NRA Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show Signs 5 Year Agreement with McCormick Place

A Chicago Tradition Continues

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. October 14, 2008

CHICAGO. IL, July 21, 2006. The National Restaurant Association (NRA) was joined today by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and leaders in the city's convention and hospitality industry in announcing that the annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show will remain at Chicago's McCormick Place through 2011. After thorough evaluations of other possible host cities, the NRA signed a new five-year agreement with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) and the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB).

"Chicago is a world-class destination which provides outstanding business facilities and services coupled with the great culinary, cultural and entertainment attractions that our exhibitors and attendees expect. That unsurpassed combination forms the platform we need to provide the best possible annual marketplace for restaurant and hospitality industry professionals and suppliers," said Steven C. Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Restaurant Association. "No other city tradeshow venue can, at this time, better satisfy the needs of the growing restaurant industry like McCormick Place."

The nation's restaurant industry is the cornerstone of the U.S. economy with a workforce of 12.5 million employees - a dynamic $511 billion industry that entered its 15th consecutive year of solid growth in 2006.

"NRA's commitment to Chicago is welcome news for the 130,000 Chicagoans who work for hotels, restaurants, attractions and other businesses that serve our visitors," said Mayor Richard M. Daley. "It is truly a Chicago institution and one that I hope will remain in Chicago for many years to come."

The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show - already the Western Hemisphere's largest foodservice and hospitality event - has been in Chicago for 56 consecutive years.

"After comparing our world-class city to others like Las Vegas and Orlando, we are proud that the NRA has decided to keep its landmark show at McCormick Place through 2011," said Leticia Peralta Davis, chief executive officer of the MPEA. "We are committed to providing the NRA exhibitor and attendee with a first-rate experience every time they visit our state-of-the-art facility. We are excited with this positive outcome and look forward to hosting this internationally-recognized show for many years to come."

Key aspects of this agreement include:

McCormick Place commitment to improve service. McCormick Place, through structured focus groups, surveys and other measurement methods, will access where, and to what degree, changes need to be made to meet targeted improvements.

Chicago hotel community commitment. Chicago hotels have agreed to increase the number of rooms and room blocks.

Continued CCTB marketing support. CCTB will continue to help us grow our audience with their industry-leading marketing and attendance building initiatives.

Originally spearheaded by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and Mayor Daley, the recent labor agreement between McCormick Place contractors and the Riggers union-which included new flexibility in work rules-was also factored into the NRA decision-making process. Talks with other unions are in process.

"This is a very important day in Chicago's meetings and convention history. Chicago's entire hospitality community has come together and delivered the NRA a citywide package that meets and exceeds their current needs and future growth," said Tim Roby, president of the CCTB. "Chicago's growing hotel community has agreed to work hand-in-hand with NRA on delivering more rooms and significant blocks to NRA's attendees and exhibitors, and the CCTB will continue to work with the NRA on growing their attendance and exhibitors through our industry-leading marketing and attendance building programs."

The 2006 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show attracted more than 73,000 attendees and exhibitors from all 50 states and 110 countries, and generated more than $106 million in direct expenditures for Chicago. The new five-year agreement allows the show to grow and become an even better value to both attendees and exhibitors.