IMTS 2010 Update

Big changes are in the making in Chicago and some of the preliminary activities have already begun. As reported in the Exhibitor's Workshop meetings, the 13-person Board of Directors of MPEA (Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority), the governing body of McCormick Place and Navy Pier, was dissolved as an entity at the beginning of February 2010. In its place, an interim seven-member Board was announced in late March and was assigned the task of developing recommendations on making the city more competitive in the convention and trade show business. These recommendations are due to the state legislature by the end of April.

On behalf of IMTS, Peter Eelman, AMT Vice President - Exhibitions & Communications, has attended numerous meetings with representatives of this interim Board, the Convention and Tourism Bureau, the state legislature representatives, employees of the MPEA, trade unions and other show managers in an effort to help identify the issues and pinpoint key areas where improvements are needed. Input from exhibitor surveys are being used as an important part of this process.

Several approaches are being proposed at this time, but all parties, including Chicago Mayor Daley, Illinois Governor Quinn and Representatives of both Houses of the Illinois State Legislature have committed to making substantive changes. All agree that these changes will be designed to improve Chicago's ability to attract and support large conventions.