'Some Hellhole': Chicago Voted Best Big City In USA By Condé Nast Readers

CHICAGO — Readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine voted Chicago the "Best Big City in the U.S." for the sixth year in a row.

In the 35-year history of Condé Nast's Readers Choice Awards, no other U.S. city has taken the award more than three straight times, according to Chicago tourism officials.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot cited the city's restaurants, hotels, meeting spaces, cultural institutions, entertainment venues and "vibrant, diverse neighborhoods," as some of the reasons why Chicago remained top of the luxury brand's tourism rankings.

"Most importantly, our city is full of people and organizations that care deeply and work tirelessly to make Chicago the most welcoming and inviting city in the world," Lightfoot said in a statement. "I want to thank the tourism and hospitality professionals that make this award possible year after year and the millions of visitors that keep coming back to Chicago to explore everything our city has to offer."

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Chicago Democrat, shared the news of Chicago's six-peat in a social media post along with a dig at his opponent in next month's gubernatorial election, Xenia Republican State Sen. Darren Bailey.

"Huh, some 'hellhole,'" Pritzker said.

Bailey has repeatedly described Chicago as a "hellhole," rife with crime and corruption.

In a statement announcing the award, Pritzker said Chicagoans have always known their city is the nation's best.

"Chicago has everything: picturesque lakefronts, extraordinary architecture, world-class museums, the kindest people you'll ever meet—and yes, the best pizza, too," the governor said.

More than 240,000 readers voted in the annual awards, which surveyed readers for their best pick in dozens of categories, tourism officials said.

Voting was open from three months ending June 30. Participants were permitted to vote multiple times, with each completed survey providing an entry to a cruise sweepstakes, according the Condé Nast Traveler website.

Patch requested further information about the methodology for the Reader's Choice Awards from Condé Nast representatives. Any information received will be added here.

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Here are the rest of the this year's Best Big Cities in the U.S.:

1. Chicago
2. Honolulu
3. San Diego
4. Nashville, Tennessee
5. New York
6. Boston
7. San Francisco
8. New Orleans
9. Washington, D.C.
10. Seattle

The top three small U.S. cities were Charleston, South Carolina; Aspen, Colorado; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The top three "big" world cities were Singapore, Bangkok and Tokyo, while the top three small ones were San Miguel Allende, Mexico; Victoria, British Colombia; and San Sebastian, Spain.

Globally, no U.S. cities made the top 10 in the small or large category, whereas three Canadian cities and two cities in Mexico did.