Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday cited strong tourism and O’Hare Airport travel numbers to promote himself as “pro-business, pro-growth and pro-worker,” even as he demands that businesses and wealthy Chicagoans “put more skin in the game.”
Johnson’s weekly City Hall news conference began with an avalanche of statistics showcasing Chicago’s economic comeback on the travel and tourism fronts.
Seven of the ten busiest days in the history of O’Hare Airport occurred this summer, culminating on June 20, when the Transportation Security Administration set a new record by screening nearly 116,000 passengers on a single day.
Major airlines — led by hometown United and second-hub home American — have scheduled nearly 17.8 million seats on departing flights between June and August alone. That’s a 7% increase over last year and 4% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
During the first six months of this year, O’Hare handled 407,000 takeoffs and landings. That’s a 10.4% increase over the same period a year ago, and 2% more than Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport in 2024.
“Don’t call it a comeback, but O’Hare may be on a track to reclaim that title for the first time since 2019. That being the world’s busiest airport,” said newly appointed Aviation Commissioner Michael McMurray.
Kristen Reynolds, CEO of the convention and tourism agency known as Choose Chicago, unloaded her own share of statistics fresh from a spectacular weekend of summer weather that provided a perfect backdrop for Lollapalooza, Fiesta del Sol and the Premier League Summer Series Soccer matches at Soldier Field.
Revenue-per-available hotel room — a crucial measure that combines occupancy and average daily room rate — is up nearly 5%. Tourism from Canada and Mexico is down, a trend possibly linked to President Donald Trump’s on-again-off-again tariffs. But “tremendous growth” in international markets like Colombia, Spain, Italy and Japan has filled the gap, Reynolds said.
As a result, Chicago’s 17.4% hotel tax generated $157 million in revenue last year and it’s “on pace to top those numbers in 2025,” Reynolds said.
“Business attraction and relocation, it all starts with a visit. When people are exposed to our city just like they were last weekend almost 500,000 people — it’s impossible not to fall in love with Chicago,” Reynolds said. “If we prioritize and invest in our visitor economy, we will set our city up for success for future generations to come.”
Johnson used the presentation to underscore his argument that he has “not done anything to stifle those gains,” even though his pursuit of progressive revenue would force businesses, the “ultra-rich and those with means to put more skin in the game.”
“Let’s just acknowledge that, as the most pro-worker city in America, it turns out you can be pro-worker and pro-business. This is proof positive of that,” the mayor said.
“I want to just dismantle this notion that somehow, our city is hostile… toward the interests of the business community. We are open for business. We’re just not for sale…I am a pro-growth mayor… Pro-business, pro-growth, pro-worker.”
With a $1.12 billion city budget shortfall looming and similar financial crises at the Chicago Public Schools and the CTA, Johnson said Chicago has reached a “point of no return” in the search for new revenue.
“The systems that people rely on — education, health care, housing, our transportation — they are woefully underfunded and everyone knows that,” he said.
“My commitment is to progressive revenue. I can’t do this by myself. Other folks have to lean in to get a substantive revenue package across the finish line… I’m gonna work hard to model that locally. You’ll get to see my presentation soon enough. And I just hope that my counterparts at the state level continue to explore all options. There are a number of people who recognize the severity of this moment.”
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President Jack Lavin said Johnson’s recent talk about reinstating the $4-a-month-per-employee head tax and taxing corporate payroll will only stifle the economic growth that Chicago needs to dig itself out of a deep financial hole.
“That’s going to hurt the recovery of downtown. People that are mobile and can move jobs will. And those that are thinking of coming here — that’s a narrative that will not be helpful,” Lavin said.
Turning the tables on Johnson, Lavin added, “We’re at a point of no return for shared sacrifice. The mayor said again he’s not going to look at layoffs or furloughs. The city budget has gone up 58% since 2019. What are we spending the additional money on?”