McCormick Place Second in National Ranking
Contact:
Megan Risch
312-567-8540
(CHICAGO, IL) April 30, 2007 -- The amount of exhibit space occupied by conventions and trade shows at McCormick Place jumped 37 percent in 2006, generating an additional $336 million in estimated direct expenditures moving Chicago up a notch in a key industry ranking of major tradeshows, it was announced today.
New figures released by Tradeshow Week show that Chicago moved up from the third to second spot in rankings of major tradeshows by amount of exhibit space occupied -- from approximately 6.4 million net square footage in 2005 to more than 8.7 million in 2006.
The increase in net square footage translated into additional jobs, hotel room occupancy and direct expenditures of $336 million for the city of Chicago, according to the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau.
In the number of large shows, Chicago held steady at 18 major shows at McCormick Place in 2006, the same number of McCormick Place shows reported for 2005 by Tradeshow Week. (Two major shows held at the Merchandise Mart were included in the Chicago number for 2005 but not for 2006.)
“These figures released today show that, among other things, shows that are held in Chicago grow and prosper,” said Tim Roby, President and CEO of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB). “Nearly every major tradeshow over the past two years has seen an increase in attendance or exhibit sales, if not both. And in 2006, 13 shows set records in those categories,” Roby said. Chicago also had a record year in 2006 for hotel occupancy, he added.
The record-setting shows in 2006 were BIO2006, Chicago Dental Society, International Home and Housewares Show, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, National Business Travel Association, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., American Society of Anesthesiologists, RSNA, National School Boards Association, AHR Expo, All Candy Expo, American Association for Clinical Chemistry, and the National Restaurant Association.
“The MPEA defines its success by facilities being full, customers being successful and Chicago's hotels, restaurants, bars, airplanes and taxis being inundated with convention, meeting and trade show visitors,” said Juan Ochoa, CEO of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. “When Chicago is measured against that barometer, there is no doubt that the city's convention industry is quite successful-- especially given the record year that McCormick Place just experienced in 2006. We are pleased with the state of our tradeshow industry, and are confident that we will continue to witness growth and profitability for years to come."
The MPEA eagerly anticipates the opening of the McCormick Place West building in July. McCormick Place West was designed to host small-to-mid-size shows, many of which will classify as Trade Show 200 shows. For the first time McCormick Place will be able to host multiple events simultaneously during the spring and summer seasons. This will undoubtedly be a boon for the city, as McCormick Place is always booked to capacity during these busy seasons. Sixty-seven shows have already been booked prior to the facility's official opening this summer.
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