Chicago Welcomes Back Travelers With '26 Beaches ... No Sharks'

CHICAGO — "Twenty-six beaches ... and no sharks." That's what Chicago is made of.

And it's part of City Hall's new multiphase marketing push that aims to welcome travelers back to Chicago airports after a long pandemic winter, and remind them where to find the good stuff — Lake Michigan, parks, iconic museums and Chicago-style hot dogs — during their stay.

"We are back and ready to welcome travelers through our airports," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. "'What We're Made Of.' It is the right tagline for our beautiful, diverse and unique Chicago — a city of stories, a city of experiences that simply cannot be found any place on the planet. We're claiming and redefining our narrative here and now."

The marketing campaign aims to highlight improvements at Midway and O'Hare airports, and encourage visitors to explore the city beyond The Loop.

Chicago is so much more than they've heard, imagined, and beyond our downtown. When travelers get here, they should absolutely go to Navy Pier, a great destination. ... But hey should also want to experience what makes all of our 77 neighborhoods great, from food and museums to beaches and parks," Lightfoot said at a news conference.

In December, O'Hare saw 125-percent increase in passengers compared to December 2020. At Midway, the number of passengers spiked nearly 57 percent, city officials said.

Now, in addition to ongoing airport improvements, travelers will have access to 70 high-tech vending machines that will offer healthy food and drinks, and everything from make-up and electronics to gourmet cupcakes and LEGOS 24-hours-a-day.