Chicago's Tourism Team Urges City to 'Turn Cold into a Wonderful Party'
As the city of New York continues to attract record-breaking crowds during its winter holiday season, Chicago's tourism team is calling on the city to shake off its defensive attitude towards winter and capitalize on the potential for a thriving seasonal experience. According to Choose Chicago CEO Kristen Reynolds and Board Chair Guy Chipparoni, the city has the makings of a world-class winter wonderland, but it needs to start marketing itself as such.
Reynolds, who spent the holidays in New York, was struck by the sheer scale of the crowds and the overwhelming experience that came with it. In contrast, she notes that Chicago's iconic summer attractions are still unmatched, but the city falls short when it comes to showcasing its winter offerings. "It's not the same kind of customer that might want to come for our iconic summers," Reynolds said. "But it might be... local audiences and the regional drive market that want to come and see a great show, go to a great restaurant, and not have to fight the crowds."
Chipparoni agrees, arguing that Chicago's unique cultural attractions, world-class dining options, and scenic beauty make it an ideal destination for winter tourists. "We've got what a lot of cities don't have - from restaurants to theater to culture," he said. However, he acknowledges that the city needs to do more to capitalize on its winter appeal.
One potential strategy involves leveraging Chicago's existing attractions and events, such as Christkindlmarket, Navy Pier, and the Magnificent Mile, to create a cohesive winter experience. Chipparoni suggests moving the Christkindlmarket to Millennium Park and hosting an international or corporate Christmas tree contest, which could draw in visitors from around the world.
The success of Chicago's recent Bears playoff games at Soldier Field is seen as a test case for the city's ability to showcase its winter charm. TV ratings were high, and fans enthusiastically braved subzero temperatures to cheer on their team. Reynolds noted that witnessing this firsthand was a powerful experience, one that left her feeling "exhilarated" and reminded her of the camaraderie and joy that comes with being in public spaces during the cold months.
As for the challenges posed by negative headlines and criticism from other cities, Chipparoni remains undeterred. He argues that Chicago's unique strengths make it worth promoting as a top destination for winter travelers, and that the city shouldn't be swayed by external opinions. "You can't concede anything," he said. "But you also can't overreact when it's out of your control."
Ultimately, Choose Chicago's goal is to reposition the city as a must-visit winter wonderland, one that offers something for everyone and showcases the very best of Chicago in all its snowy glory.
As the city of New York continues to attract record-breaking crowds during its winter holiday season, Chicago's tourism team is calling on the city to shake off its defensive attitude towards winter and capitalize on the potential for a thriving seasonal experience. According to Choose Chicago CEO Kristen Reynolds and Board Chair Guy Chipparoni, the city has the makings of a world-class winter wonderland, but it needs to start marketing itself as such.
Reynolds, who spent the holidays in New York, was struck by the sheer scale of the crowds and the overwhelming experience that came with it. In contrast, she notes that Chicago's iconic summer attractions are still unmatched, but the city falls short when it comes to showcasing its winter offerings. "It's not the same kind of customer that might want to come for our iconic summers," Reynolds said. "But it might be... local audiences and the regional drive market that want to come and see a great show, go to a great restaurant, and not have to fight the crowds."
Chipparoni agrees, arguing that Chicago's unique cultural attractions, world-class dining options, and scenic beauty make it an ideal destination for winter tourists. "We've got what a lot of cities don't have - from restaurants to theater to culture," he said. However, he acknowledges that the city needs to do more to capitalize on its winter appeal.
One potential strategy involves leveraging Chicago's existing attractions and events, such as Christkindlmarket, Navy Pier, and the Magnificent Mile, to create a cohesive winter experience. Chipparoni suggests moving the Christkindlmarket to Millennium Park and hosting an international or corporate Christmas tree contest, which could draw in visitors from around the world.
The success of Chicago's recent Bears playoff games at Soldier Field is seen as a test case for the city's ability to showcase its winter charm. TV ratings were high, and fans enthusiastically braved subzero temperatures to cheer on their team. Reynolds noted that witnessing this firsthand was a powerful experience, one that left her feeling "exhilarated" and reminded her of the camaraderie and joy that comes with being in public spaces during the cold months.
As for the challenges posed by negative headlines and criticism from other cities, Chipparoni remains undeterred. He argues that Chicago's unique strengths make it worth promoting as a top destination for winter travelers, and that the city shouldn't be swayed by external opinions. "You can't concede anything," he said. "But you also can't overreact when it's out of your control."
Ultimately, Choose Chicago's goal is to reposition the city as a must-visit winter wonderland, one that offers something for everyone and showcases the very best of Chicago in all its snowy glory.
a Chicago snow globe 
with flakes gently falling on ice skaters 
at Millennium Park, or twinkling lights 
along the Magnificent Mile 
... that's what I see when I think about Chicago's winter wonderland potential 
. The city has all the ingredients: iconic landmarks, world-class dining, and a unique cultural scene. But yeah, it needs to step up its marketing game 
to make people want to visit instead of stayin' away 
.
that showcase the city's strengths. Like, have an international Christmas tree contest or host a cozy wine and dine fest 
at Navy Pier. Or, bring back Christkindlmarket to Millennium Park and make it even more festive 
.
chicago needs to step up its winter game! 
they have the ice skates 
, christmas markets 
️... why not throw a festival?! 
? 
just imagine the instagram pics 
with all that beautiful chicago architecture behind them 
like an ice skating rink at navy pier or a winter wonderland lights display on the magnificent mile 
. It's always the same thing - every single article gets discussed ad nauseam without anyone bringing up a new perspective 
. Anyway, back to Chicago's tourism team... I mean, come on, can't they just market their city as it is? I don't want to see some forced winter wonderland vibe that's just going to confuse tourists 
. And what's with all the focus on Christkindlmarket and Navy Pier? Those places are already super popular in the summer! It feels like they're trying too hard to compete with NYC's holiday hype 
. I do think Soldier Field was a great example of Chicago's winter charm, though... who doesn't love Bears games?! 
But overall, I'm just not convinced that we need another "Chicago as a winter wonderland" PR campaign 
. Can we please just get some fresh ideas for once? 
i saw this news like days ago but only just commented on it now 
anyway, chicago's tourism team makes some legit points about turning their winter season into a party 
and yeah maybe moving christkindlmarket to millennium park would be a good start 
i feel like they r already doin some awesome things w/ christkindlmarket n navy pier they should def capitalize on those winter vibes n make it more appealing 2 tourists, not just locals its all about branding n marketing 
if u look at the bears games @ soldier field, ppl loved it even tho it was freezing outside lol why can't chi town just be like ny & have a lit winter scene? i get whr they r comin from but c'mon chi town, ur iconic summer spots r still fire n u gotta show ur winter game too 
. Maybe they could even get some of those fancy European-style Christmas markets in here 
. And omg, who needs subzero temps when you can enjoy a hot cup of coffee or mulled wine by the lake? 
️
, I mean who doesn't love Christmas markets, ice skating rinks, and snow-covered landmarks? It's time for Chicago to get on board with its winter vibe 
! They're right that the city has so much to offer - from Navy Pier to Millennium Park, there's no shortage of things to do and see in the snow. And let's not forget about the food 
, I mean, have you ever had a proper deep dish pizza on a snowy day? It's like the perfect winter treat! 
. The idea of moving Christkindlmarket to Millennium Park sounds cool, though! 
Who says it has to be just about ice skating and hot chocolate? We've got this amazing food scene, incredible museums, and stunning architecture - why not highlight all the cool stuff that's happening in the city during the colder months? 
And let's get creative with those events, like a festive market or a holiday lights display! 
. Like, what about all the people who want to visit in the summer for Lollapalooza and Wrigley Field games? 
I mean, seriously though, it's about time we showcased our winter side, from Christkindlmarket to the Magnificent Mile. It's not like we haven't got anything going for us - our summer vibes are still unmatched! 
. I'm all for rebranding Chicago as a winter wonderland, but only if it means more of us get to enjoy the peace and quiet during the holidays 
.
but chicago has so much more to offer than just iconic summer spots, we need to step up our game and showcase our unique cultural attractions, world-class dining options, and scenic beauty in all its snowy glory 
and i truly believe we can create a cohesive winter experience that showcases our best qualities, maybe by moving christkindlmarket to millennium park and hosting an international or corporate christmas tree contest 
.
"Oh look, we've got snow! Let's celebrate!" 
. And don't even get me started on Christkindlmarket being moved to Millennium Park... it's just a fancy way of saying they're trying to recreate something that already exists in Germany 
️. They'll always have those crowds and the hype around them. I mean, what can Chicago do? The Magnificent Mile is cool and all, but it's not exactly a unique selling point in the winter season 
. Right now, it feels like they're just throwing some stuff against the wall and hoping something sticks 
And hosting some kind of international Christmas tree contest could be a great way to attract tourists. Just don't forget about our lovely winter weather (or lack thereof) 
The fact that people braved subzero temps to watch Bears games is proof that Chicagoans are all about being cheerful and sharing that joy with others. So, let's get this winter party started and make Chicago a top destination for snow-lovers everywhere