Housewares show sticks with McCormick

Crain's Chicago Business and the Chicago Tribune are reporting that the International Home + Housewares Show is going to stay in Chicago's McCormick Place. Earlier this week the International Housewares Association had threatened to find a new location for the show. The trade group said the state had until today to pass reforms that should make McCormick Place more competitive with rival exhibit halls in Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla. Since the Illinois Legislature took action on Thursday, that met the deadline, so association President Phil Brandl said the group will begin negotiations with McPier to renew its contract. Crain's reported that Brandl said passage of the legislation that would cut labor costs and give trade association and exhibitors more rights swayed the board.