AMERICAS – A group of Chicago hotels have pledged to make more than US$500m worth of improvements to their facilities to help boost the city’s convention and exhibition industry.

The announcement was made by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (21 October) and follows a resolution between convention centre executives and union leaders about new work rules at McCormick Place.

Union officials, speaking to the Chicago Tribune asserted a deal had been struck to cover workers responsible for the transit of exhibitor products to the show floor at McCormick Place.

Talks are still underway with union carpenters and the union responsible for stand assembly work, although reports claim the two parties are nearing a resolution.

The deal with the Teamsters, which is largely in line with the reforms originally instituted by the Illinois General Assembly but blocked by a federal judge, includes a proposal that would reduce crew size from three workers to two, giving exhibitors greater freedom over assembly.

Earlier this month, show organisers expressed frustration at the pace of negotiations and raised the possibility of looking at alternatives to Chicago for staging their events.

The Mayor has not released specifics on the hotels refurbishments, but said representatives of the Chicago Hilton, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Strategic Hotels and Resorts and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide met with the mayor about their plans.

“The settlement of the work-rules issue at McCormick Place will allow our ownership groups to reinvest in their properties with the confidence that new business will be forthcoming as a result of this resolution,” a spokesman for Hilton Worldwide said.

Any conference-related news? Email sarah@mashmedia.net