(Washington Post) — Walkie-talkie in hand, Joel Kalinowski, meeting planner for Edible Arrangements, breezed through the halls of the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center two Fridays ago, checking deliveries, looking in on room setups. It was a few hours until the opening reception for the company’s annual franchisee conference and the 500 attendees were […]
(Chicago Sun Times) — The House and Senate today quickly overrode Gov. Quinn’s amendatory veto of legislation to overhaul McPier amid promises the move would lure back conventions to Chicago. By a 93-19 vote, the House voted to override Quinn. Earlier in the day, the Senate weighed in against the governor’s action with similar lopsidedness, […]
(Chicago Sun Times) — Visiting the National Restaurant Association convention at McCormick Place Saturday, Mayor Daley said the city is eating up the added business that comes with hosting one of its largest trade shows, while pushing pending legislation to cut McCormick costs in order to bring back the group and others threatening to leave. […]
(Chicago Tribune) — The McCormick Place overhaul legislation that barreled through the General Assembly late last week was so sweeping in scope and so dramatic in its specific changes that it has the potential to give Chicago’s embattled convention business its game back, say some of the city’s top trade show organizers. While McCormick Place has […]
(Crain’s) — General Assembly leaders have received a final set of recommendations from a special adviser that are likely to form the basis of legislation aimed at reviving Chicago’s critical convention and tradeshow business. In a report delivered on Friday, Jim Reilly — a government veteran who is trusted on both sides of the aisle […]