Chicago is the U.S. Olympic Committee’s choice to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, beating out Los Angeles for the honor of representing the United States in the bidding. In light of the announcement earlier this year, the Windy City is gearing up to compete for the honor against a star-studded roster of international cities (expected to include Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Madrid, Prague and Rome). Until the International Olympic Committee’s official decision is announced in October 2009, Chicago is out to prove it has the goods to host the games.

Considered the birthplace of the modern building, Chicago and its visionaries — Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright and Helmut Jahn — helped shape American architecture.

Though it would be the city’s first foray into the Olympics, Chicago is hardly a stranger to major international events. It was home to the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, the first critically and economically successful world expo in the United States. The World’s Fair returned to Chicago in 1933, drawing 39 million visitors in two years. Chicago was home to the 1958 Pan Am Games, the first international Special Olympics in 1968, the 1994 World Cup Soccer Tournament, the 1998 International Pow Wow and the 2006 Gay Games VII. With such a world-class track record, Chicago is confident it has what it takes to successfully hos the world’s most famous sporting competition.

The City of the Big Shoulders has long been known for its gritty determination. It rose from the ashes after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 killed 300 people, left 90,000 residents homeless and destroyed $200 million worth of property. In1885, Chicago claimed the world’s first skyscraper. The 10-story Home Insurance Building, which had a steel structural frame though it was clad in brick, is no longer standing, but it launched the city’s reputation for innovative architecture. Pioneering 19th-century architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham presented Chicago with the first comprehensive municipal plan for a U.S. city. The plan led the way to preserve the lakefront and establish a system of parks and green spaces.

Today, Chicago stands strong as the country’s third largest city, home to more than 2.7 million people. Thanks to its strategic location and entrepreneurial spirit, Chicago has always been big on business, establishing itself as a transportation hub, developing a solid infrastructure and maintaining a multicultural workforce. According to World Business Chicago, a nonprofit economic development organization, the city has the country’s third largest gross regional product — $423 billion.

As the financial and cultural capital of the Midwest, Chicago boasts a diverse economy with strengths in all sorts of industries: telecommunications, healthcare, biotech, packaging and tourism among them. The city is home to 29 Fortune 500 and 12 Fortune Global 500 company headquarters. Companies headquartered in the Chicago metropolitan area include McDonald’s, Kraft, Wrigley, Hyatt Hotels, United Airlines and Baxter International. The city also is home to the Chicago Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade, the Chicago Board Options Exchange and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

The Windy City continually seeks to establish a foothold in new industries. It has set its sights on developing its local fashion industry in hopes of competing with fashion powerhouses New York and Los Angeles, last year appointing a director of fashion arts and events to nurture the burgeoning industry.

While the city is made for business, Chicago has long been a favorite destination of leisure travelers. It is a treasure-trove of activities for all interests and all ages with its numerous museums, outdoor festivals and concerts, spectacular monuments and world-class shopping. The Chicago Architecture Foundation ( http://www.architecture.org )offers more than 50 guided tours that help visitors explore the city’s treasures; Chicago’s visionaries — Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright and Helmut Jahn — helped shape American architecture.

Opened in 2004, Millennium Park has become a favorite downtown attraction. The 24.5-acre park embodies all that makes Chicago great: outstanding architecture, iconic art, beautiful landscaping and a bird’s-eye view of Lake Michigan. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion, designed by Frank Gehry, is a revolutionary outdoor concert venue with a state-of-the-art sound system. Cloud Gate, affectionately called “the Bean,” reflects the city’s skyline as well as the faces of the visitors who stand below. The elliptical structure is crafted from stainless steel plates. Crown Fountain is another public-art favorite. Its two 50-foot glass-block towers have LED screens that project the faces of 1,000 Windy City residents. Strategically placed water outlets give the illusion that the projected faces are “spitting” water like the gargoyles on traditional fountains.

Despite its impressive collection of sights, natural beauty, world-class facilities and sports arenas, a considerable amount of work — including construction of major event venues — is needed before Chicago is ready to host the 2016 Olympics. But no city more readily faces a challenge.

As Burnham once said to city planners, “Make no little plans, for they have no magic to stir men’s blood — make big plans. Aim high in hope and work.” Let the games begin.

LODGING

THE TALBOTT HOTEL

This European-style boutique hotel sits in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Goast. Built in 1927, the 16-story property was renovated inside and out in 2005. Its spacious guestrooms and suites boast a host of amenities to pamper its guests, such as Aveda bath products, twice-daily maid service, nightly turndown service, high-speed wireless Internet access, two-line speakerphones and morning newspaper. $$$$
THE TALBOTT HOTEL
20 E. Delaware Place
tel 312 944 4970, fax 312 944 7241
http://www.talbothotel.com

THE PENINSULA CHICAGO

This posh hotel has been the toast of the town since it opened in 2001. From spacious guestrooms to its world-class spa and fitness center to its superb dining selection, the Peninsula has quickly become a favorite home-away-from-home for travelers. All 339 guestrooms and suites feature a state-of-the-art electronic system that allows guests to control the environment with one touch of a button. Classic furnishings, warm hues and deluxe linens create an oasis from the rush of the city. $$$$
THE PENINSULA CHICAGO
108 E. Superior St.
tel 312 337 2888, fax 312 751 2888
http://www.chicago.peninsula.com

SOFITEL CHICAGO WATER TOWER
In a city known for its architecture, the unique design of this luxury property stands out from the rest. Alongside the Magnificent Mile, the Sofitel has sweeping views of the city and its lakefront. The contemporary style of the hotel is marked by bold colors and avant-garde furnishings. Hotel services and facilities include high-speed wireless Internet access, business center, fitness center, massage, two bars and restaurant Café des Architectes. $$$$
SOFITEL CHICAGO WATER TOWER
20 E. Chestnut St.
tel 312 324 4000, fax 312 324 4026
http://www.sofitel.com

DINING

FRONTERA GRILL

This colorful, casual restaurant serves up contemporary regional Mexican fare, with the menu changing monthly. The meats are hardwood-grilled and deliciously marinated.Awardwinning chef and restaurateur Rick Bayless opened up Frontera Grill in downtown Chicago in 1987. $$$
FRONTERA GRILL
445 North Clark St.
tel 312 661 1434, fax 312 661 1830
http://www.fronterakitchens.com

MOTO
Chef Homaro Cantu is reinterpreting dining in the 21st century, using science and cutting-edge technology to create his postmodern cuisine. Patrons at Moto embark on a culinary adventure when ordering one of Cantu’s five-, 10- or 18-course dinners, paired with remarkable wine selections. The restaurant décor is a soothing combination of clean lines and earth tones. $$$$
MOTO
945 West Fulton Market St.
tel 312 491 0058, fax 312 491 0068
http://www.motorestaurant.com

THE ORIGINAL GINO’S EAST
No trip to Chicago is complete without a slice of the city’s trademark deep-dish pizza. This pizzeria has been serving up its legendary pizzas since 1966. In addition to its tasty pies, the flagship restaurant is also known for its graffiti walls, where customers can write their names. $$
THE ORIGINAL GINO’S EAST
162 E. Superior St.
tel 312 266 3337, fax 312 266 6770
http://www.ginoseast.com

DIVERSIONS

With its many museums, theaters, monuments, shopping centers, parks and cultural attractions, there is no shortage of things to do in the Windy City. The bigger problem is narrowing your itinerary. A good place to start is the Visitor Information Center at the Chicago Cultural Center ( 77 E. Randolph St., 877 CHICAGO, http://www.cityofchicago.org/tourism ). The building is an architectural landmark with its Tiffany stained-glass domes. Catch a laugh at Second City ( 1616 N. Wells S., tel 312 337 3992, http://www secon.dcity.com ), the city’s famed comedy theater. About 10 minutes from downtown is the Garfield Park Conservatory ( 300 N. Central Park Ave., tel 312 746 5100, http://www.garfield-conservatory.org ) — with two acres of enclosed gardens, this is the largest public horticultural collection nder glass in the world. The National Vietnam Veteran’s Art Museum ( 1801 S. Indiana Ave. tel 312 326 0270, http://www.nvvam.org ) houses a collection of more than 1,500 works of art that chronicle the impact of war with a focus on Vietnam. Its most powerful exhibit is “Above and Beyond,” a 10-x-40-foot sculpture of imprinted metal dog tags, one for each of the more than 58,000 men and women who died in the Vietnam War. Suspended from the ceiling in the entrance, the tags clink together, creating a chiming that softly remembers those who lost their lives. The Museum of Science and Industry ( 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, tel 773 684 1414, http://www.msichicago.org ) is a playground for all ages and the largest science center in the Western Hemisphere. Housed in the only remaining building from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, the museum has more than 14 acres of interactive exhibits. Major permanent exhibits include U-505 Submarine, the Coal Mine, the Great Train Story and Take Flight. The Chicago History Museum ( 1601 N. Clark St., tel 312 642 4600, http://www.chicagohs.org ) documents the city’s tumultuous history from frontier days to present through artifacts, photographs, paintings and video.

INFO TO GO

Chicago is home to two major airports: O’Hare International (ORD) and Midway International (MID). Earlier this year, Global Traveler readers voted O’Hare the best airport in North America. O’Hare has the distinction of offering more connections to more cities, more often than any other airport in the world. The airport is 17 miles northwest of downtown and is served by mass transit, regional trains and buses, and airport shuttles. The Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Blue line has service to downtown. A taxi to downtown will cost between $35 and $40. About 10 miles from downtown, Midway is one of the fastestgrowing airports in the country. The CTA Orange line connects Midway and downtown in just 30 minutes. Taxi fares to downtown from Midway run between $25 and $28.

The Inside Scoop

The Chicago Greeter program matches a visitor with a friendly, knowledgeable Chicagoan for an informal, two- to four-hour insider orientation to the city. Launched in 2002 by the Chicago Office of Tourism, this complimentary program gives visitors the opportunity to explore the sights with a local perspective. The Chicago Greeter roster includes more than 40 special- interest areas and more than 25 neighborhood tours. The 180 volunteer greeters speak 20 languages. Register for the program seven business days in advance of your trip. An online system matches you with a greeter based on special interest and language.Visitors who do not register in advance can opt for InstaGreeter, a one-hour walking tour of downtown. All tours start at the Visitor Information Center, at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St.To register, call 312 744 8000 or http://www.chicagogreeter.com .

At Home With Dorothy Coyle Director of the Chicago Office of Tourism

Global Traveler: Describe the spirit of Chicago..
Dorothy Coyle: It’s a really friendly city. I know a lot of people claim that, but I think the hospitality here is extraordinary in that you can have access to the best in luxury and hospitality, but also with a Midwestern friendliness. That combination is uniquely Chicago. It’s truly an American city, so if people are coming here from overseas, Chicago represents what’s great about America. It’s a crossroads; it’s in the heart of the country. The city is made up of people from all over the world.We have programs to help visitors get out into those ethnic communities in the city and taste the neighborhoods and see how people live and what really gives it the character to make it a great place to live and visit.

GT: Describe the business environment in Chicago. What are some of the benefits for those doing business in the city?
DC: People who come to Chicago love it so much that businesses benefit from the fact that their employees have access to incredible quality of life benefits like free cultural programming, a beautiful lakefront and recreation. Chicago is a very dynamic and progressive city. The location of the city is very central. We have an incredible transportation system with the airports. Chicago is a city that is serious about business. Attracting a workforce to live here is an advantage for [companies].

GT: Where does tourism rank among the city’s industries?
DC: It’s a $10-billion-a-year industry, which is very significant. That number has been growing. Now, we attract 33 million visitors annually.We have a really good mix of business and leisure travel. When business travelers aren’t here, leisure travelers are here.

GT: Are there any new industries the city is trying to attract?
DC:We’re developing the fashion industry.We’re really helping emerging designers get their businesses started and showcase themselves. Chicago is a great place for artists to live and work. The city wants to support their efforts. Also, the “green,” making sure people know about all of the environmentally friendly programs the city offers. The city is working very hard on all of those various things — clean air, water, buildings.