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(ARA) - Chicago is a major player in the convention destination arena, according to a report recently published by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), the nation's largest nonprofit organization, representing all components of the nearly $600 billion U.S. travel industry. In any given month, multiple conventions occur in Chicago, representing industries as diverse as the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (a.k.a. the ASTRO Annual Meeting), to the North American Wholesale Lumber Association (NAWLA Traders Market), and all points in between. And lest we forget, the Windy City has hosted 25 U.S. presidential nominating conventions - more than any other U.S. city. In every successful convention city - in this case Chicago - self storage options are an important part of the amenities offered. Why? Because the majority of convention participants have "wares to share": machinery and parts (to be used and/or demonstrated at the convention); marketing collateral (sales catalogs and brochures for distribution at the convention); and even product giveaways. The bulk of these wares are shipped weeks, if not months, in advance, in an effort to ensure safe and timely arrival. But the convention centers cannot store all goods from all exhibitors weeks in advance, as there are trade shows and conventions being held continuously. So what is an exhibitor to do? They reserve storage space at self storage facilities within close proximity of the convention center. Perhaps the most renowned convention center in all of Chicago is located along the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan: McCormick Place, featuring four pristine buildings offering a combined total of 2.6 million square feet of exhibit halls. Each May, every inch of the McCormick is utilized by the National Restaurant Association (NRA), affectionately known to long-time attendees as the "graze and guzzle" show, because alongside the restaurant equipment vendors are purveyors of beer, beef, baklava and more, all offering tastings. The number of exhibitors for the 2010 show is nearing 2,000; and that is just fine with Gene Higgins, district manager at Extra Space Storage, less than three miles from McCormick Place. "The NRA show is a huge boon to many businesses in the Chicago area, including ours," Higgins says. "The show impacts a multitude of businesses here; space at hotels, restaurants and self storage in Chicago tends to book up months in advance, because it brings in more than 50,000 people from over 100 countries every year. People have learned to plan ahead." Inquiries for Chicago self storage availability for the NRA show begins around November each year. And it's not just a few cases of wine that vendors seek to store. "When people think about the restaurant industry," Higgins says, "they tend to think in terms of 'food and beverages.' But the big ticket items tend to be equipment: industrial-sized dishwashers, ranges, fryers and waste disposal systems, from well-known brands like Hobart and the Viking Range Corporation." Machinery and equipment vendors often assemble and demonstrate their products during the show, according to Higgins, so some require warehouse-sized storage for the plethora of parts and pieces. "They appreciate the flexibility and sizing options we have to offer," says Higgins. "These equipment manufacturers have a significant investment in what they bring to the NRA Show," Higgins says. "They want to make sure it arrives safely and remains secure until it is time to be moved out. We have built our reputation with exhibitors not only on our convenience (to McCormick Place), but on our state-of-the-art security and on-site professional management team as well. The companies that entrust us with their goods know that when they come to retrieve them, they will be 'show-ready,'" Higgins says. If you are planning to exhibit at the NRA show in May, check out storage in Chicago soon. Courtesy of ARAcontent
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