Chicago Leads the Way: Choose Chicago Launches New Department to Champion Inclusive Tourism and Community Engagement

Chicago Leads the Way: Choose Chicago Launches New Department to Champion Inclusive Tourism and Community Engagement

CHICAGO, IL – Choose Chicago announced the creation of the Inclusive Tourism and Community Engagement department, marking a major investment in Chicago’s visitor economy and a defining moment for the destination marketing industry. While other DMOs have introduced programs focused on diversity or cultural outreach, Choose Chicago is among the first in the nation to establish a permanent, fully resourced department dedicated to inclusive tourism — integrating it directly into the organization’s marketing and brand strategy.

The new department will be led by Roz Stuttley, who has been promoted to Vice President of Inclusive Tourism and Community Engagement, reporting to Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Nucci. This structural investment reflects a long-term commitment to ensuring that the impact and opportunities of Chicago’s tourism industry are shared equitably across all 77 neighborhoods. By embedding community engagement and cultural representation into its marketing ecosystem, Choose Chicago is setting a new national standard for how destinations can connect economic growth with authentic local storytelling.

A 13-year veteran of Choose Chicago, Roz Stuttley began her career in the organization’s Client Services department before establishing its first Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) department in 2021. In her role as Director of EDI and Director of the Choose Chicago Foundation, Stuttley has positioned the organization as a leader in equitable tourism—launching programs to support local students, expanding workforce pathways in hospitality, and creating opportunities for more diverse and women-owned businesses to benefit from the tourism industry.

In addition to this new department, Choose Chicago elevated members of the Client Services team to ensure that Chicago sets the national standard for providing meeting and convention clients with the ultimate in customized and personalized destination services. Mallory Yepez, who joined Choose Chicago in 2018, has been promoted to Director of Client Services, where she will oversee event execution and client support for major conventions and trade shows while leading the Connecting to Chicago (C2C) initiative. Sarah Leib, who has been with Choose Chicago since 2021, has been promoted to Senior Client Services Manager, continuing to deliver exceptional experiences for meeting and event clients.

This announcement comes as Choose Chicago builds on strong momentum heading into the holiday season and prepares for a milestone 2026. Through September, Chicago hotels filled more than 8.9 million rooms, a 3.6% increase compared to the same period last year. Chicago was also named one of Frommer’s “Best Places to Go in 2026”, marking the city’s first inclusion on the prestigious list of global destinations.

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