Nov 30, 2009 5:35 pm US/Central
One Big Convention Still Happy With Chicago
Some Exhibitors Cite Chicago's Attractions, Midwest Locations As Selling Points
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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The Radiological Society of North America is meeting in Chicago this week at McCormick Place.
CBS
The numbers are stunning: Over the span of two weeks, Chicago lost more than $200 million in convention business. Now the biggest convention of them all is underway. But is it staying?
CBS 2's Jim Williams spoke to exhibitors Monday.
They're in – in a big way.
Jim Gabriel's company Med Build, which sells structures that house medical imaging equipment, is spending a lot of money in Chicago this week. He says it is well worth it.
"It puts all of our clients in one condensed area," he said of McCormick Place.
The Radiological Society of North America is the world's biggest medical convention. Gabriel knows other conventions are pulling out of Chicago to go to places like Las Vegas and Orlando.
He and his team acknowledge the set-up costs at McCormick Place are high, but they don't feel they're being gouged.
"They set you up quickly," Darlene Sita said. "They work efficiently. They're wonderful to work with."
And they insist other expenses in Chicago are less than they are elsewhere.
"Those are intangibles that people don't look at when they think about the overall costs," Gabriel said.
Chicago is easy to get to for his colleagues, who live all over the country.
"My flight here was $150 from Pittsburgh," Gabriel said.
They like the short cab rides and convenient public transportation here.
Gabriel and his team are having a big economic impact here, staying five nights at the Sheraton Hotel and having dinners at pricey restaurants. By taking 10 to 20 people at a time, Gabriel says they'll spend up to $1,000 some nights.
"You cannot beat Chicago for food," Darlene said.
And when they're not eating and working, they're shopping on North Michigan Avenue.
As other conventions leave, the radiological convention and its 60,000 visitors are committed to Chicago for at least another five years.
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