The National Restaurant Association is offering up preliminary stats about the 20008 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, held at Chicago's McCormick Place earlier this week. According to the association more than 2,200 exhibitors, representing over 621,000 sq. ft. of space, showcased new products and services attracting 71,500 registrants from 115 countries.
"The goal of the National Restaurant Association is to provide the tools and resources to improve restaurant operations and grow sales and profits. With that restaurant growth objective clearly in focus, the NRA Show was again the premier forum for buyers to discover new products, exchange ideas and make contacts," says William C. Anton, FMP, Convention Chairman for the 2008 Show, and Chairman and founder of Anton Airfood, Inc. "This year's expanded international focus, the record number of educational sessions, and the first-time International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event are just some of the many features that made NRA Show 2008 a great success for both exhibitors and foodservice operators."
The NRA Show was larger than the sold-out 2007 show, NRA announced, and featured a variety of new exhibit spaces including the debut of the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB). Two thousand strictly screened beverage alcohol buyers from throughout the international foodservice industry registered to attend.
This year's program also included 72 sessions, 18 culinary demonstrations and a keynote address from Jim Skinner, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of McDonald's Corporation. Even presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), held a special address to attendees and brought with him a surprise guest in Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.).
NRA Show 2009 will be held May 16-19, at McCormick Place in Chicago. The 2009 International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event will once again collocate at the same time. For more information, visit www.restaurant.org/show.
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