is gaining in visibility as a global destination. Trough regional, national, and international campaigns, the world is getting a second look — and in some cases a first glimpse — at the so-called Second City. Designed to drive the annual number of visitors to 50 million by 2020, the new campaign is promoting Chicago as a leading global destination. “Chicago is a global city with worldwide appeal,”
Emanuel said, “and I am committed to ensuring that people around the world have a chance to experience our magnificent city firsthand.”
Chicago Is a City That Works With its 26 miles of uninterrupted lakefront, towering skyscrapers, world-renowned museums, and award- winning public spaces and parks, Chicago tops Forbes magazine’s list of America’s Best Downtowns. It is home to more Five-Diamond–rated restaurants than any other city in the United States, and foodies from around the globe make regular pilgrimages to experience this epi- curean epicenter. Te only U.S. city with five Regional Tony Award–winning theater companies, Chicago deliv- ers show-stopping performances every day of the week. Beyond the shopping, dining, and entertainment,
Chicago is — and always has been — the city that works. With one of the world’s most robust and diversi- fied economies, and a gross regional product of $496 billion (larger than Sweden’s), Chicago is a financial ecosystem all its own. In fact, Chicago was rated “#1 Large U.S. Metro for Economic Diversity” by Moody’s Investor Services. Chicago is home to more than 400 major corporate headquarters, including 29 Fortune 500 companies, and a thriving startup scene. From manufacturing to digital media, derivatives trading to biotech, and transportation to green energy, Chicago integrates mature and emerging industries into one vibrant, uniquely diverse business environment. Mix in the world-renowned academic and research institutions located there — more than 130 higher-edu- cation institutions, including Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and Illinois Institute of Technology
— and the city fairly buzzes with brainpower. But what truly differentiates Chicago from other
global players is its Midwestern accessibility. Emanuel likes to call Chicago the most American of American cit- ies. Because while Chicago has big-city smarts, it’s got a small-town heart; and visitors reap the rewards of a metropolis with an international perspective and a local mindset. Perhaps most important is the chance for a meeting or convention to capture and capitalize on the energy of one of the most vibrant knowledge centers in the world. “Chicago is in a league of its own,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Choose Chicago. “Tere is not a larger stage than this world-class city, and we embrace the mayor’s challenge to spread that message
Chicago boasts the most exhibit and meeting-room space in the Western Hemisphere. McCormick Place, the crown jewel of the city’s meeting facilities, is the largest convention center in the United States, with: • 2.6 million square feet of exhibit halls
• 173 meeting rooms providing nearly 1.2 million square feet of space
• Assembly seating for 15,000 people
• 4,249-seat Arie Crown Teater
• Easy access and more than 5,000 parking spaces.
Privatization of McCormick Place’s operations, followed by settlements between labor organizations and management, have smoothed over work-rule changes at the convention center and made McCormick Place more exhibitor- and customer- friendly than ever. Most recently, a historic agreement between convention center management and labor organizations representing electrical workers and stage employees will allow union stagehands to complete a type of work previously completed by union electricians.
In response to the reforms and new union agreements, a number of major shows are returning to Chicago or going there for the first time. In June 2012, Reed Exhibitions announced it will bring two new shows to the city — AIBTM: Te Americas Meetings & Events Exhibition and BookExpo America — representing $56 million in estimated direct expenditures. “Labor reform has resulted in positive results for our annual customers,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Choose Chicago, “and continues to resonate well with current and potential customers.”
And just last month, the Chicago-based American Library Association signed an agreement confirming that Chicago will host its Annual Conference in 2020, 2023, and 2026. “Tis is great news for our convention industry, and shows that Chicago is the place for large, national organizations to come and do business,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Te reforms at McCormick Place and Navy Pier have attracted more than $3.25 billion in committed shows, and this number continues to grow.”