Why are Chicago hotel rates so hight for next weekend (October 6-8)?

September 28, 2023 11:23 AM

About a month ago, while looking for a hotel in Chicago for October 6-8, all the hotel rates I saw were about twice as high as normal (~$400/night instead of the usual ~$200/night). What's going on in Chicago next weekend to make the rates so high?
posted by ShooBoo to Travel & Transportation around Chicago, IL (5 answers total)

Best answer: Chicago Marathon.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:25 AM on September 28, 2023 [8 favorites]

I think ThePinkSuperhero has it. I was in Chicago for a wedding this time last year and there were tons of people at the airport that had come for the marathon.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:39 AM on September 28, 2023

It's also Canadian Thanksgiving, a long weekend. They may be expecting weekend visitors.
posted by zadcat at 1:58 PM on September 28, 2023

Last year I was there because it was the annual Winnetka Christ Church rummage sale (it's a family thing,) and then my cousin ran the marathon! The whole of downtown is set up for the race.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 2:40 PM on September 28, 2023

It's also Indigenous People's Day, which most of our schools have off. We did a staycation downtown once that weekend and the hotel was full of families from the suburbs doing the same thing.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 3:31 PM on September 28, 2023 [1 favorite]