CHICAGO AUTO SHOW LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE, ANNOUNCES 2018 SHOW DATES
MEDIA INFORMATION
Contact: Mark Bilek
Senior Director of Communications and Technology
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6082
Cell: (847) 652-0632
Email: mbilek@drivechicago.com
Contact: Jennifer Morand
Director of Public Relations and Social Media
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6084
Cell: (630) 391-1986
Email: jmorand@drivechicago.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHICAGO AUTO SHOW LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE,
ANNOUNCES 2018 SHOW DATES
CHICAGO (Oct. 25, 2017) - As auto show season swings into high gear, the Chicago Auto Show announces its 2018 public show dates, Feb. 10-19, and debuts an all-new website boasting responsive design, improved navigation and dedicated sponsor, exhibitor and media microsites. ChicagoAutoShow.com hosts more than 1 million visitors in Q1 each year and nearly 1.5 million visitors annually.
The 2018 version of ChicagoAutoShow.com is now fully functional for all devices - desktop, tablet and mobile - allowing users the same experience whether they are at home or on the go. As well, the show's rich past is on full display in pictures and videos in the site's Show History. Finally, online and mobile ticketing are improved, allowing purchasers to share and save tickets with their mobile device.
The show's website also includes innovative functionality that allows site visitors and app users to interact with exhibitors as if they were on the show floor. No auto show has ever offered this feature, and, in conjunction with the site's Vehicles on Display section and DriveChicago.com inventory solution, the Chicago Auto Show website is unmatched in customer-to-exhibitor interaction.
The website's Vehicles on Display section adds real-time inventory from Chicagoland's new-car dealers, provided by DriveChicago.com. This allows site visitors to sort through more than 40,000 new cars directly on ChicagoAutoShow.com as they are browsing their favorite vehicles.
Highlighting its extremely active social media channels, the show's website features Facebook and Twitter conversations site-wide and boasts a live Instagram feed on its homepage. In addition, the site hosts a social media wall that's constantly updated with the latest conversations across all social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.
"We want our attendees to connect to the show on every level," said 2018 Chicago Auto Show Chairman John Hennessy. "We will be providing free high-speed WiFi at the show to allow show goers to share their experience through social media, our website and our official Chicago Auto Show app."
Also new to ChicagoAutoShow.com is an enhanced sponsor section featuring an interactive landing page where prospective sponsors can gather key information and demographic data on Chicago Auto Show attendees and view a wide range of opportunities that may align with sponsor objectives - from consumer show activations to business-to-business industry events to onsite and digital branding. More information can be found at www.chicagoautoshow.com/sponsor/.
Media visiting the website are now able to register for media credentials, download high-resolution Chicago Auto Show images and video, locate recent news releases, view a show floor map and obtain the show's 2018 press kit. The media section of the site is found at www.chicagoautoshow.com/media/.
Web development company Americaneagle.com continues to be a valuable partner in the success of ChicagoAutoShow.com and the official show smartphone app.
"The Chicago Auto Show has been a longtime customer of ours and their outstanding team is one of the biggest contributors to the site's growing and continued success," said Michael Svanascini, president of Americaneagle.com. "Our goal is to give Chicago Auto Show fans a dynamic, optimal online experience, not only on the show dates but all year round."
The 2018 Chicago Auto Show will run Saturday, Feb. 10 through Monday, Feb. 19. Public show hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day except for the last day, Presidents Day, when the show closes at 8 p.m. Special themed days include Women's Day on Feb. 13, Telemundo Hispanic Heritage Day on Feb. 16, Family Day on Feb. 19 and A Safe Haven Chicago Auto Show Food Drive on Feb. 14-16.
Tickets will be available for purchase online at www.chicagoautoshow.com beginning in November or at McCormick Place ticket booths throughout the public show. Ticket prices are $13 for adults, $7 for seniors aged 62 or older, $7 for children ages 7-12 and free admission for children 6 and younger when accompanied by a paying adult.
The show's 2018 Media Preview will be Feb. 8-9 and its black-tie charity fundraiser gala, First Look for Charity, will be held the evening of Friday, Feb. 9 at McCormick Place.
For more information on the 2018 Chicago Auto Show, please visit www.chicagoautoshow.com. Media can visit www.chicagoautoshow.com/media for more information or to register for media credentials.
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About the Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America, spanning more than one million square feet of production, concept and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raises more than $2.5 million annually for 18 vital Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2018 public show will be Feb. 10-19. For more information, visit www.chicagoautoshow.com or www.Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.
About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is one of the nation's largest metropolitan dealer organizations. It is comprised of more than 420 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 20,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world-famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information please visit www.CATA.info.
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