Posted 5 years ago in Loop List
3 MIN READ - Under the theme Travel Matters, National Travel and Tourism Week 2019 will celebrate the accomplishments of the U.S. travel industry from May 5-11 with Travel Rally Day on Tuesday, May 7. Chicago Loop Alliance will join the celebration by recognizing the impact of the travel and tourism industry in the Chicago Loop and beyond.
We pass popular tourist sites like Cloud Gate (The Bean), the Chicago Riverwalk, and State Street every day. However, we may not even think of how tourism supports our community. But these visitor hotspots and other attractions like the glitzy Theatre District, the world-famous architecture, museums, and many more are the backbone of the Chicago Loop and the city at large. These places define our community, provide Chicagoans jobs, and give us a lifetime of memories with the 57.6 million record annual visitors in 2018.
Over the last nine years, Chicago has created over 20,000 tourism jobs in the Chicago area. Chicago Loop Alliance understands the role of travel in the local economy, and it’s playing its part in promoting the sector. Since 2018, Chicago Loop Alliance has been a sponsor of Hospitality Hires, a biannual hiring event that matches industry professionals with employers. In 2019, the event connected hundreds of job seekers with 50 employers in the hospitality and tourism industry.
The Loop is an ever-evolving destination due to the work of Chicago Loop Alliance. As the sole service provider of Special Service Area #1-2015, it provides constant enhancement to the cleanliness, beautification, safety, and maintenance of the public space. Through its remarkable placemaking initiative known as ACTIVATE, it transforms alleys and unexpected places into a summertime destination for the arts. ACTIVATE: Backstage, the 2019 season aligns with the City of Chicago’s Year of Chicago Theatre and celebrates the role of theater in the Loop’s success.
In addition, Chicago Loop Alliance’s Downtown Futures Series brings recognized urban thought leaders into public dialogues on emerging downtown trends. For years, this trio of conversations has helped the Loop remain at the forefront of innovation. The next event explores the evolution of the Chicago Riverwalk as a major economic driver and the hottest gathering spot in the city.
This National Tourism Week, explore some of the best attractions of Chicago in the Loop. While you’re at it, share your experience on social media with #inTheLoopChi. Tell us what you love about the business district.
Things to Do in the Loop
Whether you're drawn to shopping on State Street (“that great street”), dining in one of the best restaurant cities, watching a Tony Award-winning performance in the Theatre District, being dazzled by our architecture, or getting lost in the country's second-largest art museum, you'll experience the best of everything the city has to offer in the Loop.
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Loop Events
Looking for events? The Chicago Loop has something for everyone. The events in the Loop will not only help you unwind and relax, but also make lasting memories with friends, family, and co-workers. Explore festivals, shows, concerts, theatres, and more.
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