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RSSDCASE Chooses Illinois Restaurant Association To Manage Taste Of Chicago
Cindy Gatziolis 312.744.0573
Mary May 312.744.0576
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) has chosen the Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA) to manage the food, beverage and ticket services at the 32nd Annual Taste of Chicago (July 11-15) .
“Our evaluation committee had the difficult job of reviewing two very good proposals, but the IRA proved to be the most responsive and responsible bidder,” said DCASE Commissioner Michelle T. Boone. “The Department has enjoyed a very good relationship with the IRA, and we look forward to working with them again this year.”
DCASE will pay the IRA a management fee of $308,691 for providing and managing the following services:
- Training of Restaurant Vendors
- Certification, Licensing and Contracting of Food Vendors
- Restaurant Liaison
- Equipment Procurement
- Beverage Operations
- Ticket Operations
IRA will also help coordinate the restaurant selection process from the 73 applications received to participate in the five-day event.
In addition to its responsibilities at Taste of Chicago, the IRA will also provide beverage and ticket operations at for the Chicago Blues Festival (June 8-10) and the Chicago Jazz Festival (Aug. 30-Sept 2) under the same contract and fee. DCASE staff will manage restaurant booths at the Grant Park site for both festivals, as well as produce and manage all elements of the three events.
The IRA has been contracted with the City to manage Taste of Chicago since 1984.
In recent years, the IRA handled a variety of responsibilities for a number of City-run festivals.
In 2011, the Chicago Park District paid the IRA $338,438 to manage beverage and food management services for Taste of Chicago. DCASE paid $98,000 to the IRA to manage beverage and tickets at the Chicago Blues and Jazz Festival.
In 2010, IRA was paid $417,259 to manage restaurant, beverage and ticket operations for Taste of Chicago and the city produced music festivals: Celtic, Blues and Jazz Festival. IRA only managed restaurant operations at the Gospel Music Festival.
In 2009, IRA was paid $425,125 to manage restaurant, beverage and ticket operations for the aforementioned festivals as well as Viva and Country Music Festival.
The free admission Taste of Chicago is July 11-15 in Grant Park and for more information, visit www.tasteofchicago.us.
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