CHICAGO -- Chicago hotels are gearing up for the Democratic National Convention, and owners and managers said while the event is huge for Chicago, it's not the biggest week for their industry.A total of 50,000 people will head into Chicago for the DNC—with a roughly $150 million economic impact expected based on past conventions, according to the city's tourism office.The InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, an iconic Chicago hotel at 505 N. Michigan Ave., is almost fully booked.
'What this means for Chicago in terms of the long-term impact outweighs the shorter economic benefits of just next week.'But Chicago hotel owners, managers, and representatives have their eyes on groups besides the DNC visitors staying and hosting events at their facilities.