Chicago keeps radiologists' meeting

The Radiological Society of North America said Tuesday it willkeep its annual convention at McCormick Place through 2004, thanks toconcessions made by the city, the hotel industry and labor unions tomake the convention center more cost-competitive.

The society had said last year that it would move its 2002 and2003 meetings from McCormick Place to the Orlando convention center.

"The RSNA is going to remain right here in Chicago," Mayor Daleysaid Tuesday. "Their decision to stay in Chicago means importantmoney to waiters, cabdrivers, housekeepers, bellhops, retail salespeople as well as the tradespeople in McCormick Place."The society - which brings more than 60,000 attendees and pumps$99 million into Chicago's economy with its annual conference - isthe second major convention group to say it will stay in Chicagoafter threatening to leave for other, cheaper, convention citiesbecause of high labor, hotel and transportation costs in Chicago.McCormick Place - which is the biggest convention center in thecountry and has long dominated convention business - has also facedincreasing competition from other convention cities, particularlyOrlando, Atlanta and Las Vegas."There's really no way to overstate the importance of this toour city," said Jim Reilly, chief executive officer of theMetropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which runs McCormickPlace. "It sends a clear message that Chicago is together, has thefacilities and is going to do the job."In October, the International Housewares Show decided to remainin Chicago for five more years after a Sept. 29 agreement among thecity, labor unions and McCormick Place officials that provided anincentive package and union concessions that reduced the show's costsat McCormick Place.The concessions included cheaper rent at McCormick, other costcuts and union concessions on jurisdictions, overtime and allowingsmall exhibitors to put up and take down their own booths.Concurrent hotel commitments included providing more rooms at lowercosts.The radiologists' society, which has held its conventions herefor the last 85 years, said the concessions were the main reason itdecided to keep its show at McCormick Place. The group said addinghotel rooms was of particular concern because registration actuallydeclined for its current meeting, being held now at McCormick Place,because there weren't enough hotel rooms available.The group also said some problems with the Orlando facility,which is being expanded, played a part in the decision to stay.While it is committed to stay in Chicago through 2004, thesociety said it would work with Orlando in the weeks ahead to look atan "an extended program," indicating the group may be willing to headsouth to Orlando some time after 2004.