Chicago vs Honolulu

Chicago leads Honolulu by 4 points on the TRAIL Index, 69 to 65. Chicago grades better on 6 measures, Honolulu on 6; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• TRAIL Index: Chicago 69, Honolulu 65
• OECD: Chicago 67, Honolulu 64
• UN Tourism: Chicago 64, Honolulu 65
• UNDRR: Chicago 66, Honolulu 78

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Chicago 70, Honolulu 71
• Economy and jobs: Chicago 92, Honolulu 75
• Climate and hazards: Chicago 65, Honolulu 50
• Water and environment: Chicago 50, Honolulu 50
• Community and housing: Chicago 75, Honolulu 38
• Access and continuity: Chicago 71, Honolulu 96

Where Chicago is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 23 % of international arrivals or nights (Choose Chicago, Chicago Tourism Performance (Updated May 2025), 2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 6.3 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
• Tropical nights: 34.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 30 and 60: grade 2/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 544.7 kg per resident per year (City of Chicago & Delta Institute, 2021 City of Chicago Waste Strategy, 2020). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4.
• Short-let density: 0.7 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Inside Airbnb & U.S. Census Bureau ACS Profile, 2024). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4.

Where Honolulu is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 28.4 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 2.8 % of the labour force (metro figure) (State of Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, July 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 22 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Trees for Honolulu's Future / Honolulu Civil Beat, 2025). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management, 2025–2026). Grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA), 2023–2025). Grade 4/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source plus a reserve or stabilisation fund for downturns (City and County of Honolulu & State of Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance, 2024–2026). Grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Chicago in full · Honolulu in full

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