International Travel
Lori Healey explains that international travel also provided the mayor with inspiration for his plans to beautify the city and to transform downtown into a "24/7 live, work, play environment":
Building connections to places like China was a part of the city's efforts to develop Chicago as a global city, according to Lori Healey:
In 2011, Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a formal visit to Chicago and Mayor Daley: