I just received the press announcement that the International Housewares Association negotiated a long-term agreement with McCormick Place to keep the annual International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. For all of us Chicago-lovers, that decision is a huge relief. Exhibitors should also rejoice due to Illinois legislative changes affecting McCormick Place labor rules and the rights of exhibitors. According to IHA, these reforms will ultimately lower the cost of doing business at the convention center.
In a prepared statement IHA president Phil Brandl said, “This is extremely positive news for our industry, IHA’s Board of Directors has long been in support of staff’s research-based assessment that Chicago is the ideal location for its International Home + Housewares Show to be held, but only if the cost environment is competitive with other venues. This new labor reform will allow us to remain in the world-class city of Chicago and McCormick Place for the longer term. Chicago is an important part of the brand of the show, and this positive change makes it the right place for us to be.”
IHA summarized the key changes that will affect the cost of doing business at the convention center. An exhibitor and/or an exhibitor’s employees are permitted to do the following work in a booth of any size.
- Use a ladder and power hand tools to set up and dismantle a booth.
- Assemble and disassemble materials, machinery, or equipment.
- Install signs, props, ballots and other decorative items.
- Deliver, plug-in, connect, operate electrical equipment, computers and audio-visual devices.
- Re-position or re-skid items in their booth.
- Unload and load materials from a privately owned car with the use of a dolly or non-motorized hand cart.
In addition to these rule changes, IHA stated that there will be reduced overtime for labor services at McCormick Place; electric service will be provided at the cost of service; and food will be offered at a rate not to exceed the cost of providing the service.
Look for more info from IHA on the reforms that affect the cost of doing business at McCormick Place in the future.
