As managing editor of NPE is moving to Orlando, Fla., in 2012 and 2015 -- and now Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is calling for changes at McCormick Place.
"It's a very serious loss. It's a major show," he told the Chicago Sun-Times. "They were very upset with a lot of the rules and regulations that McCormick Place has. When I met with [SPI President and CEO Bill Carteaux] and others, they were very concerned about the cost factor compared to Orlando, Atlanta and Vegas," Daley said.
"McCormick Place has a difficult chore in dealing with keeping shows and trade shows unless they get their costs down," he said.
The story also quotes Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon, who said the unions understand their role -- but he didn't jump at the offer to make more concessions.
"Organized labor has made significant changes in work-rules at McCormick Place. We've done more than our fair share. We have showed we care about the investment in conventions and tourism through our actions," Gannon told the Sun-Times.
I'll definitely miss having NPE in Chicago -- the location is part of what's always made NPE special for me. But now it's time to start looking forward to Orlando. Put the dates on your calendar: April 1-5, 2012. It will be interesting how the show changes with the new dates and venue.
Comments (3)
While I hate to see any big city suffer from a loss of Trade Show business, I say HOORAY to Bill Carteaux and SPI for making hard choices and keeping thier Society alive... This is a lesson all professional societies can learn! Change or go extinct --- the dinasours couldn't and we see where they are...
Posted by Scott Peters | November 18, 2009 12:59 AM
Posted on November 18, 2009 00:59
Ever wonder why the horse bolted in the first place? You would think that after the collapse of 2 out of the big 3 car companies that any unionized business would get it by now. "IT" means times have changed for good, and they will continue to do so. Organizations and companies that spend the big dollars to attend events will continue to do whatever it takes to survive through this recession. Chicago has been a great venue for NPE. Mr. Gannon I would urge you to revisit those significant changes and act on breaking the status quo. NPE isn't the first horse out of the gate. Act before you run out of the big shows required to keep your members working.
Posted by Wayne Stoddard | November 18, 2009 10:27 AM
Posted on November 18, 2009 10:27
I'm thrilled Mr. Carteaux and SPI have decided to move the show to Orlando. Orlando has huge shoes to fill, and will hopefully deliver in 2012.
My past two experiences with labor at McCormick (2006 & 2009) were not tales of horror like many I've heard, but were negative enough to make me dread another show in Chicago.
Efficiency seems to be word not in the lexicon of the labor unions at the show, and having to wait hours for a union member to show up to do simple tasks (like attaching an adapter to an air line IN our booth) is simply unacceptable.
Also, being harassed by union supervisors as they zip by in their carts who are not aware of their own rules and regulations of what exhibitors are permitted to do in their booth lends to a poor show experience.
Posted by Jon Strater (Jr.) | November 18, 2009 11:22 AM
Posted on November 18, 2009 11:22