Chicago Tourism Reaches Record Numbers

Chicago tourism has reached record-breaking numbers.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Friday that hotel revenue for the city has exceeded the $1 billion record, marking an 8.4 percent increase from this time last year.

Emanuel also said the city’s hotel occupancy for the first seven months of 2013 tied record numbers set in 2008, with 73.6 percent of hotels occupied.

Officials announced last month that tourism for the state -- and Chicago – is booming, and that’s good for jobs and tax revenue.

About 39 million people visited the city in 2010. That number grew to 43 million a year later and to 46 million in 2012.

“We are extremely pleased with the positive hotel performance and its impact on Chicago’s overall economy,” Don Welsh, President and CEO of Choose Chicago, said in a statement.

The latest tourism announcement comes as the city prepares for a busy Labor Day weekend.

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It also comes on the heels of a violent summer.

Last year, at least two people were killed and 24 others were injured over Labor Day weekend in shootings across the city.

Still, officials say tourism numbers are looking up, and that the city is more than halfway to reaching Emanuel's goal of 50 million visitors per year by 2020.