Chicago is the city that works – and plays. Convention and trade show attendees know that when they come to Chicago for an event, whether it’s in the middle of winter or during the hazy days of summer, they are here to do business – and have fun. No matter the season, the temperature is always 72 degrees inside McCormick Place, the hotels, the restaurants, the shops and museums.
While there’s no disputing that Chicago does enjoy four different seasons, there are numerous American cities with winters much colder than Chicago. Cities like Colorado Springs, Reno, Denver, Detroit, Milwaukee and Minneapolis all experience temperatures colder than Chicago’s average winter lows.
The beauty of Chicago weather is Lake Michigan. The lake moderates temperatures all year long. It’s always “cooler by the lake” in the summer and “warmer on the lake” in the winter.
- Events that relocate to Chicago have averaged a 9% increase in attendance.
- Chicago's skilled labor pool is the largest and most qualified in the country.
- Chicago has a built-in attendee and exhibitor base. 9 million people live in the metro area, while 46 million live within a one-day drive.
- Chicago is the nation’s crossroads by air, highway and rail. The city’s central location and unprecedented transportation infrastructure make it easy and affordable to reach Chicago from any place in the world.
- A diverse economy with 315,000 business establishments, including over 30 Fortune 500 headquarters.
- Chicago is #1 in manufacturing, #1 in business service professionals, #1 high-tech workforce, #1 distribution center, #2 in passenger air, and the #2 financial center and Fortune 500 headquarters according to World Business Chicago, a not-for-profit economic development organization.
- Chicago is also a great backdrop to many major films.
Did you know Chicago is home to:
- 54 museums
- More than 200 theatres
- Approximately 15,000 restaurants in the metropolitan area and 5,500 in the central business district
- 77 neighborhoods
- 31 miles of lakefront
- 550 parks
- 15 miles of bathing beaches
- More than 200 annual parades
- Three of the world’s tallest buildings including:
- The Sears Tower – 1,450 feet
- The Amoco Building – 1,136 feet
- The John Hancock Building – 1,127 feet