Best Travel and Hospitality Companies in Illinois, United States
The 181 best Travel and Hospitality companies in Illinois, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Great Wolf.
Ranked: Best Travel and Hospitality companies in Illinois
| # | Company | Last round | Disclosed funding | Employees | Tech stack | Web popularity | SEO maturity | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | a Banque Hotel | — | — | — | PHPAmazon ALBAmazon Web Services+16 | Top 10M | rich | — | — |
| 2 | Abbington Banquets Operator of a large-scale event venue for weddings and corporate events | — | — | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+27 | Top 50M | rich | — | — |
| 3 | Adlake Manufacturer of semi-custom products for the passenger rail industry | — | — | 11 | WebflowreCAPTCHAHSTS+10 | Top 50M | basic | — | 1 partnership |
| 4 | Adrenaline Online gifting platform offering experiences | — | — | — | Cart FunctionalityJavaWindows Server+31 | Top 1M | rich | 9 patents AI-driven online sports betting platforms and real-time wagering data processing | — |
| 5 | AELF FlightService Provider of aircraft financing & leasing services | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | AeroDirect Provider of leasing and assets management services | — | — | 25 25 → 28 (+12%) | Cart FunctionalityWindows ServerMediaElement.js+18 | Top 50M | rich | — | 1 job opening |
| 7 | AHI Travel Company offers personalized group travel experiences with exclusive educational content and resources for… | — | — | 101 | Node.jsUbuntuMicrosoft ASP.NET+8 | Top 10M | basic | — | — |
| 8 | AirChicago Provider of passenger airline services | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Top 12 Travel and Hospitality companies in Illinois
#1
Funding Raised · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1982 · 21 employees$100Mraised▾
Provider of leasing and financial solutions for aviation and rail assets. The company invests in commercial and corporate aircraft, engines, freight cars, and locomotives. Structuring expertise combined with an extensive network of relationships with financial institutions allows new entrants to benefit from experience in joint ventures and structured debt. The company also manages large pools of freight cars, locomotives, and aircraft for other lessors and joint venture partners. Additionally, residual support and derivative structures are provided for the benefit of other investors.
- Jan 2026Conventional Debt$100M
#2
Funding Raised · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2015$126Mraised▾
Provider of aircraft and engine leasing and trading services. This company specializes in mid-to-end-of-life assets, offering customized leasing solutions to meet diverse client needs. These solutions include operating leases, stub leases, power-by-the-hour agreements, sale and leasebacks, and finance leases. The company leverages extensive experience and creative approaches to build long-term relationships with its clients. They also facilitate the sale of surplus aircraft and engine parts.
- Jul 2025Conventional Debt$31M
- Jun 2025Conventional Debt$55M
- May 2024Conventional Debt$40M
#3
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1997$127Mraised▾
Operator of indoor water parks
- Sep 2022Conventional Debt$127M
#4
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1997 · 6000 employees$170Mraised▾
Provider of Amusement Parks. It is is the indoor water park resort. It provides water plays for families to enjoy under one roof
- Apr 2019Conventional Debt$170M
#5
Public · Northbrook, Illinois · founded 1997 · 3094 employees$13.2Mraised▾
Provider of business travel and event services
- Sep 2022Grant (prize money)$1.8M
- Jun 2022Grant (prize money)$11.1M
- Jun 2022Grant (prize money)$275.3K
- Jul 2015Grant (prize money)$22.1K
#6
Funding Raised · Decatur, Illinois · founded 2011 · 1772 employees$28.9Mraised▾
Tharaldson Hospitality Management is a company that owns and operates top-tier hotel brands across the United States, providing guests with an unforgettable experience. They believe that their employees are the key to their success and offer career opportunities for those who want to join their team.
- Feb 2019Conventional Debt$28.9M
#7
Seed · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2012$13Mraised▾
Operator of charted flights
- Jul 2013Seed$13M
#8
Funding Raised · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2001$4.1Mraised▾
Premier Chicago boating facility offering comprehensive services, sales, storage, and education. They are a one-stop shop for all boating needs, serving both new and experienced boaters. They provide indoor and outdoor storage options, certified service technicians for vessel maintenance, and an accredited academy for boating education and certifications. They facilitate boat buying and selling as one of the Midwest's largest brokers, featuring a showroom. Services include boat maintenance, winterization, captain delivery, and on-the-water assistance. They aim to enhance the boating experience through quality service and comprehensive support. They offer sales, financing, boat trade-ins, storage requests, and a blog.
- Sep 2017Conventional Debt$4.1M
#9
Early Stage · Dundee, Illinois · founded 1994$240Kraised▾
Right Track Inc. is a construction and maintenance contractor specializing in railroad construction. They have been operating in Northwest Illinois since 1994 and have a portfolio of rail work spanning over 60 years. They offer services such as track construction and design, tie renewal, rail replacement, and track maintenance.
- Oct 2023Unattributed$240K
#10
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2017 · 12 employees$2Mraised▾
Operator of an online property rental marketplace intended to rent places or book them for travel stays. The company offers apartment-style suites maintained to hotel standards, located in buildings with a host of amenities both convenient and luxurious, providing guests with convenient stays on their vacations.
- Oct 2019Seed$2M
#11
Seed · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2006 · 422 employees$1.8Mraised▾
Provider of hospitality and management services
- Sep 2014Seed$1.8M
#12
Funding Raised · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1987 · 78 employees$379Kraised▾
Celebrates Mexican art and culture through exhibitions, education, and community engagement. It showcases a wide range of Mexican cultural expressions and art forms, from ancient to modern, representing the Mexican community's voice. The museum offers free access to art, exhibitions, and resources for educators, families, teens, and the community. It provides tours, events, and programs like Día de Muertos celebrations and art workshops. The museum fosters cultural understanding and appreciation through its permanent collection and special exhibitions, highlighting Mexican identity and artistic talent. It also provides opportunities for donations, memberships, volunteering, and venue rentals, supporting its mission to keep Mexican art accessible to all.
- Apr 2015Grant (prize money)$125K
- Mar 2011Grant (prize money)$20K
- Sep 2010Grant (prize money)$30K
- Mar 2010Grant (prize money)$60K
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Travel and Hospitality coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
Common questions
Riya reads income statements for fun. She covers the real money in a sector — revenue, growth, who actually earns — and never met a vague claim she didn't want a number for.