Author Archive for chamber

Chinatown Businesses Luncheon Series

by  • May 22, 2013

Seminar Description:

On July 1, 2012, Choose Chicago assumed the responsibility as the official sales and marketing organization for Chicago. Their mission is to attract regional, national and international business and leisure visitors to Chicago for the economic benefit of the city, the community and our partners.

The creation of a single tourism organization for Chicago is the first step in driving increased visitation to Chicago.  Together with Mayor Emanuel, they have established clear and measurable goals to ensure we remain on track with our mission:

•         Increase annual visitation to exceed 50 million visitors as set forth by Mayor Emanuel
•         Book 2.3 million hotel room nights, and 50 new pieces of meetings/convention business annually
•         Elevate Chicago to among the top five US cities for inbound international travel by 2020

Luncheon - Don Welsh-1 Luncheon - Don Welsh-2

Exciting changes from Wendella/Chicago Water Taxi

by  • April 30, 2013

The Wendella Chicago Water Taxi just bought another boat that holds 150 passengers.   Last year the Chicago Water Taxi was running with 3 boats on a weekend and 1 boat on week day. They transported about 10,000 passengers between March to November.

This year, the Water Taxi will be operating with 4 boats on weekends and 2 boats on week days.  They will run every 20 minutes just like a bus. This is specially for the case the red line is under construction.

Wendella now has 1 boat that holds 54 passengers, 2 that holds 95 passengers, and 1 that holds 150 passengers.

Tourists getting off at Ping Tom Park has difficulty finding their way to Chinatown.  Andrew said, ” The tourists follow the geese to Chinatown”.

A map is in the process of being installed at Ping Tom Park. The Chamber will be producing and distributing copies of Chinatown Business Directory in July and will contain a map and QR code that links to the Chamber’s website.

The water taxi make a nice commute between Chinatown and downtown.  Here are the docking stations downtown and at Chinatown:

Directions to our Union/Ogilvie dock at Madison from Union Station; exit out the Madison street exit of Union Station and cross the street, the dock on the northwest corner of the Madison street bridge.

Directions to our Union/Ogilvie dock at Madison from Ogilvie Station;  Exit on the east side of the station over the sky bridge, dock is directly outside sky bridge exit.

Our Chinatown dock is located at Ping Tom Memorial park at the pagoda. Walk through the park and take a right on Wells, walk one block to Chinatown Square.

chinatown 2010 new 081

Shall We Gather at the River

by  • April 23, 2013

Date:  Sunday, June 9, 2013

Time:   3:00 PM

Location: Ping Tom Memorial Park
300 W. 19th
Chicago, IL 60616

We invite members of the public to enjoy music and the River simultaneously, with a diverse array of performers from the Chicago community performing in the open-air, including the Chicago Children’s Choir and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass—together with Music Director Riccardo Muti. Floating from Michigan Avenue to Ping Tom Memorial Park, members of the CSO family aboard Chicago’s Leading Lady will bring music to crowds and passersby while taking full advantage of any river’s strongest commonality with music: the power to move. The celebration is timed to coincide with the completion and unveiling of the new boathouse at Ping Tom Memorial Park, and is presented in partnership with the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Park District, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and Friends of the Chicago River. Live music and family activities will be planned for Ping Tom Memorial Park in the hours leading up to the arrival of the boat.

RIVERS Festival Festivities to start in mid-afternoon.
CSO Brass performance at 5:15 p.m.