HIMSS Adds Chicago to Rotation Beginning in 2009
MEDIA CONTACT:
Meghan Risch
312.567.8540
mrisch@choosechicago.com
(Chicago, IL) May 2, 2006 – Chicago’s meetings and convention industry continues to secure top tier events to bolster its premier status as a business destination. Today, the Chicago-based Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) announced it has added Chicago to its Annual Conference & Exhibition rotation beginning in April 2009.
HIMSS is the industry’s premier gathering for healthcare IT solutions attracting 24,000 attendees from around the globe, 13,000 of which are exhibitors. The four-day tradeshow is expected to utilize more than 420,000 net square feet of exhibit space at McCormick Place.
“Chicago continues to be a preferred meetings destination for many industries, but recent research reveals the medical industry is particularly interested in Chicago,” said Tim Roby, president of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. “During the last two years, the number of medical meetings ranging from nursing to surgical to the nation’s largest biotechnology show, increased 39 percent.”
Ranked #63 in the 2005 Trade Show 200, a ranking of the largest shows in terms of exhibit space, HIMSS is expected to generate $33.6 million in direct expenditures for the city of Chicago.
“The decision to add Chicago to the rotation is part of a long-term growth strategy. The demographic base in the region is an excellent drawing card for our meeting,” said Karen Malone, vice president, meeting services for HIMSS. “Among other things, we are looking forward to working with the CCTB and capitalizing on its cutting edge destination marketing services.”
"We are especially pleased that Chicago-based HIMSS will be coming to McCormick Place for the first time starting in 2009," said Leticia Peralta Davis, CEO of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. "Booking this top-ranked healthcare conference is further evidence that we are on track to becoming the world's medical meetings headquarters. We look forward to hosting HIMSS at our state-of-art facilities for years to come."
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