Convention Insider (Conventions.net)

I had a short trip out to Chicago on Saturday to speak at a social media event.  If you were paying attention with last week’s post you could have followed along with the hashtag #wcchicago.  They event was well attended nearly doubling the size of the attendees year over year.  They moved the event this year to The Chicago Merchandise Mart.

The facility was  very ominous as it sits on on the river in downtown Chicago.  The facility is described on their site.

The Merchandise Mart is the world’s largest commercial building, largest wholesale design center and one of Chicago’s premier international business locations. Encompassing 4.2 million gross square feet, The Mart spans two city blocks and rises 25 stories.

The Merchandise Mart became the world’s largest LEED-EB (Leadership in Energy and Environmental and Design for Existing Buildings) certified building in November 2007. LEED ^® certification is the nationally accepted bench mark for design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings and is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Today, The Merchandise Mart welcomes more than three million visitors each year to its retail shops, LuxeHome^® boutiques, 11 floors of permanent showrooms for gift, residential, casual and contract furnishings, 10 floors of office space, dozens of trade shows and a myriad of special educational, community and consumer events.

The epicenter for high design and luxury goods, The Merchandise Mart is located in the heart of a city that is home to prestigious fine art institutions, world-class museums, award-winning architecture, professional entertainment venues and diverse restaurant offerings.  The Merchandise Mart is a short, leisurely walk to the famous Magnificent Mile, where exclusive shops and four-star hotels bustle with activity from the Tribune Tower to North Avenue Beach.  Also nearby is Millennium Park, Chicago’s newest architectural landmark featuring celebrated public art works and breathtaking views of both the lakefront and the skyline.

Interesting to note that the downtown district where the event was held was nearly empty.  many of the shops that are in and around the area were closed on Sunday and not many people frequent the area.  It seems that on Sunday on Chicago at this trade show and convention center they pull in the sidewalks.  I would suggest if you are4 looking to have your event at the Chicago Merchandise Mart it would be a good facility to have an event during the week.  The building is a very nice jewel in the heart of Chicago and is a LEED’s certified building which the display prominently.  I recommend the Great Grey Lady.  After all, how many facilities out there are LEED certified and have their own poem.

I love to follow along on Twitter for people that are live tweeting events.  Live tweeting refers to attendees at conventions and trade shows that send out Tweets during the event to let their followers know of great nuggets of information.  Many events are getting great exposure as a result of Twitter and it helps spread the word that the event is well attended.

I was following along with an conference called the Cause Marketing Forum which was taking place in Chicago.  One of the speakers was a friend and client of mine and I was curious how the event was going.  I was able to call up the hashtag of #CMF10 and see what everyone was saying about his session and about the conference overall.  He was also tweeting out information from other panels and sessions that he attended.  I was able to get some good quotes and some good ideas about what was happening in Chicago while I was in Denver.

This is a great way to get some further exposure to your event.  I suggest all of the meeting planners out there have an acronym and the year for their event publicized as a hashtag for your event website or somewhere in your materials when promoting the event.  With the explosion of smart phones at events and how people are communicating, it will be a normal procedure to get updates sent directly to the Twitter stream and ways to get the word out about what is going on at your event.

I can actually attend an event and see what is going on across the country at another convention at the same time.  Technology is making it possible to be at two or more conferences at one time!  If you want to hear what is happening at an event but can’t make it across country to attend, try following along on Twitter.  If you want to see some of the tweets we send out at Conventions.net, you can follow us on Twitter too!  We will tweet some info about events and use hashtags as we do it.

[Photo via Hashtag.org]

I am headed out to Chicago this weekend to speak at a social media industry event.  I was curious what is going on in the Chicago area and their recent news about law changes and the McCormick Place Conventions Center.  I saw a news item flash across Twitter and tracked down a story on the Meetings Industry Megasite about the latest in the law changes in Chicago.  The legislature had passed a law making the convention industry more competitive in Chicago and the Governor let it sit on his desk until he was forced to make a decision.  The bill was vetoed and later last week, the legislature voted to overturn the veto.  The law was passed and now Chicago is more competitive as a result.  I think the economy is making a number of the convention centers and other to take a look at the bottom line and searching ways to be more competitive.

There were many associations that had threatened to move their events from Chicago because the center was not competitive and in response to that they needed to make some changes.  Some of the listed changes that were made include:

• Establishes new labor work rules that reduce crew sizes and require less overtime pay.

• Expands exhibitor rights, allowing customers to do their own work, regardless of booth size.

• Appoints a trustee—Reilly—to oversee McCormick Place operations during an 18-month transition period and choose a private manager for the facility.

• Restructures MPEA’s capital debt, which will allow it to further lower costs for customers.

• Allows shows to select outside electrical and foodservice contractors.

• Calls for auditing contracts to ensure savings are passed on to customers.

I think these are some areas that will be looked at by a number of facilities and certainly other convention and visitor bureaus are going to be watching closely at how the new law changes put into place in Chicago are going to change their own proposals.  This is also going to help the third party vendors and suppliers to compete in a market where they may have been locked out.

The beautiful Chicago Sheraton Hotel and Towers is the perfect venue for your conference, convention, trade show, or any other collection of people!

I was there only last year at the huge BlogHer conference, and the meeting rooms were large, lovely, and equipped with comfortable chairs and tables.  Most important of all, in this day and age of technology, each room had plenty of outlets!

This venue also has WiFi throughout – both in the conference and restaurant areas AND in the hotel rooms.

This brings me to another point:  A conference venue is always best when the building is also a hotel!  It’s awkward and expensive if your attendees have to hail a cab to get from their hotel to the conference venue.

The Chicago Sheraton Hotel and Towers is right in the middle of downtown Chicago: handy to everything!

301 East North Water Street Chicago, IL 60611
Main 312-464-1000 Fax 312-464-9140

Click here for a virtual tour of the Chicago Sheraton Hotel and Towers.

Chicago’s Navy Pier is a fabulous convention center, mall, carnival, theater, riverfront, and you name it.  One thing it is not is a hotel, but there are many fine hotels within walking distance of the Pier.

From the Navy Pier website, here are its handy FAQ:

Frequently Asked Questions about Event Planning

6. Where do buses stage at Navy Pier?
There is no staging at Navy Pier. Our marshalling yard is located 31st Parking Lot (one block west of Lake Shore Drive. As an alternative, buses can stage on Elston Avenue between Potomac Avenue and LeMoyne Street.
Additional locations:

• 1200 South Canal Street (except Sundays) – parking available only on the east side of
  Canal Street, south of Roosevelt Road
• 420 South Franklin Street
• Clybourn Avenue at Division Street
• McCormick Place Marshalling Yard
  Click here for Motorcoach information.
  
  7. What are the height restrictions for the East and West Garages?
  The West garage is 6ft. 3 in., and East garage is 7ft. 9in.

  8. Where can I park when I drive to Navy Pier?
  Navy Pier’s on-site parking garages accommodate 1,740 vehicles. Please click here Parking, for detailed information on Navy Pier garages and prices.

  9. Where can I get a taxi?
  There is a taxi line formed throughout the day at the front of the Pier. There are cab phones available at Entrance 1 and 2.
  
  10. How do I get to Navy Pier?
  Click here for information about “Getting Here!”

  11. I have an event in Festival Hall or the Grand Ballroom, where should I be dropped off?
  Once you have arrived to Navy Pier, there is only one road leading you toward the East End, proceed down the North Dock to Entrance 2, which is the farthest drop off point at Navy Pier.
  
  12. If I wanted to buy Pier Park tickets in conjunction with my event, who do I need to speak to?
  Your Sales or Event Manager will gladly assist you in securing group tickets for Pier Park.

  13. Does the trolley service run all year long?
  Yes. Trolley hours vary based on time of year or events held at Navy Pier. Please click here to view current hours.

  14. How do I report or claim lost property?
  Click here to complete the claim form. We will contact you within 48 hours during the standard business work week (Monday through Friday).

  15. Is there a general information number for Navy Pier?
  Our general number is 312-595-PIER or 1-800-595-PIER.
  
  16. Where is the food court?
  Located at the front of the Pier in the Family Pavilion.

There are many different venues within the Navy Pier.

I have traveled to Chicago recently and had a chance to see McCormick Place up close and personal and I may get yet another chance to speak at an event there coming up in July.  The Association for Exhibit & Event Professionals is coming up on July 21-23, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.

So what exactly is TSEA?  They have been around almost as long as I have which if you ask my daughter is like an eternity.  Their site better describes them:

"Since 1966 the Trade Show Exhibitors Association has provided knowledge to marketing and management professionals who use face to face marketing to promote and sell their products, as well as to those who supply them with products and services. We provide you with: Education, Advocacy, Promotion, Communication, Service, and member only discounts on a variety of products and services. Our programs, services and publications are designed to help you gain the necessary edge in exhibiting success. TSEA is led by a Board of Directors comprised of your professional peers, so you can always be assured that we understand your needs. Our tradeshow knowledge will help enable you to get the best return on your investment when exhibiting.

TSEA works aggressively on behalf of you, the EXHIBITOR, to insure that your rights are being protected and your opinions are not being ignored. We are the VOICE of exhibitors around the globe."

I want to speak about social media there and did the same or similar talk in Miami at the first of the year.  Chicago is a nice town and I like the facilities there at McCormick Place.  I may even get a chance to stay again at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and that might be the best part.

Tags: TSEA, Chicago, TS2, Hyatt Regency, McCormick Place

I have been wondering recently about public perception about trade shows and conventions being a perk or a "bonus."  We see the public calling for the heads of companies that are giving huge bonuses to their employees, and watching as they go to lavish resorts, etc.

I like the take that Will Ng has at MISoapbox about the recent breaking news of meeting and events being a perk.  He discusses the fact that even a gossip site like TMZ has jumped in with their pitchforks and torches.  This is obviously what is on the mind of everyone these days.  What do yo think?  Is a convention in Miami or Las Vegas or some great destination a perk?  Would it make a difference if the destination was not like a resort?  Chicago in winter, or some other non-getaway destination?  Perceptions are that its a party and even gossip sites are in on the fun.

Tags: Trade Shows, Conventions, Economy

I was talking to some conference organizers last night in Chicago where I will be speaking this year.  I was interested in their planning and how things were going with the event.  They had just signed a contract with a place and talked about its location and such on their conference blog.  They were indicating to me how they were unaware of the hidden costs of conferences and since this was their first try at scheduling and running a conference they were talking about their shock of the prices.

I believe this to be somewhat like getting your first car.  I was able to purchase an old clunker car when I turned 16.  I can still remember the excitement I had of the prospect of having something that was mine.  I was king of the world!  Then the reality of the other hidden things creeped in and ruined the moment.  Things like insurance, oil and gas costs, the cost of tires and all the other things that you don’t think of when you become a first time car buyer.

The conventions location where you hold your event may be quoting prices that you find exciting.  They turn out to be less than you imagined.  Wow!  The excitement sets in.  Then the other realities set in quickly.  In the case of the event planners I was speaking with, they were quickly set back by the costs of catering, equipment, and many other hidden fees that go along with the event’s location.

Tags: Trade shows, Conferences, Conventions, Event Planning, Vendors or and Suppliers

I had the opportunity to sit down and speak to Renee Jain (pictured left) of ICC Rents to discuss a little about what their company does and what they offer to convention, trade show and event planners.  ICC Rents began as a family owned business as the vision of Ganpat “Jim” Jain, Renee’s father, in Chicago in 1979. The company began as a computer rental company and has exploded into one of the top rental companies in the trade show world.  What was once only servicing the Chicago area and McCormick Place, now is nationwide and services all the major conventions centers from Orlando to Las Vegas to New York and L.A.  Renee can recall the business in her father’s den when they first started and talks about the long hours it took her father, and later her brother  Raj Jain, to build this business to its current state of a 24/7 full on customer service shop servicing the nation with over 100 employees.

ICC Rents is a company that can provide all of your technology needs from a laptop for your tradeshow booth to that 103″ Plasma TV or seamless Video Wall.  They provide all the back end support as well.  Once you rent a component, you can rest assured that it will be at your show, on time, working, and will be backed by support should anything go wrong.  They have touch screen monitors, interactive kiosks and just about anything that will set your tradeshow booth apart from the competition.  They can help get you noticed on the show floor.

I asked the simple question of “why can’t I just buy a television from the local store and use it?”  She was well prepared with a response and raised many questions I had not thought of, like extension chords, cables, set up and delivery, and many other reasons why renting is a smart investment for using a company like ICC Rents to handle your needs.  Technology becomes obsolete, many pieces of equipment break down and many other reason why having a support team is important in renting the proper equipment.  There are many hidden costs that she discussed as well.  They are truly knowledgeable in the industry and have become quite trusted in more areas than just for a tradeshow.  They have corporate clients that use their services as well for onsite training and setting up meeting and events.  I could not begin to cover all the areas where they can help you with your technology needs.

In addition, and because I am serial procrastinator, this statement she said stuck in my mind:

“We are the last minute provider” ~ Renee Jain

What she meant is that many people forget about something like a required hard case for that 50″ plasma TV for their wall, or they forget that they needed a wall mount for that television or of a cable needed to make it work. When this happens they can be there immediately to cure any forgotten item or to make sure your trade show booth comes off without a hitch.  I think am going to put that number in my pocket for my future trip to Vegas in September as chances are I’ll need it.  With 24/7 service such as theirs, I can rest easy because we all know I’ll forget something.  They can help.

ICC Rents handles any type of tradeshow and not just the technical market.  Everyone is needing technology to catch attention of convention attendees and tradeshow attendees.  She mentioned the bridal industry and agricultural industries and many other areas where technology can enhance your tradeshow experience and produce more leads.

Back in March of 2008, ICC Rents was merged with Smart Source Rentals, a powerful partner that has taken their service and their ability to service trade shows and conventions to the next level.  Give ICC Rents a call for your needs, be it a computer laptop to a wall mounted television to an interactive kiosk.  Tell them Convention Insider sent you!

I was thinking the other day about how event planners and convention planners choose the locations of their trade shows or events.  The title of this post is not intended to be an endorsement of Chicago as a place to choose for your next event but merely the name of the official site of the City of Chicago and the Chicago Conventions and Tourism Bureau.  The site talks about planning your next event:

Chicago offers an incredible range of venues for events as small as corporate board meetings to the largest trade shows and convention in the world. The one thing that every Chicago meeting has in common is the assurance that the city’s hospitality community is fully committed to its success.

The City of Chicago has McCormick Place located along Lake Michigan, Navy Pier, and the Arie Crown Theater.   If you think they can’t handle a large event I guess we could always wait and see how a show with 74,000 attendees does in the next few days.  The National Restaurant Association is holding an event at McCormick Place.

I really like the layout of their site and the ease of use it provides for Meeting Planners.  They have a great resource guide for the people in the industry and list them all out so they are easy to find.  With hundreds of businesses listed they also have them broken down into categories for a quick look at what you might need.  They make it nice to actually “Choose Chicago”.  Job well done for the people at CCTB.