Failing city mocked for 'bizarre' plan to boost tourism - and paying for it by hiking hotel taxes to 19%

The Windy City is blowing travelers away with its new tourist fee. Chicago's City Council has unanimously voted to create a Tourism Improvement District - and raise hotel rooms taxes in that district to 19 percent, one of the highest in the country. That’s higher than Las Vegas - and far above cities like Los Angeles, where hotel taxes sit closer to 14 percent. Under the plan, a new 1.5 percent surcharge will be added to hotel stays at larger properties, with the money funneled into tourism marketing efforts run by Choose Chicago. On a $300 hotel room, visitors could...