International Travel
Mayor Daley traveled frequently to promote Chicago to overseas audiences from London to Shanghai. The trips were part of the Daley administration's broader efforts to sell the city as a destination for tourists and as a desirable location for businesses and investors.
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 connection 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: