CHICAGO — Kristen Reynolds, CDME, is the new President and CEO of Choose Chicago.
Reynolds has worked in destination marketing, strategic partnerships and tourism advocacy for 27 years, and was previously President and CEO at Discover Long Island, where she increased tourism spending by $2 billion, established the organization’s first convention center funding mechanism and led a rebrand.
She also serves on the Board of Directors for Destinations International and the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association.
Reynolds shared that Chicago’s recent success — in 2024, the city reported historic hotel revenue and tax collections, and earned Condé Nast Traveler’s “Best Big City in the
U.S.” title for an eighth consecutive year — makes the role exciting.
“Chicago is in a perfect position,” Reynolds explained. “I feel so honored to be here during this groundswell of momentum and excitement, coming off of hosting the DNC and IPW … Chicago is the ‘It City’ right now. We’re on a global stage and people are really taking notice of what we have to offer. It’s a very exciting time to be here.”
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“The person we chose to lead the next chapter of Choose Chicago needed to have the industry’s DNA throughout every part of his or her veins,” Glenn Eden, Chair of Choose Chicago’s Board of Directors and Chief Advisor of GBE Group, said. “That is certainly what Kristen has, and I am really impressed by how bold, visionary and transformative she’s been in the many roles that she’s had … Kristen has the energy and the grit, and really knows how to roll up her sleeves and lead across a complex enterprise.”
Driving Growth and Innovation
Reynolds told Trade Show Executive (TSE) that she is committed to driving record-breaking growth in Chicago.
“I’m fiercely competitive and I’m all about winning,” Reynolds explained. “I like to innovate and be out of the box with creative thinking. I’m looking forward to bringing in meetings and conventions while also looking at content creation and funding mechanisms.
“We talk a lot about the budget for Choose Chicago. If we’re going to be able to compete on a global stage, we must have the resources — a Tourism Improvement District will be a priority for us, not only for increased revenues, but for diversified funding opportunities. My other goal is to really embrace the local community. Chicago is made up of 77 different communities and it’s really important to me that those communities are part of our voice and part of our brand, and I look forward to working with all of them.”
Stay tuned for a newsletter-exclusive Q&A with Reynolds that will dive into her career and goals. To get this content, subscribe to Trade Show Executive’s weekly newsletter for the hottest news, case studies and thought leadership in the industry.
