National Restaurant Show Does Date Switch for 2012 Event

The National Restaurant Association’s National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is moving the show one week earlier from its scheduled dates next year at Chicago’s McCormick Place to avoid overlapping with Global G8 and the NATO Summit.

The new dates will be May 5-8, moved from May 15-22.

“The NRA’s primary goal is provide our exhibitors and attendees an environment that is conducive to business,” said Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “Discussions with the Chicago Mayor’s Office, the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority have made it clear to us that the security and logistics requirements for the G8 and NATO Summit will significantly restrict movement within Chicago during that time.”

She added, “Therefore, after carefully considering a number of options, we’ve come to the conclusion that keeping the 2012 NRA Show in Chicago but moving it to earlier in May will provide the best opportunity for our industry to have a productive and enjoyable 2012 Show.”

The International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event, which runs alongside the NRA Show, also will be moved up two weeks to May 6-7.

Last year’s NRA Show ranked No. 34 on the 2010 TSNN Top 250 and drew 58,000 attendees and 1,700 exhibitors to a 480,000 net square foot showfloor.

The show brings in around $100 million dollars on average and more than 60,000 jobs to Chicago to support the show, according to NRA officials.

“We are thrilled NRA, a tremendous partner for more than 60 years, chose to remain in Chicago,” said Don Wels,h president and CEO of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau.

He added, “NRA is, and will continue to be, one of the pillars of our tradeshow community.”

The NRA Show has held its annual event in Chicago since 1950 and currently is contracted to remain there through 2016, according to NRA officials.

This year’s NRA Show was held May 21-24 at McCormick and there was a 4-percent increase in the restaurant/foodservice category, a 6-percent increase in the dealer/distributor category and an 8-percent increase in the press category.

On the exhibitor side, there was a 7-percent increase in square feet occupied, compared with 2010, covering more than 515,000 sq. ft.