Chicago's Tourism Team Says It's Time to Turn "Cold" into a Wonderful Party
In a bold move, Choose Chicago CEO Kristen Reynolds and Board Chair Guy Chipparoni are urging the city to rethink its stance on winter tourism, suggesting that it's time to turn the season into a festive destination. The idea is simple: by showcasing the city's many wintery wonders, such as ice skating on the Chicago River, Christkindlmarket, and Magnificent Mile tree lighting, visitors can experience the best of Chicago during the coldest months.
Reynolds, who recently spent the holidays in New York City, witnessed firsthand the crowds and chaos that come with peak season. "It was gridlock" she said, describing the streets as being filled with people trying to get a hotel room or ticket to a Broadway show. In contrast, Reynolds suggests that Chicago has the potential to create a unique and enjoyable winter experience.
"We're not tying them together and marketing them as a great holiday experience," Reynolds noted, "but why doesn't Saks Fifth Avenue have a light show every 30 minutes?" The idea is to activate the city's existing attractions and turn them into an immersive winter wonderland. By doing so, Chicago can attract visitors from local audiences and regional markets who are looking for a unique experience.
Chipparoni agrees, saying that it's time for Chicago to think big and focus on driving people in during the winter months. He suggests hosting events like an international or corporate Christmas tree contest at Millennium Park and promoting ice skating on the Chicago River as a safe and fun activity. The TV ratings from recent Bears playoff games at Soldier Field are proof that cold-weather Chicago can be exciting, with viewers tuning in to watch the city's spirit shine.
Despite negative headlines and criticism from President Trump, Chipparoni is confident that Chicago has what it takes to attract visitors during the winter months. "Chicago will remain here," he said. The National Guard and cable television attacks will pass, but the city's unique charm and attractions will endure. By embracing winter as a festive destination, Choose Chicago aims to turn the season into a wonderful party, showcasing the best of Chicago to the world.
The experience is already happening, with thousands of runners participating in the marathon while visiting the city. The message is clear: come for the cold, stay for the camaraderie and excitement of being together, facing the elements as one. America took notice, cheering on the Bears against the Rams at Soldier Field and experiencing the Chicago spirit firsthand.
In a bold move, Choose Chicago CEO Kristen Reynolds and Board Chair Guy Chipparoni are urging the city to rethink its stance on winter tourism, suggesting that it's time to turn the season into a festive destination. The idea is simple: by showcasing the city's many wintery wonders, such as ice skating on the Chicago River, Christkindlmarket, and Magnificent Mile tree lighting, visitors can experience the best of Chicago during the coldest months.
Reynolds, who recently spent the holidays in New York City, witnessed firsthand the crowds and chaos that come with peak season. "It was gridlock" she said, describing the streets as being filled with people trying to get a hotel room or ticket to a Broadway show. In contrast, Reynolds suggests that Chicago has the potential to create a unique and enjoyable winter experience.
"We're not tying them together and marketing them as a great holiday experience," Reynolds noted, "but why doesn't Saks Fifth Avenue have a light show every 30 minutes?" The idea is to activate the city's existing attractions and turn them into an immersive winter wonderland. By doing so, Chicago can attract visitors from local audiences and regional markets who are looking for a unique experience.
Chipparoni agrees, saying that it's time for Chicago to think big and focus on driving people in during the winter months. He suggests hosting events like an international or corporate Christmas tree contest at Millennium Park and promoting ice skating on the Chicago River as a safe and fun activity. The TV ratings from recent Bears playoff games at Soldier Field are proof that cold-weather Chicago can be exciting, with viewers tuning in to watch the city's spirit shine.
Despite negative headlines and criticism from President Trump, Chipparoni is confident that Chicago has what it takes to attract visitors during the winter months. "Chicago will remain here," he said. The National Guard and cable television attacks will pass, but the city's unique charm and attractions will endure. By embracing winter as a festive destination, Choose Chicago aims to turn the season into a wonderful party, showcasing the best of Chicago to the world.
The experience is already happening, with thousands of runners participating in the marathon while visiting the city. The message is clear: come for the cold, stay for the camaraderie and excitement of being together, facing the elements as one. America took notice, cheering on the Bears against the Rams at Soldier Field and experiencing the Chicago spirit firsthand.
Who says you can't have fun in the snow? I love the idea of showcasing Chicago's wintery wonders and making the city feel like one big party. And yeah, why not? The ice skating on the Chicago River sounds like so much fun! 
It's about time we stopped thinking of winter as just a cold and boring season and started embracing it as an amazing opportunity to come together and have some holiday cheer.
It's all about finding that perfect balance between festive fun and cold weather comforts.
. Wouldn't that be awesome?
... or do I? 
I mean, Chicago is already pretty awesome in the summer, but turning it into a winter wonderland could be kinda cool, I guess? 
But at the same time, think about all the tourists that come to visit during peak season and clog up the streets – isn't that part of the problem? 
And what's with all these events and contests? Can't we just have a chill winter vibe instead of trying to outdo everyone else? 
I'm not sure...
The city could totally rock this, especially with the marathon runners already showing us that we can come together and have a blast even in the chilliest of weather! 
But, let's be real, it's not going to be all rainbows and unicorns. We gotta think about the logistics and how it's gonna impact our infrastructure and services. Like, what about the homeless population that's already struggling during the harsh winters? We can't just expect them to magically disappear.
... they're trying to distract us from the real issues while we're all focused on this winter wonderland vibe 
.
... like, who is behind all these "attacks" on Chicago? You know I'm not buying it 
. It's just a smokescreen to keep us from looking at what's really going on here 
. And by embracing winter as a festive destination, they're trying to create this illusion of happiness and unity... but we all know that's just a facade 
.
! I mean, can you imagine a festive Chicago with ice skating by the river, twinkling lights along the Magnificent Mile, and Christkindlmarket? It's like they're trying to outdo NYC in the holiday department 
. I love how they're thinking outside the box (or hotel room) and activating existing attractions to create an immersive experience. And those TV ratings from the Bears games? That's some serious motivation 
! I'm all about embracing winter as a party destination, not just for tourists but also for locals who want to get out and enjoy the city. The key is to showcase Chicago's unique charm and make it feel like one big, fun event. Bring on the cold weather and festive fun