McCormick Place Overhaul Legislation Nearer to Passing
The Chicago Tribune is reporting today that, after trade show organizers met with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn yesterday, they now believe he will sign into law a bill intended to make McCormick Place, home of the annual Graph Expo and PRINT industry shows, more competitive with other convention halls around the country.
Some of the recommendations under consideration would be a welcomed change for printing industry exhibitors, as they take a bite out of labor costs: new work rules, reduced overtime, more freedom for exhibitors to do things themselves.
The bill passed both houses of the General Assembly by wide margins. Participants in the meeting feel the governor will act before the legislature's session ends next week.
In a related development, the Graphic Arts Show Co. (GASC) has announced a deal where it will pay unlimited machinery handling costs for Graph Expo 2010 exhibitors. The Graph Expo 2010 Exhibitor Machinery Handling Incentive covers the unloading of machinery from inbound carriers at the show site and delivery to the booth, one-time spotting at the time of unloading, and freight movement from booth to dock and loading of machinery onto outbound carriers at the close of the show.