Posted on 11/13/2009 9:48:07 AM PST by Mobile Vulgus
Another trade show is leaving Chicago this time for Atlanta, Georgia. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society meeting which has been held in Chicago's McCormick Convention Center for quite some time is leaving the city due to the high costs that unions force upon its exhibitors.
In October we posted that the Plastics Industry Trade Association is also contemplating fleeing Chicago for southern hospitality for the same reason.
The HIMSS reports that 2009 attendance in Chicago's McCormick Center was down by 5 percent compared to 2008. Attendance also dropped from 29,100 in 2008 to 27,500 this year. Additionally, HIMSS reports that they lost exhibitors over 2008, as well.
This is one more example of how Chicago gouges visitors and businesses alike with its highest taxes in the country and its horrid business climate. Chicago stands to lose some $52 million in business from the loss to Atlanta of the HIMSS convention.
Read the rest at Publiusforum.com...
I remember about 15 years ago when Chicago lost the NAB Nat’l Ass’n Broadcasters convention. Same story. Endless gouge.
Wife was responsible for setting up a booth at a sporting goods show at the convention center years ago.
She said it was impossible to get anything done without a roll of twenties in your pocket.
Whether you needed something unloaded, carried, placed, wired or changed, you HAD to grease a palm or it wouldn’t get done.
Tanya Roberts sez: “Hey, baby! Vegas is calling!”
I hate unions...
Several years ago I was working at a booth in the McCormick Centre. We had planned on handing out free balloons...but there was a problem.
We were going to be charged $500 per day because the union workers would have to remove any balloons that might float up to the ceiling.
I asked one of the union workers how they got the balloons down and he answered...”with a BB gun”
Had the same experience with the organization I worked for. The regular rotation of convention locations included Chicago and without a doubt, Chicago required the most grease. I made the CEO had to sign off on my “walking around money” every morning and it was my job for ten days to make problems disappear. Amazing how quickly a few benjis and ducats for big vendor parties and Bears tickets make problems go away.
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