A deal struck earlier this week between the unions at McCormick Place and Navy Pier, two Chicago locations, will make it easier for trade shows to come to the windy city.

As of Tuesday, three trade shows, including a comics show and a book expo, have already committed to come through McCormick Place.  This is big news considering trade shows had almost completely backed out of Chicago all together.

"They had abandoned Chicago, basically, because they weren't getting the product they needed or the services they needed here," Jim Reilly, chief executive of the firm that owns McCormick Place and Navy Pier, told the Chicago Tribune.

The new agreement will allow for big clients like Microsoft to organize corporate gatherings in Chicago.  The Chicago Tribune explains: "...the labor break-through -- allowing stagehands, rather than show-floor electricians, to do audio-visual production work for presentations held outside the exhibit area -- should open the door to potential mega-clients..."

Hopefully the new work-rule will help bring in new business to Chicago soon!

After a long workday, its sometimes nice to recline with a nice glass of wine. As of 2005, 29% of Americans admitted they were avid wine drinkers with that number steadily climbing. If you have the tastebuds for it, you'll probably find yourself in Chicago, IL very soon.

For two days in April, the World Wine Meeting of America will take place at the Embassy Suites in Downtown/Lakefront Chicago. The group is organized by wine vendors and suppliers from South and North America. The buyers come from some of the prestigious regions for wine production in Europe so if you want to see some of the finest American (South and North) brands bring your palate here. 

For more information regarding the World Wine Meeting of America 2012 (April 28 - April 30) visit the WWMA website. Be sure to have your custom imprinted barware on-hand.