Hosted by Chicago Democratic National Convention later this month, Choose Chicago, the city’s official tourism website, held a pep rally for the city on Friday.
Attending the event were Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the 2024 DNC Host Committee.
“This is the greatest city on earth, and we get to showcase it to the whole rest of the world,” Pritzker said. “Not only does Chicago have the best convention space, hotels and restaurants to host people from all over the country, but we’re also the city with the biggest heart.”
Choose Chicago Interim President and CEO Rich Gamble said these conventions historically can provide up to $200 million in economic impact for a host city.
Gamble said the group is making sure vendors in neighborhoods across Chicago feel that benefit.
“One of the ways it’s inclusive is through the provider and location portals that have been created,” Gamble said. “And we’ve sourced vendors and venues from all over the city, not just geographically but also through ownership of those locations.”
Delegates will be able to access the portal to look up businesses by location and who owns them here.
Street closures start next week.