FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Isaac Reichman, ireichman@choosechicago.com, (312) 805-9586

Stephen Crano, scrano@choosechicago.com, (312) 567-8505

Michelle Gonzalez, mgonzalez@choosechicago.com, (312) 259-5708

Choose Chicago announces Black Diamond as UK and Ireland Trade Representation Agency

Announcement comes after successful mission to London to position Chicago as a must-visit destination

CHICAGO (October 29, 2024) – Today, Choose Chicago, the city’s official destination marketing organization, announced the selection of Black Diamond as its official in-market media partner for the United Kingdom and Ireland. A London-based integrated communications agency, Black Diamond will serve as Chicago’s full-time, in-market trade representative for these key markets, responsible for growing Chicago’s share of travel from the UK and Ireland by engaging directly with travel trade operators and media. This announcement comes following a successful mission to London where Choose Chicago leveraged the Chicago Bears game to position Chicago as a must-visit destination for UK travelers.

“Black Diamond will be an invaluable partner as we work to attract more visitors to Chicago from the UK and Ireland,” said Choose Chicago Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Nucci. “Their expertise in the travel trade arena and deep knowledge of their markets will allow us to more effectively share our message with potential travelers to the U.S. across demographics and borders. I look forward to seeing the outcomes of this partnership in the coming years.”

The selection of Black Diamond as Chicago’s trade representative in the UK and Ireland comes as Choose Chicago works to ramp up global visitation. In 2023, Chicago welcomed a total of 1.8 million international visitors, 27% higher than the previous year but still below the 2.2 million global travelers that visited Chicago in 2019. The United Kingdom and Ireland are key international markets, representing over 160,000 total visitors in 2023. This relationship with Black Diamond will help grow this number by extending Choose Chicago’s marketing reach to a new suite of targeted audiences, prioritizing destination awareness, the latest attractions, and education in the travel trade industry.

“We are thrilled to announce our appointment as the trade marketing agency for Choose Chicago in the UK & Ireland,” said Jim Odoire, Managing Director of Black Diamon. “This exciting new partnership complements our expanding portfolio of international clients. With our extensive knowledge of the travel industry and a team of trade experts, we are eager to promote Chicago as a premier destination for culture, cuisine, and adventure.”

This announcement comes following Choose Chicago’s successful trip to London to leverage the Chicago Bears game to position Chicago as a must-visit destination and attract visitors from this key market. Efforts in London included:

  • Choose Chicago was the Presenting Sponsor of the Chicago Bears Team Pub, which welcomed thousands of Bears fans and gave them a Chicago-style experience in central London.
  • Choose Chicago hosted over 150 key travel trade and legacy convention clients as well as UK-based travel media and influencers at VIP Events on Friday and Saturday at the Team Pub.
  • Out-of-home advertising for Chicago took over the city, complete with a wrapped Big Bus to celebrate Chicago’s Best Big City win.
  • Choose Chicago hosted a media tailgate that kicked off at the Virgin Hotel and included a festive private tour of London aboard the wrapped Big Bus.
  • The trip culminated in a Bears win on Sunday, where Choose Chicago hosted sales clients, travel trade, and media in multiple suites as well as in-bowl tickets.

Choose Chicago’s efforts to drive international visitation will continue into 2025. Similar to the London trip, Choose Chicago will have a presence in Tokyo as the Cubs play the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the baseball season in March. In June, Chicago will host IPW 2025, the largest inbound travel trade show in the U.S. The show, which takes place June 14 – 18, will connect travel exhibitors with travel buyers and media to promote their product and negotiate future business, and as host city, Chicago has a unique opportunity to showcase its hospitality and attractions assets to a global audience.

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About Choose Chicago: Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city, its residents and our partner business community. Follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X/Twitter. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.

About Black Diamond: A London-based integrated communications agency specializing in travel, Black Diamond helps destinations and travel brands reach new audiences through expert storytelling and combining sound strategic thinking, creativity, and a digital-first mindset. With deep sector expertise in travel destination, hotel, and airline representation, Black Diamond develops effective, measurable, and award-winning PR, marcomms, digital marketing, and consumer-facing campaigns for a 50-client strong portfolio. Black Diamond was recently acquired by the Miles Group and is part of the International Tourism Group, a collection of award-winning agencies across Europe.