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Talks continuing on next NPE location

WASHINGTON (Nov. 13, 12:05 p.m. ET) -- Chicago and Orlando are still negotiating for the NPE trade show, the head of the Society of Plastics Industry Inc. said, despite industry rumblings that an announcement could come by the end of November — or even as early as next week.

Bill Carteaux, SPI president and CEO, said any talk of an imminent decision is “rumors.”

“There are still ongoing negotiations,” he said in a Nov. 13 telephone interview.

Carteaux continues to say a decision will be made by the end of the year.

“There’s still not been a final decision made, and at this point, we still don’t have anything scheduled to make an announcement,” he said. “It’s status quo.”

Washington-based SPI sponsors the NPE show every three years in Chicago’s McCormick Place. But after the NPE2009 show this June, complaints escalated about high costs of exhibiting and labor union rules — made even harder to swallow by the harsh economic downturn. That led SPI leaders to look at a possible new venue for the major plastics trade show.

No solid details have emerged about the offers and counteroffers from Chicago and Orlando. There has been some speculation that if Orlando ends up winning, NPE2012 would be moved to April, rather than June.

Carteaux and Gene Sanders, SPI senior vice president of trade shows and conferences, are handling negotiations with Chicago and Orlando. The final vote will be made by members of the 12-member NPE executive committee, with input from Carteaux and Sanders.

Carteaux said it has not been decided yet how the NPE executive committee will meet — whether a physical, in-person meeting, on the phone or over the Internet, webinar-style. But he said Nov. 13 that no meeting date has been set yet.

Members of the NPE executive committee declined to comment.

Meanwhile, the pressure is ratcheting up on Chicago to keep NPE, which generated $95.3 million in direct spending in Chicago for this year’s show. Media reports say Chicago has lost the Healthcare Information and Management Systems show on 2012, which is moving to Las Vegas because of high costs at McCormick Place.

The HIMSS show is about half the size of NPE.

Carteaux — who has met with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley about NPE — said he heard the news about the healthcare show.

“Not knowing those specific circumstances, it’s hard for me to comment on that,” he said.

The Chicago media has jumped on the NPE decision, with stories in print, TV and blogs. “It’s been amazing to me the coverage this issue has gotten,” Carteaux said.

Moving NPE to Orlando would be interesting to our company. We stopped exhibiting due to the costs associated with the show. The cost of booth space is inline with most trade shows, but the additional costs are high. Hotels, taxis are more expensive as well as the sales tax being higher than in Orlando. The labor used at McCormick is also a factor. They should be pleasant and cooperative since we the exhibitors are the customer. We should not be considered a captive audience. Change is inevitable and in this case necessary to rekindle interest in a trade show that is losing its attraction due to its location.

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