Chicago tourism numbers hit new record at about 51 million

CHICAGO (AP) - The quantity of residential guests to Chicago hit a record a year ago, coming to almost 51 million. That was near a 5 percent expansion over the earlier year. A declaration Tuesday by Mayor
Rahm Emanuel's office said Chicago was one of only three U.S. urban areas to pile on more than 50 million guests. Emanuel's office said marquee occasions supported the numbers. Those incorporated the NFL Draft and the James Beard Foundation Awards.
Both occasions are coming back to Chicago over the coming week. What's more, this late spring, Chicago and Lake Michigan will have the America's Cup. It's the first run through in the cruising rivalry's 164-year history that it will be held in a freshwater setting. The leader's office said direct spending by guests came to an expected $14.9 billion a year ago.