EXHIBITOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS
International Design Expo 2027 | McCormick Place, Chicago | July 28-29, 2027
These Exhibitor Terms and Conditions (the “Terms”) govern participation in Design Expo Chicago (the “Event”) and are incorporated by reference into, and form an integral part of, any Participation Agreement, Commercial Offer, Booth Reservation Agreement, Sponsorship Agreement, Order Form, or other agreement executed between Holding Experience Pte.Ltd. (the “Organizer”) and the participating exhibitor (the “Exhibitor”). By executing any such agreement, the Exhibitor acknowledges that it has read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms.
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS
For purposes of these Terms, the term “Event” shall mean Design Expo Chicago, including all exhibitions, conferences, networking activities, special events, digital components, and ancillary programs organized under the Design Expo brand.
The term “Venue” shall mean McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, together with any facilities, halls, meeting rooms, loading docks, common areas, or other premises utilized in connection with the Event.
The term “Booth” shall mean the exhibition space assigned to the Exhibitor pursuant to the applicable Participation Agreement or Commercial Offer.
The term “Organizer” shall include Holding Experience Pte. Ltd. and its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, representatives, contractors, agents, successors, and assigns.
The term “Exhibitor” shall include the contracting entity and all of its employees, representatives, contractors, subcontractors, agents, exhibitors, guests, invitees, and personnel attending the Event on its behalf.
ARTICLE 2 APPLICATION, ACCEPTANCE, AND PARTICIPATION RIGHTS
Submission of an application or execution of a Participation Agreement shall not create any right to participate in the Event unless and until accepted by the Organizer. The Organizer reserves the unrestricted right to determine the eligibility of any applicant and may reject, limit, condition, suspend, or terminate participation at any time if the Organizer determines, in its sole discretion, that the Exhibitor, its products, services, conduct, marketing materials, business activities, or public reputation are inconsistent with the objectives, standards, image, safety requirements, or commercial interests of the Event. Participation rights are personal to the Exhibitor and may not be assigned, transferred, sublicensed, shared, or otherwise conveyed without the Organizer’s prior written consent. Acceptance into one edition of the Event shall not create any right or expectation of acceptance into future editions.
ARTICLE 3 BOOTH ASSIGNMENT AND FLOOR PLAN MODIFICATIONS
The Organizer shall assign exhibition space in its sole discretion, taking into consideration factors including, but not limited to, Event design, category balance, sponsorship commitments, operational requirements, and overall visitor experience. The Organizer reserves the right, at any time and without liability, to revise the floor plan, relocate exhibitors, redesign exhibition areas, alter aisle configurations, modify entrances and exits, expand or reduce common areas, or otherwise reconfigure the Event layout whenever deemed necessary for operational, safety, commercial, or logistical reasons. The Exhibitor acknowledges that booth location constitutes a license to use designated exhibition space and does not create any property interest or exclusive right to a particular location. No relocation, modification, or reconfiguration of the Event layout shall entitle the Exhibitor to any refund, reduction in fees, damages, or other compensation.
ARTICLE 4 FEES, INVOICING, AND PAYMENT TERMS
The Exhibitor shall pay all participation fees, sponsorship fees, service fees, deposits, taxes, and other amounts specified in the applicable Participation Agreement or Commercial Offer. Unless otherwise expressly stated in writing, all payments shall be made in U.S. Dollars and shall be non-refundable except as expressly provided herein. Failure to make any payment when due shall constitute a material breach of the Participation Agreement and shall entitle the Organizer to suspend or terminate the Exhibitor’s participation rights without further obligation. The Organizer reserves the right to withhold exhibitor credentials, booth possession, exhibitor services, marketing benefits, sponsorship benefits, or access to the Venue until all outstanding balances have been paid in full. The Exhibitor shall remain responsible for all collection costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees, interest charges, and expenses incurred by the Organizer in connection with the recovery of unpaid amounts.
ARTICLE 5 CANCELLATION BY EXHIBITOR
Any cancellation by the Exhibitor must be submitted in writing and shall become effective only upon receipt by the Organizer. The applicable refund schedule, if any, shall be set forth in the Participation Agreement or Commercial Offer. Unless expressly stated otherwise therein, all payments received by the Organizer shall be deemed earned upon receipt and shall be non-refundable. Failure to occupy the assigned Booth by the designated move-in deadline, abandonment of the Booth, or failure to participate in the Event shall constitute a cancellation by the Exhibitor and shall not relieve the Exhibitor of any payment obligations. The Organizer reserves the right to reassign any cancelled or abandoned exhibition space without liability.
ARTICLE 6 MODIFICATION, POSTPONEMENT, RELOCATION, OR CANCELLATION OF THE EVENT
The Organizer reserves the right to postpone, reschedule, relocate, shorten, extend, modify, convert to a hybrid or virtual format, suspend, or cancel the Event whenever circumstances reasonably warrant such action. In the event of any modification to the Event format, dates, duration, or location, the Participation Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless otherwise determined by the Organizer. The Exhibitor acknowledges that participation in the Event involves expenditures relating to travel, staffing, accommodations, shipping, marketing, fabrication, inventory, and other preparations. The Organizer shall not be responsible for any such costs, losses, or expenses arising from any modification, postponement, relocation, suspension, or cancellation of the Event. Any credits, refunds, transfers, substitutions, or alternative participation opportunities shall be determined solely by the Organizer.
ARTICLE 7 EXHIBITOR OBLIGATIONS
The Exhibitor shall conduct its activities in a professional, lawful, and commercially reasonable manner consistent with the character and objectives of the Event. The Exhibitor shall ensure that all products, services, demonstrations, presentations, displays, marketing materials, and promotional activities comply with all applicable laws, regulations, industry standards, intellectual property rights, and consumer protection requirements. The Exhibitor shall be solely responsible for obtaining all licenses, permits, approvals, certifications, inspections, and governmental authorizations necessary for its participation. The Organizer reserves the right to prohibit or remove any activity, display, product, service, material, presentation, or personnel deemed objectionable, unsafe, unlawful, misleading, disruptive, offensive, or inconsistent with the Event.
ARTICLE 8 BOOTH DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND APPROVAL RIGHTS
As a design-focused exhibition, the visual quality and presentation standards of the Event constitute essential elements of its commercial identity and visitor experience. The Organizer reserves the right to review and approve booth concepts, renderings, construction plans, elevations, signage, lighting, audiovisual elements, furnishings, materials, and overall exhibit presentation. The Organizer may require modifications whenever an exhibit is deemed inconsistent with the Event’s aesthetic standards, design objectives, operational requirements, safety standards, or overall exhibition environment. The Exhibitor shall implement any required modifications promptly and at its sole cost and expense. The Organizer may prohibit the installation or operation of any exhibit that fails to comply with approved plans or applicable requirements.
ARTICLE 9 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, VENUE REQUIREMENTS, AND SAFETY REGULATIONS
The Exhibitor shall strictly comply with all federal, state, county, municipal, and local laws, regulations, ordinances, codes, and governmental requirements applicable to its participation. The Exhibitor shall further comply with all Venue rules, labor regulations, operational procedures, fire safety requirements, building regulations, security protocols, health requirements, and exhibitor policies established by McCormick Place, its management, official contractors, governmental authorities, and public agencies having jurisdiction over the Event. The Exhibitor acknowledges that Venue requirements may be modified from time to time and agrees to remain responsible for compliance with the most current applicable requirements. Any fines, penalties, corrective measures, remediation costs, or enforcement actions arising from the Exhibitor’s conduct shall be borne exclusively by the Exhibitor.
ARTICLE 10 INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
The Exhibitor shall, at its sole cost and expense, procure and maintain throughout the entire period commencing with move-in and concluding upon completion of move-out insurance coverage sufficient to protect against claims arising out of the Exhibitor’s participation in the Event. At a minimum, the Exhibitor shall maintain: (a) Commercial General Liability Insurance with limits of not less than USD $2,000,000 per occurrence and USD $2,000,000 aggregate, including coverage for bodily injury, personal injury, property damage, contractual liability, products and completed operations liability, and advertising injury; (b) Workers’ Compensation Insurance as required by applicable law; (c) Employer’s Liability Insurance with limits not less than USD $1,000,000; (d) Automobile Liability Insurance covering owned, hired, and non-owned vehicles used in connection with participation in the Event, with limits not less than USD $1,000,000 combined single limit, where applicable. Such insurance shall be issued by insurers authorized to conduct business in the applicable jurisdiction and having an A.M. Best rating of A- or better, or equivalent. Upon request, the Exhibitor shall provide certificates of insurance and supporting documentation evidencing compliance with these requirements. The Organizer reserves the right to establish additional insurance requirements where reasonably necessary based on the nature of the Exhibitor’s activities, products, demonstrations, equipment, or services. Failure to maintain the required insurance coverage may result in denial of access to the Venue, suspension of installation activities, removal from the Event, or termination of participation rights without refund.
ARTICLE 11 INSTALLATION, OCCUPANCY, AND DISMANTLING
The Exhibitor shall comply with all move-in, installation, occupancy, operating, and move-out schedules established by the Organizer. No exhibit may be dismantled, packed, vacated, or removed prior to the official closing time of the Event without prior written approval from the Organizer. The Exhibitor shall leave the assigned space in substantially the same condition in which it was received, reasonable wear and tear excepted. Any costs incurred by the Organizer or Venue for removal, disposal, restoration, cleaning, storage, repair, or remediation resulting from the Exhibitor’s actions shall be reimbursed by the Exhibitor upon demand.
ARTICLE 12 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The Exhibitor acknowledges that all rights relating to the Event name, logos, trademarks, service marks, branding, graphics, promotional materials, goodwill, and related intellectual property are owned exclusively by the Organizer or its licensors. No right, license, or ownership interest is granted except as expressly authorized in writing. The Exhibitor represents and warrants that all materials displayed, distributed, demonstrated, performed, marketed, or otherwise used during the Event do not infringe upon the rights of any third party. The Exhibitor shall bear sole responsibility for any intellectual property claims arising from its participation.
ARTICLE 13 PHOTOGRAPHY, FILMING, AND PROMOTIONAL USE
The Organizer and its authorized representatives may photograph, film, record, livestream, reproduce, publish, distribute, and otherwise use images, audio recordings, video recordings, interviews, booth displays, trademarks, products, personnel, and other content associated with the Exhibitor in connection with the promotion, documentation, marketing, operation, and future development of the Event. The Exhibitor grants the Organizer a worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free license for such purposes. The Exhibitor acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing rights shall include the right to use, reproduce, adapt, archive, publish, distribute, display, and incorporate such content into promotional materials, historical archives, future Event editions, digital platforms, social media channels, advertising campaigns, educational materials, and technology-assisted content creation tools, including artificial intelligence-assisted marketing and content generation systems, provided that such use relates to the promotion, documentation, operation, or development of the Event and associated activities. No Exhibitor shall photograph, film, record, livestream, scan, reproduce, or otherwise capture images, displays, products, demonstrations, proprietary materials, or exhibit areas belonging to another exhibitor without the prior consent of such exhibitor. The Organizer reserves the right to restrict or prohibit recording activities that may interfere with Event operations, security requirements, intellectual property rights, confidentiality obligations, or the legitimate commercial interests of exhibitors.
ARTICLE 14 DAMAGE TO VENUE AND PROPERTY
The Exhibitor shall be responsible for any loss, damage, destruction, contamination, or alteration caused by the Exhibitor or its representatives to the Venue, Event facilities, equipment, property, infrastructure, utilities, furnishings, or the property of third parties. The Exhibitor shall promptly reimburse the Organizer for all resulting costs, liabilities, repair expenses, restoration expenses, and related damages.
ARTICLE 15 SECURITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK
The Organizer may provide general security measures for the Event; however, the Organizer does not guarantee the security of any person or property. The Exhibitor assumes all risks associated with participation, including risks relating to theft, loss, damage, destruction, vandalism, casualty, business interruption, personal injury, property damage, transportation, shipping, storage, and attendance. All exhibit materials, products, equipment, samples, merchandise, and personal property remain at the Exhibitor’s sole risk.
ARTICLE 16 INDEMNIFICATION
The Exhibitor shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Organizer, the Venue, McCormick Place management, official contractors, sponsors, affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, successors, and assigns from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, judgments, settlements, penalties, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or relating to the Exhibitor’s participation in the Event, except to the extent resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified party.
ARTICLE 17 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the Organizer nor any related party shall be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, punitive, or speculative damages, including lost profits, lost business opportunities, loss of goodwill, loss of revenue, or business interruption. The aggregate liability of the Organizer arising from or relating to the Event shall not exceed the total participation fees actually paid by the Exhibitor to the Organizer under the applicable Participation Agreement.
ARTICLE 18 SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
The Exhibitor acknowledges that sustainability and responsible resource management constitute important objectives of the Event. The Exhibitor shall make commercially reasonable efforts to minimize waste generation, reduce unnecessary packaging materials, promote reuse and recycling where feasible, and avoid practices that may create excessive environmental impact. The Organizer may establish sustainability guidelines, material restrictions, recycling procedures, waste management protocols, or environmental performance requirements applicable to exhibitors. The Exhibitor agrees to comply with all such requirements. Hazardous substances, regulated materials, environmentally restricted products, or waste streams requiring special handling may not be brought into the Venue without prior written approval and compliance with all applicable legal and safety requirements. The Exhibitor shall remain solely responsible for the lawful handling, transportation, storage, removal, and disposal of any materials introduced into the Venue by or on behalf of the Exhibitor. Any remediation costs, environmental penalties, cleanup expenses, disposal charges, or liabilities arising from the Exhibitor’s activities shall be borne exclusively by the Exhibitor.
ARTICLE 19 PRODUCT COMPLIANCE, SAFETY, AND REGULATORY REPRESENTATIONS
The Exhibitor represents and warrants that all products, materials, samples, equipment, furnishings, prototypes, installations, technologies, demonstrations, and services displayed, promoted, sold, distributed, or otherwise presented during the Event comply with all applicable laws, regulations, standards, certifications, testing requirements, labeling requirements, safety requirements, and governmental approvals applicable within the United States and the State of Illinois. Where applicable, the Exhibitor further represents and warrants that its products satisfy relevant building codes, electrical standards, fire safety requirements, consumer product regulations, import regulations, environmental regulations, and industry-specific requirements. The Exhibitor shall maintain all records, certifications, approvals, test reports, product documentation, and supporting evidence necessary to substantiate compliance and shall provide such documentation upon request by the Organizer or any governmental authority. The Organizer shall have no responsibility to independently verify the legality, safety, performance, quality, suitability, or regulatory status of any product or service exhibited at the Event. Should the Organizer reasonably determine that any product, display, demonstration, installation, or activity may present a safety concern, regulatory issue, reputational risk, or legal exposure, the Organizer may require modification, suspension, removal, or discontinuation of such activity without liability. The Exhibitor shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Organizer against any claim, investigation, recall, enforcement action, regulatory proceeding, or liability arising out of or relating to the products or services exhibited by the Exhibitor. Participation in the Event shall not constitute or imply any endorsement, certification, approval, verification, recommendation, sponsorship, or guarantee by the Organizer with respect to any Exhibitor, product, service, technology, installation, representation, claim, or statement. The Organizer makes no representation regarding the legality, quality, safety, performance, suitability, accuracy, reliability, or regulatory compliance of any products or services exhibited at the Event. The Organizer is not a party to, and shall have no responsibility for, any negotiations, quotations, orders, contracts, purchases, sales, payments, deliveries, warranties, guarantees, or other commercial transactions entered into between Exhibitors and attendees, visitors, buyers, suppliers, or third parties. Any such transaction shall be conducted solely at the risk and responsibility of the parties involved. The Organizer disclaims all liability arising from or relating to any commercial relationship established through participation in the Event.
ARTICLE 20 UNION LABOR, FREIGHT HANDLING, AND OFFICIAL CONTRACTORS
The Exhibitor acknowledges that the Venue operates pursuant to labor agreements, operational policies, work rules, and service requirements that may govern the performance of certain activities within the Venue. The Exhibitor shall comply with all labor regulations, jurisdictional requirements, work rules, contractor policies, material handling procedures, freight regulations, rigging requirements, electrical requirements, utility requirements, and operational procedures established by the Venue and its authorized service providers. Where Venue rules require the use of designated service providers, official contractors, labor personnel, freight handlers, electricians, riggers, technology providers, security personnel, cleaning contractors, or other authorized vendors, the Exhibitor shall utilize such providers as required and shall be solely responsible for all associated costs and charges. The Organizer makes no representation regarding the pricing, availability, performance, scheduling, labor jurisdiction, quality, or services provided by the Venue or its contractors and shall have no liability arising from delays, labor disputes, staffing shortages, service interruptions, pricing disputes, work stoppages, jurisdictional disputes, or contractor-related issues. The Exhibitor assumes full responsibility for coordinating its installation, dismantling, logistics, shipping, receiving, storage, material handling, and operational requirements in accordance with Venue requirements.
ARTICLE 21 SHIPPING, CUSTOMS, IMPORTATION, AND LOGISTICS
The Exhibitor shall be solely responsible for the transportation, importation, exportation, customs clearance, temporary admission, storage, handling, insurance, and delivery of all products, exhibits, equipment, materials, and property associated with its participation. The Organizer shall have no responsibility for customs delays, inspections, seizures, duties, tariffs, taxes, import restrictions, export restrictions, transportation disruptions, carrier delays, warehouse charges, storage fees, demurrage charges, or related logistics issues. The Exhibitor shall comply with all customs, trade, import, export, sanctions, transportation, and border-control requirements applicable to its products and activities. The Exhibitor shall bear all costs and liabilities arising from failure to satisfy applicable customs or transportation requirements.
ARTICLE 22 DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY
The Exhibitor shall comply with all applicable privacy, data protection, marketing, consumer protection, electronic communications, and cybersecurity laws in connection with the collection, processing, storage, transfer, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained through participation in the Event. The Exhibitor shall be solely responsible for obtaining any required consents, providing legally required notices, maintaining appropriate safeguards, and complying with all applicable legal obligations relating to personal information collected from attendees, visitors, customers, prospects, employees, or other individuals. The Organizer shall not be responsible for the Exhibitor’s handling of personal information or for any claims arising therefrom.
ARTICLE 23 USE OF ATTENDEE INFORMATION
Any attendee information, lead retrieval information, contact information, visitor data, business card information, badge information, digital lead information, or similar information obtained by the Exhibitor through participation in the Event shall be used solely for legitimate business purposes consistent with applicable law and the reasonable expectations of the individual concerned. The Exhibitor shall not sell, transfer, license, disclose, distribute, or otherwise commercially exploit attendee information except as permitted by law and applicable privacy requirements. The Organizer reserves the right to suspend or terminate participation rights in the event of misuse of attendee information. The Organizer reserves the right to revoke, deactivate, confiscate, or deny access credentials at any time whenever reasonably necessary for safety, security, operational, legal, or compliance purposes, or in response to any violation of these Terms or Event policies.
ARTICLE 24 RESERVATION OF RIGHTS
The Organizer reserves the right to interpret, administer, enforce, and apply these Terms and all Event policies in its reasonable discretion. The Organizer further reserves the right to adopt supplemental rules, operational requirements, technical standards, exhibitor manuals, safety directives, security measures, design standards, participation policies, and administrative procedures necessary for the successful management of the Event. All determinations made by the Organizer concerning Event operations, exhibitor eligibility, exhibit suitability, safety matters, venue compliance, scheduling, floor plan administration, and related operational issues shall be final and binding.
ARTICLE 25 FORCE MAJEURE
The Organizer shall not be responsible for any delay, interruption, modification, suspension, or failure to perform resulting from causes beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, severe weather, public health emergencies, epidemics, pandemics, governmental actions, labor disputes, civil unrest, terrorism, security threats, utility failures, transportation disruptions, venue unavailability, or similar circumstances. The occurrence of a force majeure event shall not create any right to consequential damages or reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Exhibitor.
ARTICLE 26 DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
Any violation of these Terms, the Participation Agreement, Venue requirements, applicable laws, or Organizer policies shall constitute a default. Upon default, the Organizer may suspend services, restrict access, close the Booth, remove exhibits, terminate participation rights, retain payments previously received, pursue damages, seek injunctive relief, or exercise any other remedy available at law or in equity. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive.
ARTICLE 27 GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to the Event, the Participation Agreement, or the parties’ relationship shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflict of law principles. The parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Cook County, Illinois, and waive any objection based upon venue or forum non conveniens.
ARTICLE 28 MISCELLANEOUS
These Terms, together with the applicable Participation Agreement and incorporated exhibits, constitute the entire agreement between the parties concerning participation in the Event. The Organizer reserves the right to adopt, amend, supplement, and interpret operational rules, exhibitor manuals, safety requirements, and event policies as reasonably necessary for the administration of the Event.If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. No waiver by either party shall be deemed a continuing waiver unless expressly stated in writing. These Terms shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.