Baltimore, Md.– October, 2009– The Mid-Atlantic Food, Beverage and Lodging EXPO will open to local hospitality professionals throughout the region. The event, organized by the Restaurant Association of Maryland for 55 years, will take place October 7-8, 2009 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Open to hospitality professionals only, the 2009 EXPO is expected to draw more than 4,000 participants from the Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and beyond.
“The economic challenges of the last 12 months are precisely why Baltimore restaurant operators came together more that 80 years ago to create Restaurant Association of Maryland during our nation’s first large scale economic crisis—to share ideas and work in unison to better the industry,” said Paul Hartgen, president & CEO of the Restaurant Association of Maryland. “This year’s EXPO will do exactly that, many operators have gone ‘back to basics’ and this Show is a perfect place for local operators to find deals that can lower costs, improve their product line and to come together to learn more about innovative new strategies that are helping their peers succeed even in this environment,” added Hartgen.
In addition, to expansive product and service offerings on the floor of EXPO, the event will also include an dynamic array of educational sessions providing operators expertise on new and emerging trends in communication, marketing, sustainability, and new environmentally friendly solutions to old problems. The topics and related panels of experts gathered in Baltimore this week will be discussing many top of mind issues to operators and some new ideas they may not have though of yet. In addition, Chefs and Mixologists will bring their own brand of excitement to the Nation’s Restaurant News Demonstration Stage conveniently located on the show floor.
Wednesday, October 7, 2008
Educational Seminars:
- Online Marketing Strategies to Increase Sales & Guest Loyalty
- Maximizing Restaurants On-line Presence, Promises and Pitfalls
- Keynote Address: Thriving in the Mid-Atlantic Region; Challenging Times Create Innovative New Strategies
- Reinventing your Beverage Program through Cocktail Marketing
Nation’s Restaurant News Demonstration Stage:
- Chef Danny Manning, Phillips Seafood – Baltimore, MD
- Andrew Stover, Wine Director and Sommelier, Oya Restaurant –Washington, D.C.
- Brendan Orr, Mixologist, B&O American Brasserie – Baltimore, MD
- Chef Len King, McCormick and Company – Sparks, MD
- Chef Peter Smith and Mixologist Gina Chersevani, PS7’s – Washington D.C.
- Melissa Harrison, The Big Red F Restaurant Group – Boulder, CO, Past Top Chef Contestant
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Educational Seminars:
- From Local Farms to your Tables – Why Local Products are must haves for Local Menus followed by a panel discussion on Local Product Infrastructure and Delivery Systems
- Go Green and Still Make a Profit
- Taking the Confusion Out of Sustainability and Driving Profits
Nation’s Restaurant News Demonstration Stage:
- Chef Danny Manning, Phillips Seafood – Baltimore, MD
- Chef Deanna Cook, Pizzazz Tuscan Grille – Baltimore, MD
- Profish Ltd. –Washington, D.C.
- American Culinary Federation Awards Ceremony for the Chesapeake Chef Challenge
The Mid-Atlantic Food, Beverage & Lodging EXPO provides hospitality professionals with the opportunity to meet face-to-face with decision makers throughout the mid-Atlantic region. This unparalleled local event is the largest restaurant, foodservice, hospitality & lodging industry trade show between New York & Florida. The Restaurant Association of Maryland was recently joined by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington and Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association in an effort to expand upon the show’s reach and exclusive offerings to mid-Atlantic operators.
The EXPO will kick off on Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM in the Charles Street Lobby of the Baltimore Convention Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Secretary Christian S. Johansson of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), Paul Hartgen, president & CEO of the Restaurant Association of Maryland, Lynne Breaux, president of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, and Barry Hawkins, executive director of the Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association, as well as various local business leaders will be in attendance.
For more information on the Mid-Atlantic Food, Beverage & Lodging EXPO visit www.midatlanticexpo.com.
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The Mid Atlantic Food, Beverage & Lodging EXPO is an annual restaurant and hospitality tradeshow that features local, national and international manufacturers, distributors and brokers with samples and demonstrations of food, beverages and services for sale to the region’s hospitality industry. Featuring free parking, special events, speakers and free admission for foodservice professionals! Event dates are October 7-8, 2009 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Must be 21 to attend. For more information please visit www.midatlanticexpo.com
The Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM) has remained relevant to restaurateurs for over 80 years by maintaining core principles born out of the first national financial crisis. In 1927 a small group of Baltimore area restaurateurs met to deal with the challenges facing the economy and the foodservice industry. Today, RAM is a 2,000 member strong statewide trade association operated for the purpose of promoting, protecting and improving the foodservice industry in the State of Maryland. Since the very beginning, the Association has been run by restaurateurs and suppliers working not only for the benefit of dues paying members, but also for the restaurant industry as a whole. For more information about the restaurant industry in Maryland please visit our website at www.marylandrestaurants.com.
