Thank you, Chicagoans, for making DNC a big success

Last week, the eyes of the world were on Chicago as we hosted the historic 2024 Democratic National Convention. On the grandest stage, we proved what we Chicagoans have always known: Ours is a beautiful, vibrant city that can come together to make big things happen.

Visitors from around the world were introduced — or reintroduced — to all that has made us Condé Nast Traveler’s best big city in the U.S. for seven consecutive years. Millions of viewers from around the world saw cultural and political luminaries like Stephen Colbert, Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling and the Obamas sing our city’s praises on stage, online and on air.

This positive attention matters. Thanks to exposure brought by the DNC, the stubborn, inaccurate perceptions of Chicago are finally shifting. This will have concrete results for our city and residents in every neighborhood, with more meetings choosing Chicago, more visitors planning trips here, and positive energy rippling through our city for years.

Chicago shone brightly, and that would not have been possible without the efforts of so many leaders, organizations, and residents. We owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who worked tirelessly over the past year plus to make last week spectacular.

Thank you to the staff and board of directors at Choose Chicago, who went above and beyond to make sure we were doing everything in our power to make the event a success and leverage the opportunity for our future.

Thank you to the teams at the Chicago 2024 host committee and the Democratic National Convention Committee who delivered an unparalleled convention experience that showcased our city and engaged all 77 Chicago neighborhoods.

Thank you to our partners, including the United Center, McCormick Place, O’Hare and Midway International Airports, Navy Pier, Wrigley Field, the Chicago Federation of Labor, the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, the Illinois Restaurant Association, and all of the workers, hotels, restaurants, and many more that made the week possible and provided outstanding hospitality and event experiences for all DNC attendees.

Thank you to our federal, state, and city partners, especially Governor J.B. Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and their teams, who made sure our city and state were ready to welcome visitors with open arms.

Thank you to the law enforcement and other public safety agencies that ensured a safe, productive week for everyone — the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications and the Chicago Police Department. The preparation, steadfast leadership and commitment to constitutional policing shown by CPD Supt. Larry Snelling should serve as a model for his peers across the nation.

But most importantly, thank you to every single Chicagoan that loves this city, especially the thousands who served as volunteers at official DNC events. Chicago’s greatest asset — our people — was on display last week as we showed the world that we are the most captivating, dynamic and welcoming city in America.

On behalf of our local tourism industry, thank you, Chicago, for making our city shine. Together, we will keep this momentum going and reap the benefits of this historic event for years to come.

Glenn Eden is board chair of Choose Chicago. Rich Gamble is interim president and CEO of Choose Chicago.

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