State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) believes that the reforms passed by the General Assembly are a significant reason that McCormick Place is attracting business.

Raoul, whose district contains McCormick Place, noted that ten major conventions have signed on to do business with the facility since the legislature adjourned in May. Since the top-to-bottom overhaul became law, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (McPier) has cut costs and saved jobs.

"When the Joint Committee on the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority convened we knew we had world class facilities capable of attracting great conventions and shows. We also knew that in order to compete with other tourism destinations we’d need some significant reforms to cut cost and change the way we managed Navy Pier and McCormick Place," Raoul said.

In the past week the Solar Power International Conference and National Restaurant Association announced they’ll be doing business at McCormick Place. The Solar Power International conference is expected to draw more than 27,000 attendees and generate at least $38 million in spending, according to the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. The National Restaurant Association which meets annually in Chicago announced that it signed a deal to continue business in Chicago through 2016. The show attracts over 66,000 attendees and is expected to generate over $108 million in tourism revenue.

"These kind of announcements validate the work we accomplished to make our facilities more exhibitor friendly. I look forward to many more," Raoul added.