PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A new labor agreement at Philadelphia’s
Convention Center is less than four months old, but officials say it’s having
an impact on bookings.
“I’ve heard the term sleeping giant in reference to
Philadelphia, that we finally got it right and we’ve now awakened,” says CEO
John McNichol.
McNichol says four new conventions have been booked since
the new Customer Satisfaction Agreement was signed by four unions, in May,
eliminating some work rules that exhibitors had found cumbersome.
Convention and Visitors Bureau President Jack Ferguson says
that was hurting bookings:
“What has always been the challenge is the elements of the
cost– labor– and the hassle that goes with it.”
He says the new agreement is a game-changer and McNichol
adds the word is spreading fast:
“This is a very incestuous industry so there’s only a
handful of very large show contractors so the customer experience matters.”
The agreement, notably, was not signed in time by two
unions– the teamsters and the carpenters– who continue to protest their
exclusion from the center as a lock-out.
They declined comment, but one source says he doesn’t
believe the agreement is the reason for any increase in business.
Source: CBS
Philly
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