The Chicago-based McCormick Place convention and exhibition centre welcomed back The Inspired Home Show, 5-7 March. The show, which attracted 60,000 attendees and 2,200 exhibitors with an economic impact of $77m prior to the pandemic, returned to Chicago for the first time since 2019. The show is expected to be the largest trade show held at McCormick Place in two years.
David Causton, general manager of McCormick Place, stated: “The entire staff at McCormick is excited to welcome back The Inspired Home Show, a flagship event that is typically held annually at our venue. We have worked closely with International Housewares Association to ensure that their group can meet safely.”
The Inspired Home is the first trade show to stage in Chicago since the mask mandates were lifted across Illinois, 28 February, marking the end of a month-long requirement for many indoor public spaces. Despite the policy changes, the International Housewares Association (IHA) will require masks to be worn throughout all common areas.
Derek Miller, IHA president and CEO, said: “To ensure success and meet the expectations of our attendees, IHA has worked with Epistemix, a firm of epidemiologists and computational modelling experts, to help us develop policies and protocols to protect our guests and staff.”
In addition to masking requirements, all exhibitors and attendees will be required to demonstrate proof of vaccination, negative Covid-19 test or proof of natural immunity. This includes exhibitors and personnel related to set-up and tear-down of the event.
McCormick Place is managed by ASM Global. Other ASM Global exhibition and convention centres in its portfolio include Moscone Center in San Francisco; ICC Sydney in Australia; Shenzhen World in China; and P&J Live in Aberdeen, UK.
Q1 2022 at McCormick Place
In 2022, McCormick Place has hosted six trade and consumer events, including the American Baseball Coaches Association National Convention, the Winter Volleyball Championship, the Chicago National Regional, the Chicago Auto Show and the Chicago Dental Society’s Annual Midwinter Meeting.
Causton commented: “Our first trade show of 2022, the Chicago Dental Society’s Annual Midwinter Meeting, drew just over 16,000 attendees—less than in the past but better than they expected. The Inspired Home Show will not reach its pre-pandemic attendance numbers, but we hope to see about 20,000 attendees.”
Following The Inspired Home Show, McCormick Place will host three more association trade shows in Q1. The venue will welcome the American Physical Society Annual Meeting 14-18 March, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons 2022 Annual Meeting 22-26 March, and AMCP 2022 Annual Conference 29 March- 1 April.
