Chicago.
The summer season logged a record 3.98 million rooms booked, a 4.4 percent increase from the summer of 2013, according to Choose Chicago.
The total hotel revenue logged from May to August rose 7 percent over last year to $858.5 million, generating a record $47.9 million in tax revenue for the city.
Average daily room rates this summer also reached a record high of $215.92 per night, up 2.5 percent from last year.
In the first half of 2014, a total of 4.67 million hotel rooms have been occupied by visitors, which Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement puts the tourism industry on pace with his stated goal to bring 55 million tourists to the city by 2020.
"Our strategy is working and we will continue to aim higher to set new records next year, because bringing more conventions and tourism to Chicago means more jobs for residents and further supports our city's economic growth," Emanuel said in a statement
Choose Chicago CEO Don Welsh said he was "extremely pleased with these results and the impact on Chicago's overall economy."
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
