The place that birthed my trade show career has taken a lot of abuse lately due to political, union, and cost concerns. I have a “glass half full” personality, so I believe that everyone can work together to get everything worked out to benefit all parties involved.

In the meantime, I want to show McCormick Place some love:

• McCormick Place is located just outside the heart of downtown Chicago, so it is easier to get into and out of than some other convention centers
• McCormick Place has the most square footage of convention space contained under one roof (2.6 million square feet precisely), therefore it is the largest convention center in the US
• McCormick Place is an architecturally lovely building full of expansive spaces
• there are windows in all 4 halls of McCormick Place so it has a light, bright, and airy feel and I never feel like I am trapped in a tomb
• the ceilings are extremely high (40-50+ feet) which allows for double-decker booths and does not give McCormick Place a cave-like feeling
• the 4 halls are named North, South, East, and West which allows for easy distinction when a trade show fills more than one of them
• all 4 halls are attached so it is convenient to get from one to another and you never have to be exposed to bad weather
• the Grand Concourse Lobby is light-filled (so excellent for photography) and has 35,836 square feet of space which can be used for registration
• the West building has attained LEED Certification and McCormick Place has taken part in many green initiatives designed to help the environment
• there are a great amount of bathrooms, they are easily located, and they are always clean
• in fact, I consider McCormick Place to be one of the cleanest convention centers I have ever visited
• there are many options for meeting rooms (173 to be exact), and they are easy to locate
• McCormick Place is attached to the Hyatt Regency, which allows for even more meeting room, coffee, and dining options…and the best commute if you are lucky enough to score one of the 800 sleeping rooms there during a trade show
• as a Presenter, I have never had a problem with interference on my microphone
• McCormick Place has received many awards for excellence in convention business
• there are many out-of-the-way locations if you need a quiet place to make a phone call, conduct business, or take a rest
• there are many places to host a tweet-up

And why I think Chicago is a great city to host a trade show:

• Chicago has 2 airports so it is very easy to get a direct flight into the city
• Chicago is centrally located in the middle of the country, so it is not too far or too expensive to get to it, and trade shows have the ability to attract attendees from all across the US
• Chicago has tons of hotel and restaurant choices which are all centrally located
• Chicago is a “walking” city and very easy to navigate by foot • there are lots of “tourist” and shopping options if you want to extend your stay or bring along your family…but you don’t have to fight with the tourists for reservations or space
• I have always found the shuttle busses to run quickly and conveniently…and they have a secret route that no one else can use to ensure more timely pick-ups and drop offs
• taxis, shuttle busses, and cars can get into and out of it quickly
• the Metro stops at McCormick Place…and oftentimes trade shows even offer free passes
• Chicago has such a rich history of trade shows, so the hospitality industry knows how to service the conventioneers
• the taxi cab companies provide their drivers with a list of the trade shows and the drivers make the conventioneers their priority when trade shows are in town

So what do you think? Help me show some love for McCormick Place and Chicago to give the powers-that-be the incentive to figure out how to keep existing shows in Chicago and attract new ones!