Chicago is on track to notch up 55m visitors this year, a record, with a 10-year commitment from the Institute of Food Technologists Convention the latest demonstration of the strength of the city’s meetings industry.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has said Chicago has been setting tourism records every year since 2012. Last year, more than 54m people from all over the world visited the city.
“The long-term commitment by the Institute of Food Technologists will help ensure we continue to break records and drive investment in the city of Chicago,” the mayor said.
Through the end of the second quarter 2017, visitation is up 3.2%, the city authorities report.
The Institute of Food Technologists, with members representing more than 95 countries, will begin its 10 consecutive years of Chicago meetings in 2020. Over a fifth of IFT’s delegates are international.
“We are pleased to make this commitment to Chicago,” said Christie Tarantino-Dean, IFT chief executive officer. “Our history of record attendance coupled with exceptional meetings convinced us to bring our annual event to Chicago through 2030.”
The IFT has brought together the brightest minds in food science, technology and related professions from academia, government, and industry to solve the world’s greatest food challenges since 1939. The organisation held its first annual meeting in Chicago the following year and has met in Chicago many times over the succeeding decades. The group last met in Chicago in 2016, where attendance was a record-breaking 23,500.
The group will return to Chicago in 2018 and begin its 10-year commitment starting in 2020.
The IFT’s annual meeting generates approximately $36.4m in economic impact for the city and the state of Illinois each time it meets there.
“We are beyond thrilled that the Institute of Food Technologists has made this 10-year commitment to meet annually in Chicago,” said Choose Chicago president and CEO David Whitaker.
“The confidence IFT is placing in Chicago is fuelled in part by our reputation and track record of hosting successful meetings. This year alone, of the 40 major conventions held in Chicago to date, 20 have broken some kind of attendance and/or exhibitor record including 9 that set all time attendance, 7 that experienced increased attendance over their prior year and 7 that set records in exhibition space sold.”
