Reston, VA - The Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC) announces that exhibitors will have multiple opportunities to save money compared to past years for GRAPH EXPO 2011.  As the most recent example, now due to reforms at McCormick Place, rather than being required to use McCormick Place's services, GASC had the opportunity to choose an electrical contractor.  GASC has selected Freeman Electrical, based on their pricing that now offers the lowest rates available.   GRAPH EXPO 2011, slated for September 11-14, 2011 in Chicago's McCormick Place, is the year's largest graphic communications exhibition and conference in the Americas.

GRAPH EXPO 2011 will feature a number of additional changes designed to make it easier and more cost-effective for vendors to exhibit at the show.  The benefits and savings, part of a series of reforms begun last year at McCormick Place, will include the following:

- Free WiFi will be available throughout McCormick Place, including all common hallways, exhibit halls, and meeting rooms;
- A reduced parking rate, from $19 to $14, in surface lot B; and,
- Reduced food and beverage rates at concessions, exhibitors' ability to pre-order the most popular food and beverage concession items for distribution in their booth, and the ability for exhibitors to bring outside food into McCormick Place for their employees.

These changes build upon the reforms already enjoyed by exhibitors during GRAPH EXPO 2010, including standardized and expanded straight-time windows; permission to use privately-owned automobiles and small utility vehicles to load in materials; expanded exhibitor rights regarding set up and tear-down; and more.

In addition to the changes at McCormick Place, GASC also announces that Freeman's other rates and services, beyond the new savings on electrical services, will remain the same from 2010 to 2011.  Although union wages and show costs continue to increase at a rate of 3-5% per year, GASC has negotiated with Freeman for their rates to hold through 2011.

"Between the success of our efforts in gaining the cost-saving changes resulting from reforms to McCormick Place's policies, and working with partners like Freeman to hold the line on costs, exhibiting at GRAPH EXPO 2011 is even more of a winning proposition for industry vendors than ever before," said Ralph Nappi, GASC President.

For attendees, GRAPH EXPO 2011 will feature the newest array of cutting-edge, innovative equipment, technologies, unique new applications and services, all designed to help them streamline their workflow and increase profits. Indeed, according to the theme for this year's GRAPH EXPO, "Embrace Technology," GRAPH EXPO 2011 will offer live equipment demonstrations and feature the newest product introductions for attendees who will be there from 11 key market segments:

- Commercial printing
- In-plant printing
- Transactional printing
- Digital print imaging/quick & instant printing
- Package & specialty printing
- Mailing & fulfillment
- Book printing & publishing
- Wide format printing
- Newspaper printing & publishing
- Creative services/advertising/marketing
- Media/Print buying

As the largest, most comprehensive and most inclusive graphic communications exhibition and conference in the Americas, GRAPH EXPO 2011 will feature more than 300,000 sq. ft. of cutting-edge graphic communications technologies, products and services, with live equipment demonstrations and education on the most in-demand products and new profit-making opportunities.  GRAPH EXPO 2011 will feature eight special-interest pavilions: Prepress/Software Design; Press/Finishing, displaying the latest innovations in digital and offset print, wide format, and bindery and finishing technologies; the returning News Print, with 9,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space devoted exclusively to the needs of newspaper publishers and production pros; PackPrint featuring solutions for package printing and converting with Future Print, covering emerging technologies; the Mailing & Fulfillment Center, the industry's largest mailing event anywhere in the Americas; GREENspace, dedicated to sustainability and eco-friendly products and services; and, Education Main Street, for attendees seeking well-educated, talented industry newcomers to augment their company's workforce.