SUPERCOMM, Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau Announce Trade Show's Move to McCormick Place; $120 million in direct expenditures expected in Chicago each year, starting in 2004.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

ARLINGTON, Va. & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2001

SUPERCOMM - the premier annual communications and information technology exhibition and conference - will move to Chicago in 2004, according to SUPERCOMM organizers and James Reilly, president and CEO of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB).

SUPERCOMM has been held in Atlanta since 1998.

"SUPERCOMM has enjoyed tremendous double-digit growth each year since 1998," said Jack Chalden, SUPERCOMM general manager. "We expect that growth to continue, and the move to Chicago will facilitate our need to expand exhibit and conference programming space, and provide much needed hotel capacity, thus, adding value for all our constituents."

SUPERCOMM dates will remain in the month of June in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The event is expected to bring a total attendance of 70,000 industry professionals and $120 million in direct expenditures each year to Chicago, making it one of the city's most prestigious shows.

"We're thrilled that SUPERCOMM made the decision to move to Chicago," said Reilly. "With the city's unparalleled meeting facilities, large amount of downtown hotel rooms, transportation access, lively hospitality industry, and skilled labor force, we believe Chicago is an excellent choice for their anticipated growth. We're looking forward to partnering with them."

"Bringing SUPERCOMM to Chicago builds on our goal of making the city one of America's leading technology centers," said Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. "The City of Chicago realizes the enormous opportunities in the technology sector, and our premier convention and hospitality industry is an excellent way to provide hi-tech professionals with exposure to the city."

The McCormick Place Complex currently offers 2.2 million square feet of exhibit space, with additional space for meeting rooms and special functions.

"As the premier convention center in the country, everyone at McCormick Place is excited to be working with SUPERCOMM," said Scott Fawell, chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority - which owns and operates McCormick Place and Navy Pier. "Not only do we have the space to accommodate their growing needs, but we offer a variety of unparalleled services and amenities."

The Chicagoland area currently has 79,250 hotel rooms in the metropolitan area (including 28,000 downtown), with another 4,600 downtown rooms expected to be added by 2004. In addition, the city offers the most skilled labor force in the country, as well as labor reforms that were instated in 1998 and renewed in 2000.

"By having access to the most skilled labor force in the country, exhibitors can reduce set-up and tear-down times, thus cutting overall labor costs," said Robert Hogan, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 714. "The labor reforms recently reinstated also demonstrate our ongoing dedication to Chicago's conventions and trade shows."

SUPERCOMM focuses on the infrastructure underpinning the sweeping technological changes redefining today's global communications. All of the industry's players are represented: established and emerging technology manufacturers and innovators; global and domestic service providers; and large, complex corporate and institutional network professionals.

In 2001, the show will feature more than 800 exhibiting companies, occupying more than 550,000 net square feet of exhibit space. In addition, SUPERCOMM conferences will include more than 200 educational sessions, and more than 700 speakers. The June 2001 event is expected to draw more than 55,000 industry professionals from the United States and more than 120 countries.

Produced jointly by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the United States Telecom Association (USTA), SUPERCOMM has been held in Atlanta since 1998. It will continue to be held there through 2003. The show was launched in 1988, and previously rotated among several cities, including New Orleans (1997), Dallas (1996), Anaheim (1995), New Orleans (1994), Atlanta (1993) and Chicago (1992).

SUPERCOMM, the premier annual communications and information technology exhibition and conference, is presented jointly by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), http://www.tiaonline.org, Arlington, Va. and the United States Telecom Association (USTA), http://www.usta.org, Washington, DC.

The Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau (CCTB) is the sales and marketing organization charged with bringing both business and leisure visitors to Chicago, actively booking group meetings at McCormick Place and Navy Pier, and promoting Chicago as a destination to the visitor industry.

The CCTB works in partnership with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the Chicago Office of Tourism and the Illinois Bureau of Tourism to maintain Chicago's position as the country's premier convention and visitor destination.

Photos of official contract signing available upon request.