Of the total $10.3 billion in annual Chicagoland expenditures, approximately $947 million
is spent annually on printing, information technology services, web
design, accounting and legal fees. More than half of Chicagoland
associations fully or partially outsource these vital services, creating
a tremendous opportunity for firms offering them.
Chicagoland associations report $2.6 billion in annual spending on conferences, conventions, and meetings — 34 percent of which stays in Chicagoland. Approximately 5.5 million
association members and nonmembers attend conferences each year, which
is more people than all but one of Chicago’s top sightseeing, cultural,
or performing arts attractions.According to the tourism promotion group
Choose Chicago, the total economic impact of conference attendees in
Chicagoland is $7.15 billion based on the average amount spent per conference attendee. This is on top of the $10.3 billion in total annual expenditures.
Chicagoland event and attraction attendance
- Navy Pier - 8.3 million
- Association-sponsored conferences/conventions - 5.5 million
- Millennium Park - 4 million
- Taste of Chicago - 3.54 million
- Chicago Air and Water Show - 3.1 million
- Shedd Aquarium - 1.96 million
- Art Institute of Chicago - 1.52 million
- Ravinia - 602,000