NRA Finds NATO Date Switch Unappetizing

Show organizers say new date kept exhibitors away

The National Restaurant Association is counting its losses after being strongly encouraged to switch the dates of its annual trade show because of the NATO summit.

The show was initially slated for late May, but was asked by City Hall to switch to May 5-8.

Crain's Chicago reports that the show initially lost 8 percent of its exhibitors because of the switch, and although they've managed to recoup those losses since, NRA organizers believe the change in dates prevented an even bigger increase in exhibitors.

The city paid the show $3 million from tourism tax revenues to help compensate for its losses, but organizers still aren't happy about what the change means for repeat business, according to Crain's.

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