I have previously written about changes in rules and practices regarding conventions at McCormick Place, but this weekend I was able to see the improvements firsthand when I helped a friend with his booth at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo. The last time I attended a convention at McCormick Place was for the National Business Travelers Association convention several years ago. Unloading and transporting things for the Global Traveler booth was costly, time-consuming and arduous. The unnecessarily numerous obstacles (both physical and procedural) made it an unpleasant experience. Even just as attendees, my friends had similar bad experiences.

Last weekend, I had a totally different experience. We were able to unload, transport and set up most of the booth by ourselves without any confusion or hassle. When we needed assistance, it was provided at a reasonable charge within a workable time frame. There were at least two other major events at McCormick Place this same weekend. In the past, multiple events like this could have created confusion, but this wasn’t the case this time.

I talked to several people from the Diabetes Expo and a Teachers’ Testing session. They also had praise for the changes. An additional pleasant experience came at the nearby Hyatt, where my friends stayed. Adjacent to McCormick Place, the beautiful Hyatt hotel had great rates for conventioneers, and the staff was amazingly helpful during my friend’s stay.

Having a booth at any convention involves a lot of work and stress. I am happy to say that the new policies for McCormick Place have greatly improved the situation. It’s refreshing to see all parties involved having worked together to make things better and to make McCormick Place and Chicago more desirable for conventions and other similar events.

— John Wroblewski, online contributor