[maybe if it wasnt so damn expensive to host events we wouldn't lose them?! Maybe adding more hotel beds would help too? Maybe all the union bloat hurts more than helps? He privitazed the Skyway, the parking meters, which was a fiasco, and now this.]
(Crain's) — Mayor Richard M. Daley is calling for privatizing McCormick Place after the South Side convention center lost business in recent months amid complaints from convention organizers about high costs.
WLS-TV/Channel 7 first reported Mr. Daley's comments.
Mr. Daley's press secretary said she was unaware of the comments and was attempting to verify his position on the matter Tuesday.
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which operates the convention center, is undergoing a complete overhaul of its operations. Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation to replace the agency's 13-member board with an interim panel of seven members.
In a recent interview with Crain's editorial board, McPier officials, including CEO Juan Ochoa, outlined steps they have taken to reorganize the agency. That includes reducing staff to 400 employees from 700 over three years.
The authority also has fired a large chunk of its electricians, a key target of complaints from trade show clients.
"Everybody has to agree to sacrifice a little bit, both the companies and both the unions and both the show managers and contractors at McCormick Place, because if they don't, they will lose out," Mr. Daley said.
In recent months, two major trade shows announced their plans to leave the city for rival venues.
rest at http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=37204&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChicagobusinesscomBreakingNews+%28ChicagoBusiness.com+Breaking+News%29
No comments:
Post a Comment