October 2, 2013

Mayor Emanuel and Choose Chicago Announce All-New Dealer Expo Moves to Chicago in 2014, 2015, and 2016

Big win for city is a result of innovative partnership between Mayor Emanuel and Carpenters’ Union; Powersports industry drives new dates, location, mission for its largest and longest running trade show

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

The Advanstar Powersports Group joined Mayor Emanuel today to announce the Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo has committed to Chicago and McCormick Place for the next three consecutive years beginning in December 2014.  Dealer Expo expands from its longtime home in Indianapolis to larger quarters in Chicago to deliver more products, more training, more networking and more excitement to the powersports industry’s annual gathering. 

"We are excited to welcome Dealer Expo to their new home in Chicago," said Mayor Emanuel.  “I am thankful to the Carpenters union for their partnership and efforts to help lure this fast growing show to the city for the next three years. This is a perfect example of the positive economic impact that can come to the entire city when we work together." 

The first show will take place Dec. 5-7, 2014. It is a three-day show expected to bring in more than 10,000 attendees, with a projected economic impact of $15 million annually. It is particularly notable that the show is in December, which is traditionally a downtime for the convention industry.

This new show is the outgrowth of a new committee, the Trade Show Promotion Fund committee, which was designed following the historic reforms at McCormick Place. The Trade Show Promotion Fund committee, comprised of four representatives of the Carpenters and four representatives from the Mayor’s office, have worked collaboratively with Choose Chicago to identify opportunities to bring new trade shows to Chicago.

“This is an excellent example of what came be accomplished when the City of Chicago, industry leaders and labor come together to achieve a common goal,” said Kevin McLaughlin, Business Representative, Carpenters Local 10. “This not only creates jobs for Chicago workers at a time when the trade show business is historically slow but also builds revenue for Chicago businesses. We thank Mayor Emanuel and Frank Libby for their leadership, Advanstar, Choose Chicago and McCormick Place for their collective efforts.

The signing of Dealer Expo is just the latest in a series of deals that have been inked for Chicago’s convention industry since the reforms were enacted as a result of Mayor Emanuel’s efforts. So far, more than $6 billion in new, renewed, or extended shows have committed to the city, pushing Chicago up to second in the nation in conventions.

Dealer Expo is North America’s largest and most influential powersports marketplace for retailers and consumers, offering the widest variety of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and personal watercraft with a strong focus on new products and the buying cycles of powersports retailers.

Beginning in 2014, Dealer Expo will offer:

  • A dedicated focus on new products – with a showcase, a web app, demos, and a show catalog –  which will provide a comprehensive annual review of the industry’s new product offerings;
  • A bigger, more exciting venue – in the nation’s third-largest city, an international destination hub that is also within easy reach of more than 80 percent of U.S. powersports retailers;
  • Affordability – for attendees and exhibitors, with a wide range of hotel options and solid, practical exhibit packages;
  • An educational symposium – offering solutions delivered by professional trainers from not one but several respected organizations; 
  • Late year timing – aligned with the dealers’ need to make prime buying decisions in the fourth quarter for the coming season;
  • And a host of networking events and features

The blueprint for the 2014 Dealer Expo was developed after months of research, polling and one-to-one conversations with retailers, manufacturers and distributors.  “We wanted everyone’s involvement on how to evolve Dealer Expo from your typical trade show to an all-new, must-attend industry event,” said Chris DeMoulin, executive vice president of Advanstar Communications, Inc.

"We applaud the combined efforts of Chicago's unmatched labor force, McCormick Place and the city of Chicago for working together to ensure we could welcome this new customer to Chicago," said Don Welsh, Choose Chicago President and CEO.  "As a result of permanent reforms at McCormick Place, Chicago is now the most customer-friendly meetings and convention destination in the country.  We look forward to a productive partnership with Dealer Expo."

Responses from manufacturers and distributors primarily addressed maintaining the quality of and increasing the number of attendees; whereas dealers and retailers were more concerned with access to new products and keeping the show away from other business conflicts – such as summer / fall selling seasons.

To grow as an event and to fuel sales, industry segments agreed the show had to move to a bigger market and realign with the buying cycle of the dealer network. Specifically, two-thirds of respondents supported a move to a bigger market and realigning the show dates to coincide with the gradual shift in the primary buying season for most powersports retailers to late in the fourth quarter.

Many hours were spent with representatives from McCormick Place, Chicago and the state of Illinois to ensure this seamless transition.

"I welcome the Dealer Expo and their global community here to Illinois, the heart of the nation," Governor Pat Quinn said. "Our easy access to the rest of the world and our second to none city of Chicago made Illinois the right choice for the powersports industry's largest annual show. We are proud to host Dealer Expo and look forward to exceeding the business and hospitality needs of all who attend."

The Chicago area is also home to hundreds of powersports dealerships as well as dozens of manufacturers, and is the third-largest U.S. metropolitan market for on-highway motorcycle registrations, according to Polk Research.

 

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About Dealer Expo

Since 1966, The Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo is where the industry comes to connect. This annual event provides the ultimate show experience for its buyers, with strategic segmented marketplaces, educational seminars, and entertainment opportunities.  Dealers, distributors, original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket parts and accessory companies from across the globe converge to buy, learn, and network at Dealer Expo, North America’s largest and most influential powersports marketplace and the only industry-wide event to focus on new products and the buying cycles of powersports retailers.

 

About Advanstar

Advanstar is an event and marketing services business that serves business professionals and consumers in the Fashion, Licensing, Life Sciences and Powersports industries with its portfolio of 134 events, 30 publications, over 200 electronic products and Web sites, as well as educational and direct marketing products and services. Market leading brands and a commitment to delivering innovative, quality products and services enables Advanstar to “Connect Our Customers With Theirs.” Advanstar has approximately 600 employees and currently operates from multiple offices in North America and Europe.