IHRA #30: National Restaurant Association Hotel, Motel & Restaurant Show

Events > Restaurant Buzz! > NRA Hotel, Motel & Restaurant Show USA

National Restaurant Association Hotel, Motel & Restaurant Show - U.S.A. 21-24 May

The National Restaurant Association US is poised to expand its global presence exponentially through the International Cuisine Pavilion, an innovative new feature at the NRA 2005 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show to be held 21-24 May at McCormick Place in Chicago.

International Reception
Saturday, May 21, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
This exclusive reception for our international guests is the perfect opportunity to network with operators and suppliers involved in international business in a relaxed setting. Badge required for admittance.

Sophisticated Palates Drive Ethnic Food Trend in $476 Billion Restaurant Industry, Inspire New International Cuisine Pavilion at 2005 Show

Before a diverse group of consulate representatives, commercial attaches, industry leaders and ethnic media from more than 15 countries, Association President and Chief Executive Officer Steven C. Anderson recently introduced the Pavilion as the first-ever to focus exclusively on international and domestic traditional ethnic food and beverages.

"This new Pavilion will be a hot spot at this year's Show," said Anderson. "Everyone in the $476 billion restaurant industry is looking for ways to positively differentiate themselves. One way is to embrace international foods and beverages that have not yet hit America in a big way. More specifically, the industry is looking for ethnic fusions, eclectic textures and that new taste that will satisfy the appetite of an increasingly sophisticated American palate and adventurous diners. The International Cuisine Pavilion will provide the needed showcase for these authentic concepts."

Representatives from Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America were enthusiastic about the prospect of having a focused forum to showcase imports and expand opportunities for ethnic specialities. The excitement and talk among those attending the announcement event focused on the many global foods that could soon be offered on menus everywhere. Examples included cassava chips from Ghana, paratha from Pakistan, pierogi from Poland, gara masala from India.

The Pavilion, to be located on Level 1 of the North Hall at McCormick Place, will host international and U.S. exhibitors showcasing traditional ethnic food and beverage products from around the globe. "Understanding the way to do business in the U.S. will be key to companies coming from other parts of the world," says Pavilion co-creator and President of International Trade Information, Inc., Denyse C. Selesnick. "Together with the National Restaurant Association we will provide participating companies with the tools they need to be successful here in the United States."

The International Cuisine Pavilion will benefit a broad range of restaurant industry organizations from single-unit entrepreneurs to multi-unit operators, and from those already offering ethnic items, but wanting to expand to those that are looking for that new winning menu concept for the first time. The Pavilion will provide a venue for authentic cuisine to be featured by both domestic companies that either import or manufacture traditional ethnic food and beverage products, as well as the foreign companies looking to open new doors for their products in the U.S. The Pavilion will make it easy for buyers walking the exhibit floor to find stimulating ideas and solutions for their ethnic cuisine needs. The Show is on both the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Buyer Program and the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) list of sponsored trade shows.

Celebrating its 86th year, the Association's annual Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals in North and South America. The Show will be held May 21-24, 2005, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. Each year, the Show attracts more than 2,000 exhibiting companies and 73,000+ attendees from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. For the latest information, please visit the show web site at
www.restaurant.org/show.

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