Chicago vs New Orleans
New Orleans leads Chicago by 2 points on the TRAIL Index, 71 to 69. Chicago grades better on 8 measures, New Orleans on 8; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- TRAIL Index: Chicago 69, New Orleans 71
- OECD: Chicago 67, New Orleans 67
- UN Tourism: Chicago 64, New Orleans 73
- UNDRR: Chicago 66, New Orleans 73
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Chicago 70, New Orleans 67
- Economy and jobs: Chicago 92, New Orleans 67
- Climate and hazards: Chicago 65, New Orleans 40
- Water and environment: Chicago 50, New Orleans 69
- Community and housing: Chicago 75, New Orleans 67
- Access and continuity: Chicago 71, New Orleans 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.
- Hotel bed or room occupancy: 68.2 % average annual occupancy (Choose Chicago, Research & Analysis: Chicago Tourism Performance, 2024). Between 65 and 75: grade 3/4.
- 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.
- Extreme heat days: 2.2 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: 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.
- Wastewater safely treated: 98.1 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations Statistics Division / WHO / UN-Habitat, SDG Global Database (Indicator 6.3.1), 2024). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
- 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 New Orleans 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.
- Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
- Municipal waste per resident: 405.3 kg per resident per year (Louisiana Legislative Auditor, City of New Orleans - Residential Trash and Recyclables Collection, 2024). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
- Rent growth: 1.6 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Apartment List, New Orleans Rent Report (October 2026), September 2025 – September 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
- Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (metro figure) (New Orleans & Company / Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
- Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (City of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOLA Ready), 2025-2026). Grade 4/4.
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (New Orleans & Company, 2025). Grade 4/4.
- Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (City of New Orleans / New Orleans & Company, 2025). Grade 3/4.
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 · New Orleans in full
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