Chicago Politics

Tourism Improvement District Press Conference 4.7.26

Description

Mayor Brandon Johnson attends the Tourism Improvement District Press Conference.

Transcript

4:00 for being here. So grateful to have this opportunity to yet again demonstrate why the city of Chicago is truly the global capital of the world. Chicago is building an incredible momentum in particularly in tourism and hospitality. Both of these industries are thriving. Look to the very fact that in 2025 it was a very strong year for tourism. We saw a record number of passengers flying through O'Hare Airport, and we welcomed more leisure visitors to our hotels than ever before.

4:35 Millions of visitors are choosing our city for their vacations, business meetings, and their conventions. Today, we are making sure that that momentum doesn't just continue, but that it accelerates. I'm proud to join you all and officially launch the Chicago Tourism Improvement District, or TID. The TID will give us the tools we need to compete globally. and to continue bringing conventions, events, and visitors to our city. That means our hotels and airports will stay busy,

5:07 our restaurants and small businesses will have a steady stream of visitors, and our cultural institutions will continue to thrive and enrich our communities. And that matters to the people of Chicago. Tourism, as we know, is a core driver of our economy, supporting approximately 130,000 jobs and generating tens of billions of dollars in annual economic impact. The furthermore, tourism is one of the most powerful tools we have to build an equitable and inclusive economy. The hospitality industry has jobs for every skill level and offers pathways for residents, families, and entrepreneurs to invest in their dreams and build stability.

5:45 An investment in our visitor economy is an investment in jobs, small business growth, and opportunities that support all 77 communities. The TID is a powerful investment in the visitor economy projected to generate another 25,000 jobs, $2.9 billion in visitor spending and $63.5 million in total hotel revenue and then finally $268.3 billion in total economic impact. My administration and CHU Chicago look forward to continued collaboration with our partners here today

6:18 and stakeholders across the city to ensure that we leverage these funds to create more jobs and support local businesses by welcoming visitors from all over the globe. Our city is a world-class city. We can't miss, we can't not miss the opportunity to ensure that our city continues to grow. And with this investment, we make sure that this growth happens for years to come. The TID is a result of visionary leadership and true partnership between the city,

6:50 CHOOSE Chicago, the Illinois Hotel Lodging Association, and our hospitality industry leaders. We built this together, and we will deliver the results together. In closing, I want to give a special thanks to CHOOSE Chicago's president and CEO, Christian Reynolds, board chair Guy Ciperoni, and the Illinois Hotel Lodging Association's President and CEO, Michael Jacobson, for their leadership on this incredible initiative. I also want to thank the Chicago City Council for recognizing the value of the TID and supporting it. So with that, I'm happy to bring to the podium our President and CEO of Choose Chicago, Ms. Christian Reynolds.

7:25 Thank you so much. Thank you, Mayor Johnson, for that introduction and for your leadership and support throughout this entire process. I also want to thank Lisa Tembo here at the Sheraton for your steadfast support since the beginning of this process and the entire team here at the Sheraton for hosting us this beautiful morning. I want to begin by recognizing the broad and diverse coalition that made today possible, the people standing behind us here today, our hotel community, our labor partners, restaurateurs, cultural institutions, small businesses, civic leaders, and our elected officials.

8:05 This was not the work of one group. It was truly a citywide effort, and that's why it will succeed. I also would like to thank Alderman Irvin and Alderman Dowell for their leadership and the entire City Council for your unanimous support and recognition of the impact that this will have across all 77 neighborhoods. This initiative was born out of the hotel community, an industry stepping forward not just for itself but in service of the entire city. That leadership matters. Thank you to Michael Jacobson and the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association for your vision

8:40 and for making history in the state of Illinois. And to our two Chicago Board of Directors, led by our chairman, Guy Ciparoni, who dedicated countless hours of his valuable time, attention, and reputational capital to ensuring that the TID became a reality. Simply put, this doesn't happen without you. so our incredible to chicago team as well thank you because this has been years in the making and your commitment brought us to this moment so i was recently at the destinations international

9:11 ceo summit with my counterparts from across the country and the globe and for the first time in more than a decade the conversation around chicago has shifted chicago isn't just in the conversation We're leading it. For years, Chicago has been one of the strongest destinations in the country without the resources to match. And today we change that. The visitor economy already generates $2.8 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 130,000 local jobs. Jobs in every neighborhood.

9:43 Jobs with real pathways to opportunity. The TID allows us to grow that impact at scale. This is a proven model. More than 200 destinations are already using TIDs, to win more business, attract more visitors, and grow their economies. Until now, Chicago. Chicago was one of the last major cities without one, and that ends today. And this is how we compete, and this is how we win. Over the next five years, this investment is projected to generate $2.9 billion in economic impact,

10:15 $269 million in new tax revenue, 25,000 new jobs, and those are the conservative estimates. But the impact goes far beyond the numbers. This is about telling Chicago's story louder, prouder, and to more people than ever before. It's about showcasing our neighborhoods, supporting our small businesses, and positioning Chicago on the global stage is the dynamic, diverse, and world-class destination that we know it is. And when people experience Chicago, they don't just visit, they invest, they return, and they believe in this city.

10:51 So today you see just a small representation of the ecosystem that powers our visitor economy, but it is that collective strength that has made Chicago the best big city in the U.S. year after year. Chicago is never done and never outdone, and now with the TID, we have the tools to make sure the world knows it. So thank you, and now I am pleased to introduce IHLA President and CEO, Michael Jacobson.

11:21 Thank you, Kristen, and good morning. Again, I'm Michael. Good morning. You'll never get that teaching blood out of you, will you? Again, I'm Michael Jacobson, President and CEO of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association. Today marks an important step forward in Chicago's hotels, our visitor economy, and the broader business community as a whole. Tourism is one of Chicago's most powerful economic engines. It supports over 100,000 good-paying jobs across all 50 wards in the city.

11:52 It generates critical tax revenue for the city, and it drives investments across neighborhoods. But as competition between cities for visitors and events intensifies, we cannot take this position for granted. Cities across the country and around the world are investing to attract more visitors, conventions, and major events. And Chicago needs to do the same if we want to stay competitive and continue growing. That's exactly what the Tourism Improvement District will allow us to do.

12:23 The TID represents a smart, targeted way to reinvest in our city by strengthening destination marketing, attracting more visitors, and keeping Chicago on a global stage. Importantly, by industry leaders who saw both the challenges we're facing and the opportunity we better position Chicago for long-term success. Their answer was a proven investment tool that will give the city and the hotel industry the support that we need to capitalize on those opportunities in a way that is sustainable and strategic.

13:03 Already, we have these tourism improvement districts in over 200 other cities across the country. And most importantly, it will allow the city to generate more revenue and economic opportunity without placing burdens on residents. And the impact will extend beyond hotels and tourism. It's about the entire city. When we bring more visitors to Chicago, it means more activities for restaurants, theaters, cultural institutions, small businesses, transportation providers, and workers across Chicago.

13:38 Tourism supports jobs at every level of our economy, and this investment will create even more of them. Keep in mind that the average starting wage in the hotel industry is currently $24 an hour plus benefits. That creates real pathways to stable, well-paying careers. We're not talking about dead-end minimum wage jobs here. And it will generate millions of dollars a year in tax revenue for the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois.

14:08 This impact cannot be overstated. In fact, if you removed all of the tax revenue that's generated by hotels in both the city and state budgets, every Chicago household would have to pay more than $2,375 each year to make up for that loss. Even if you aren't employed in the hotel industry, you should be cheering for our success. At the end of the day, this is about growth. And it's about ensuring that Chicago remains a top destination on the global stage.

14:39 not just today but for years to come. The creation of the TID sends a clear message that Chicago is willing to invest in itself, compete for opportunities and support an industry that drives economic activity and job creation. We are grateful to the mayor for his signing of this ordinance and to the members of the city council for We're recognizing the importance of supporting an important tool that will allow us to attract more visitors, host more events, and create new economic opportunities for Chicago residents and business.

15:11 Thank you, and I'd now like to welcome Jaime DiPaulo, President and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning, Mayor. Thank you, Michael. Mayor Johnson, thank you for your leadership. Christian, thank you for your leadership. My name is Jaime DiPaulo. I serve as the President and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Since 2019, since I arrived to the city of Chicago, I have the privilege of leading this great organization with a renewed commitment to support the Latino business community.

15:42 Our mission is very simple. It's to provide direct technical assistance and to foster collaborations with partners throughout Chicago and the state of Illinois. Choose Chicago has long been one of those close partners and I would like to thank them for their incredible work in promoting our city. Tourism is not just a downtown industry. It's a powerful economic engine in our neighborhoods. This initiative is projected to generate thousands of jobs and millions of tax revenues, ensuring those gains reach beyond the loop.

16:13 The Tourism Improvement District serves as a bridge to neighborhoods like Belmont-Cragen, Archer Heights, Gage Park, just to name a few. For the Hispanic-owned businesses, this is a vibrant corridor. This means direct visibility, economic growth, and inclusive prosperity. The ICC is proud partner with the city leaders to ensure this momentum translates into real world success. This is not just an investment in tourism. It's a direct investment in the families and small businesses that serve the heartbeat of the city of Chicago.

16:49 Together, we are making Chicago a national modern for inclusive growth. Thank you for our commitment in this partnership. Now, it is my great pleasure to introduce to you Janelle Kerrigan Jackson, who will share her perspective as a business owner and a community leader. Thank you. Thank you, Jamie. And thank you, Mayor Johnson, for having me. My name is Janelle Jackson. And alongside my mother, Jackie Jackson,

17:21 we own and operate seven Kilwin's chocolate spudgeon ice cream locations, franchise locations throughout the city. In addition, we have an eighth location coming to Millennium Park, and we also have a Fatburger franchise in the Chatham neighborhood. Today is an exciting day for our city. Tourism plays a critical role in the success of small businesses like ours. At our Navy Pier and Michigan Avenue locations, we see approximately least 75% of our businesses, I'm sorry, our business from visitors. But tourism goes far

17:56 beyond downtown. Our Hyde Park location, for example, gets 50 to 60% of our business from visitors as well. Many of them who are exploring the South Side on tours, visiting the University of Chicago, or seeing the Obama's family home in Kenwood. However, our business is not just supported by the leisure tourists we also have been connected with meetings and events like nascar neocon and the association forum the tid will help chicago drive more tourism to areas

18:30 across the city leading to more growth for businesses like ours and creating opportunities for local residents across our locations we employ 30 to 50 employees year-round and see another additional 50 seasonal workers in the summertime. We are excited to see the city take this important step forward and I thank Mayor Johnson and all of the members of City Council for stepping up to make sure that Chicago shines on a national stage. The TID is a smart solution

19:04 that strengthens our local economy in a very meaningful way. Tourism spending reaches far beyond traditional tourist areas it supports neighborhoods across the city and helps create new opportunities for local residents thank you so much okay well I just want once again want to thank the coalition our speakers the mayor your entire team and all of you for being here today to celebrate this

19:35 truly historic moment that will shape our city for generations to come so now we're going to do photos by the step and repeat. Thank you so much for being here.

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