Establishment of Chicago Tourism Improvement District (CTID)

Summary

The City Council has established the Chicago Tourism Improvement District (CTID) for a five-year term, beginning May 1, 2026. This district aims to promote tourism by funding supplemental services such as sales, marketing, advertising, public relations, and international marketing programs. These initiatives are managed by Choose Chicago, a nonprofit organization, and overseen by a committee of hotel owners. The CTID will be funded by a transaction charge of up to 1.5% on gross short-term sleeping room rental revenue from hotels with 100 or more rooms located within specified zip codes. The estimated annual budget for the CTID is approximately $41.8 million. The City will collect these charges and retain 1.5% for administrative costs, remitting the rest to Choose Chicago.

Citizen Impact

While this initiative is funded by hotels, the "CTID Transaction Charge" may be passed on to customers (hotel guests). This could lead to slightly higher costs for hotel stays in the affected areas, with the stated purpose of enhancing tourism and marketing for Chicago.

Confidence

high