Emanuel Begins Push To Increase Tourism
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel will announce plans Wednesday to streamline efforts to bring more tourists and conventions to the city.
As WBBM Newsradio's Bob Conway reports, the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau and the Office of Tourism and Culture are being combined.
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The Office of Tourism and Culture is a department within city government. The Convention and Tourism Bureau is a nonprofit dedicated to selling Chicago as a destination for vacations and business travel, the Chicago Tribune explained.
The Tribune reports the aim of the merger is to reduce costs and use the savings to help pay for a more extensive marketing campaign on the city's behalf.
The new entity starts operations July 1, with the goals being to increase the number of visitors by 10 million over the next few years.
The city is also hoping to lure more tourists from overseas.
Despite being the nation's third largest city, Chicago currently ranks 10th in the nation in the number of foreign visitors.
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