Story posted Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Convention Central
Despite Chicago Efforts, Rosemont Reeling In The Shows
By TODD WESSELL Journal & Topics Editor
In these tough economic times, when nearly everyone and every business is struggling to make ends meet---including the convention center industry---Chris Stephens believes Rosemont is in a stronger position than its larger competitor to the east.
On Monday, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Gov. Pat Quinn announced their intention to move forward with a proposal to give McCormick Place managers greater control over unions and reduced costs that have led major shows to flee for other venues. Among the Daley-Quinn ideas are to establish McPier, the city/state agency that runs McCormick Place and Navy Pier, as a public employer with the authority to negotiate contracts with trade show labor such as those individuals who work the hall for private contractors.
Daley, Quinn and many others believe that Chicago is at a major convention crossroads as it struggles to pay off debt and keep the hundreds of millions of dollars in business that helps fill McCormick Place. In recent weeks, at least two major conventions, which have used McCormick Place in the past, have decided to move elsewhere citing extremely high costs and an abundance of red tape. More changes may loom on the horizon.
To the west sits Rosemont's Stephens Convention Center, which for years has drummed up sizable chunks of show business.
According to General Manager Chris Stephens, Rosemont has a major advantage over Chicago that the larger city may never be able to shake. While in Chicago, each show can have its own convention contractor to oversee the operation to include booth set up and a plethora of other services, But in Rosemont, only one such contractor operates. RES, which stands for Rosemont Exposition Services, is the exclusive contractor for the Stephens Convention Center whose job is to set up booths, banners, handle freight and establish pricing. The village oversees the RES operation to ensure fair pricing and an atmosphere "where customers feel they are not being taken advantage of," said Stephens. In Chicago, he said, the operation in place creates an atmosphere where individual contractors establish their own, different pricing for services, which can get out of hand.
"We regulate the pricing and they don't," said Stephens. "Here, the village has an agreement with RES that the village oversees RES to make sure pricing is competitive. We make sure the customers are well served. It's a win-win situation."
Stephens added that the cultural climate in Rosemont---a town whose population is only 4,200---ensures that all local businesses work together to serve convention organizers and attendees.
"People work hard here to make sure people are happy," Stephens explained further. "So much of the Rosemont hotel, restaurant and other businesses are dependent on conventions. We all want to make sure customers are treated well and that rates are fair and consistent."
A clear indication that matters are in good hands in Rosemont, said Stephens, is the return this year of two major conventions whose organizers felt a short while ago would be better served at a different location.
Two years ago, the Party & Halloween Show left Rosemont for the sunny climes of Las Vegas. They are now returning Feb. 26-28 after realizing that the Stephens Center was the place they need to be. Chris Stephens said the Party & Halloween show is a Midwest event that caters to buyers and sellers from this part of the country. In Vegas, he said, the convention center was like a ghost town.
On July 27-Aug. 1, the Craft & Hobby Show, which moved to Orlando, Florida, a year ago, is happily returning, said Stephens preferring the hospitality of Rosemont over the glitter or central Florida.
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