CHICAGO —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
Filling the vast expanses of the McCormick Place convention center with a sold-out array of more than 2,200 exhibitors, the NRA’s Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show also hosted numerous culinary demonstrations, expert panelists and high-level speakers, including keynoters Sen. John McCain and McDonald’s Corp. chief executive Jim Skinner. —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
In addition, the NRA provided a backdrop for a glittering variety of receptions, banquets and parties hosted by other organizations, such Nation’s Restaurant News’ Fine Dining Hall of Fame induction luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, and the gala evening of feasting and culinary accolades at the MenuMasters Awards event at the Drake Hotel. Another highlight was the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association’s annual Silver and Gold Plate Awards banquet at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
During the show the NRA’s 2007-2008 leader, Richard Rivera, passed the gavel to the association’s new board chairman, Michael Kaufman, and underscored two milestones for the association this year: its start in January of concerted national-state association collaborations on the marketing and deployment of ServSafe, ProStart and other NRA and NRA Educational Foundation initiatives, and the hiring of former AARP leader Dawn Sweeney as the NRA’s new president. —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
At a reception at the Chicago Art Institute, the NRA also debuted a stirring promotional video, “America’s Restaurants, Serving Our Nation,” that showcased the industry’s strengths through a slate of compelling statistics, such as that 28 percent more women, 30 percent more Hispanics and 77 percent more African-Americans became restaurant owners over the past five years. Also cited was the fact that the U.S. restaurant industry’s nearly 1 million dining locations and $558 billion in annual sales tops the revenues of the agriculture, motion picture and airlines industries combined and would represent the world’s 17th-largest economy if stacked against those of all nations. —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
In addition to current economic stresses and threats to profit margins from commodity inflation, NRA show attendees shared insights into a diverse range of concerns that included employee retention and motivation, trends in alcoholic beverage sales, mergers and acquisitions, energy efficiency and a new NRA “Go Green” initiative called Conserve. —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
The following articles and pictorial spreads provide closer looks at select panel presentations, speeches and awards events this year along with social gatherings of the leaders and achievers that populated the NRA show. —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
To view slide shows of images from the NRA show, click on the links featured below. The other stories listed are available to subscribers only. Non-subscribers can purchase the entire coverage by clicking here. —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
Peers fete Karatassos at Fine Dining Hall of Fame ceremony —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
R&D excellence, creativity honored at MenuMasters ceremony —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
Spirit Award events honor excellence in worker development —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
NRAEF honors industry leaders at Salute to Excellence Gala —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
McD’s Skinner says industry must confront adversity as allies —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
Sen. John McCain brings presidential campaign to the NRA show —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
Former Church’s prexy Moddelmog touts WFF networking clout —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
Execs warn against overreacting to economic stress in near term —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
Spirits panel: Diners willing to try new flavors when drinking alcohol —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.
Green panels color discussion of restaurants’ environmental efforts —This city’s hospitality industry relished the National Restaurant Association’s 89th annual trade show and the opportunity to host nearly 71,500 foodservice professionals from 115 countries who flocked here May 17-20 for foodservice’s largest educational gathering and commercial exhibition.