New data shows South Side residents earned $15M from tourism in 2025, Obama Presidential Center to bring more visitors to the neighborhood
Summary
South Side residents in Chicago earned over $15 million in 2025 from hosting visitors, with nearly 60% saying this income helped them stay in their homes. Major events like Beyoncé's tour and Lollapalooza drove significant earnings in specific wards, highlighting the impact of tourism. Airbnb and The Obama Foundation are partnering to offer workshops to empower residents to benefit from increased visitor demand.
Key Insights
- •South Side residents earned over $15.1 million in 2025 by hosting, with approximately 60% saying this income helped them stay in their homes and manage rising costs.
- •Over the Lollapalooza weekend, hosts earned approximately $390,000 in the 4th Ward, $117,000 in the 20th Ward, and $97,000 in the 5th Ward, representing a combined increase of nearly 66 percent compared to Lollapalooza in 2023.
- •During Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour weekend, hosts earned approximately $248,000 in the 4th Ward, $54,000 in the 5th Ward, and $82,000 in the 20th Ward across Chicago’s South Side, representing a 140% increase compared to her previous tour.
Action Items
- ✓Consider attending the free virtual community workshop on February 18, 2026, hosted by Airbnb and The Obama Foundation to learn how to prepare for increased visitor demand.Effort: lowImpact: medium
Tools & Resources
- →Obama.org/prep-sessions: Airbnb and The Obama Foundation are partnering to host a virtual community workshop on February 18, 2026.(obama.org/prep-sessions)
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