National Restaurant Association Restaurant,
Hotel-Motel Show Signs Multi-Year Agreement to
Stay at McCormick Place through 2011
A
Chicago Tradition Continues - Bringing More Than
$580 million in Direct Expenditures to Chicago
Over Five Years
CHICAGO -- The National Restaurant
Association (NRA) was joined today by Chicago
Mayor Richard M. Daley and leaders in the city's
convention and hospitality industry in announcing
that the annual National Restaurant Association
Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show will remain at Chicago's
McCormick Place through 2011. After thorough evaluations
of other possible host cities, the NRA signed
a new five-year agreement with the Metropolitan
Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) and the Chicago
Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB).
"Chicago is a world-class destination which
provides outstanding business facilities and services
coupled with the great culinary, cultural and
entertainment attractions that our exhibitors
and attendees expect. That unsurpassed combination
forms the platform we need to provide the best
possible annual marketplace for restaurant and
hospitality industry professionals and suppliers,"
said Steven C. Anderson, president and chief executive
officer of the National Restaurant Association.
"No other city tradeshow venue can, at this
time, better satisfy the needs of the growing
restaurant industry like McCormick Place."
The nation's restaurant industry is the cornerstone
of the U.S. economy with a work force of 12.5
million employees - a dynamic $511 billion industry
that entered its 15th consecutive year of solid
growth in 2006.
"NRA's commitment to Chicago is welcome news
for the 130,000 Chicagoans who work for hotels,
restaurants, attractions and other businesses
that serve our visitors," said Mayor Richard
M. Daley. "It is truly a Chicago institution
and one that I hope will remain in Chicago for
many years to come."
The National Restaurant Association Restaurant,
Hotel-Motel Show - already the Western Hemisphere's
largest foodservice and hospitality event - has
been in Chicago for 56 consecutive years.
"After comparing our world-class city to
others like Las Vegas and Orlando, we are proud
that the NRA has decided to keep its landmark
show at McCormick Place through 2011," said
Leticia Peralta Davis, chief executive officer
of the MPEA. "We are committed to providing
the NRA exhibitor and attendee with a first-rate
experience every time they visit our state-of-the-art
facility. We are excited with this positive outcome
and look forward to hosting this internationally-recognized
show for many years to come."
Key aspects of this agreement include:
* McCormick Place commitment to improve service.
McCormick Place, through structured focus groups,
surveys and other measurement methods, will access
where, and to what degree, changes need to be
made to meet targeted improvements.
* Chicago hotel community commitment. Chicago
hotels have agreed to increase the number of rooms
and room blocks.
* Continued CCTB marketing support. CCTB will
continue to help us grow our audience with their
industry-leading marketing and attendance building
initiatives.
Originally spearheaded by Governor Blagojevich
and Mayor Daley, the recent labor agreement between
McCormick Place contractors and the Riggers union--which
included new flexibility in work rules--was also
factored into the NRA decision-making process.
Talks with other unions are in process.
"This is a very important day in Chicago's
meetings and convention history. Chicago's entire
hospitality community has come together and delivered
the NRA a citywide package that meets and exceeds
their current needs and future growth," said
Tim Roby, president of the CCTB. "Chicago's
growing hotel community has agreed to work hand-in-hand
with NRA on delivering more rooms and significant
blocks to NRA's attendees and exhibitors, and
the CCTB will continue to work with the NRA on
growing their attendance and exhibitors through
our industry-leading marketing and attendance
building programs."
The 2006 National Restaurant Association Restaurant,
Hotel-Motel Show attracted more than 73,000 attendees
and exhibitors from all 50 states and 110 countries,
and generated more than $106 million in direct
expenditures for Chicago. The new five-year agreement
allows the show to grow and become an even better
value to both attendees and exhibitors.
Now in its 88th year, the annual National Restaurant
Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the
Western Hemisphere's largest single gathering
of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals.
As the industry's premier business venue, it offers
attendees the best opportunities of the year for
networking and exploring new trends, as well as
insight on myriad industry issues via seminars
and special events. NRA Show 2006 hosted 73,500+
attendees from 110 countries and a record breaking
2,080 exhibitors in 600,000+ square feet of display
space. The 2007 Show is set for May 19 through
May 22 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. For
more information, please visit the Show Web site
at http://www.restaurant.org/show
The National Restaurant Association, founded in
1919, is the leading business association for
the restaurant industry, which is comprised of
925,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and
a work force of 12.5 million employees - making
it the cornerstone of the economy, career opportunities
and community involvement. Along with the National
Restaurant Association Educational Foundation,
the Association works to represent, educate and
promote the rapidly growing industry. For more
information, visit our Web site at http://www.restaurant.org
If you have questions, please contact the
National Restaurant Association
E-mail: dhull@dineout.org
Phone: (312) 853-2522
Web site: http://www.restaurant.org/media
