Citing new union rules, another event returns to PA Convention Center

One week after the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s new work rules convinced the American Industrial Hygiene Association to bring its conference back to the city, another group has decided to return to Philadelphia.

The National Black MBA Association today announced its selection of Philadelphia as the host city for its 2017 Conference and Exposition due to the Convention Center making changes to its work rules.

“With more customer-friendly work rules now in place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, we are pleased to be bringing our Conference & Expo back to Philadelphia in 2017,” said Jesse Tyson, president and CEO in a statement.

The conference is expected to bring in more than 8,000 attendees and generate more than $19.5 million in economic impact for the Philadelphia region, according to the PHLCVB, filling more than 11,000 hotel room nights.

“Philadelphia has been on our radar since we last held our conference there in 2003," said Tyson. "The city’s prime location along the east coast, its growing minority business community and its wealth of attractions, among other things, creates an ideal backdrop to host some of our nation’s top professionals."

After holding its last conference in 2003, the association was initially signed on to hold its 2014 conference in Philadelphia as well, but due to the Convention Center’s antiquated work rules, the organization pulled out.

“Bringing NBMBAA back to Philadelphia could only have been achieved with these customer-focused changes,” said Jack Ferguson, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The PHLCVB, alongside SMG and the Convention Center continue to move forward diligently in pursuing any and all opportunities to fill our convention calendar for the coming years.”

Gregory J. Fox, chairman of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority’s Board of Directors said the new work rules are already paying off.

"The efforts made to improve the customer experience and lower customer costs are resulting in a rebirth of the Pennsylvania Convention Center as one of the premier convention center facilities in the nation,” he said. “The NBMBAA's decision to come to Philadelphia is a welcome expression of well-placed confidence in the Center."

The association's decision comes more than a month after the Carpenters Local 8 and the Teamsters Local 107 were shut out of working at the Convention Center for not signing the customer satisfaction agreement by the 11:59 p.m., May 5 deadline. The remaining four unions – Electrical Workers Local 98, Stagehands Local 8, Ironworkers 405 and Laborers Local 332 – signed the agreement on time.

The National Black MBA Association was founded in 1970 at a two-day conference held at the University of Chicago, according to its website by a group of African-American MBA students, faculty, advisors and businessmen. The association has awarded more than $5 million in scholarships to minority students participating in undergraduate and graduate programs worldwide.

The National Black MBA Association currently has more than 30,000 members, and has 47 chapters and 27 collegiate chapters.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal