Center of the Universe
“The Show” Combines With Restaurant And Hotel Shows for Mega-Event in Las Vegas

The city that many would argue is the absolute epicenter of hospitality — the nonstop service behemoth that rolls around the clock, setting trend after trend by upping the hospitality ante — is the perfect place for what is now a synergized mega-event for the beverage and food industry. From bars to clubs to restaurants to hotel hospitality, if you have a stake in the industry, there’s not any place on the planet you should be other than Las Vegas March 4-7, 2007. A never-before-seen hat trick now brings operators three shows in one.   
    There is no city in the world that can match Las Vegas as a center of entertainment with world class dining, hotels and restaurants, shopping and sizzling nightlife,” says Ed Meek, president and CEO of Oxford Publishing Inc., producer of “The Show.” “Everybody enjoys Las Vegas, and it is for this reason we have added two new shows — the International Las Vegas Restaurant Show and the Las Vegas Hospitality Expo — specifically for professionals from the restaurant and hotel sectors, creating a unique mega-event for the hospitality industry.”   
    These two new events will be co-located with “The Show,” and anyone who registers for one show will have full access to the trade show floor and nightly networking events for all three shows.
    The Nevada Restaurant Association, representing more than $8.2 billion in restaurant sales in Nevada, is Oxford’s partner in the launch of the Las Vegas International Restaurant Show. The exhibit hall this year will be the largest beverage and food event to date, with hundreds of new products, ideas and business enrichment opportunities.

Exhibit Hall Booms
    If you think you’ve seen it all because you’ve been to The Show before, think again — especially considering that the nation’s leading hospitality show has expanded to include an entire hall dedicated to restaurant and hotel exhibitors.
    Among many elements, expect new product launches, a Wine Garden offering select wines and a relaxed atmosphere, the Liquid Promo bartending competition, AAMA Coin-Op Pavilion, Sake Pavilion, Internet Café and celebrity appearances.
    More than 2,000 booths bring it all together for one-stop shopping.
    The 8th Annual Las Vegas Culinary Challenge is among the components that have become a part of “The Show,” thanks to the merging with the restaurant and hotel shows. Hosted by the Fraternity of Executive Chefs of Las Vegas, American Culinary Federation guidelines are used to judge the hot food competition and cold salon.
    Shake It Up: The Battle of the Mixologists features some of the nation’s up-and-coming practitioners demonstrating skill, flair and creativity. This event will be held on the Culinary Concepts & Innovations Stage. The event, hosted by Southern Wine & Spirits, will be judged by mixologists Francesco Lafranconi, Bridget Albert, Allen Katz, David Nepove, Arturo Sighinolfe, Jason Girard and Armando Rosario.

Sunday Power Lunch
    The Power Lunch is the kick-off of “The Show” experience. This panel of speakers from three segments of the hospitality industry includes Sue Morgan, vice president of food and beverage with InterContinental Hotels Group Worldwide; Brad Brennan, managing partner of Commander’s Palace Las Vegas; and Jason Strauss, managing partner of Tao Asian Bistro & Nightclub in Las Vegas.

Pre-Conference Workshops
    Three in-depth sessions on Sunday make early arrival
a must. T.J. Schier’s Now That’s Service That Sells® presentation tells you what you need to know to implement a new level of service and selling. Jon Taffer’s Advanced Bar & Restaurant Management Summit brings one of The Show’s favorite speakers back with marketing strategies. Promotions Powerhouse is back, too, bigger and better, as an all-day affair.

New for National Accounts
    New to “The Show” is an exclusive program just for national accounts and chain operators. The National Accounts Perspectives & Preview component includes an exclusive golf outing at Arroyo Golf Club on Sunday and Living Room Chats and Sip & Savor events at the Mirage on Monday. This program also allows registrants exclusive hours on the Exhibit Hall floor. This package has a limited capacity, so those interested should RSVP as soon as possible by calling (800) 247-3881 or visiting www.nightclub.com.

Educational Program
    More than 50 key educational sessions mix fresh new subjects with favorites back by popular demand. An array of top experts and industry professionals share cutting-edge insights, ideas, solutions and inspiration to put bar business ahead in today’s competitive market.
The Advanced Track is designed to guide experienced owner/operators to the next level with progressive information. Twelve restaurant and hotel targeted sessions cater to the food and foodservice industries, as well as the lodging and gaming sectors.
    The Super Sessions are the platinum standard of on-premise profiting. Operators will learn from those who have made it in the industry. These sessions apply to all aspects of the hospitality industry and are scheduled with no competing seminars so that everyone can attend all six sessions.
    Back by popular demand, a collection of Nightclub & Bar Editors’ Choice Top 100 club owners will offer their insights, challenges and successes in marketing, promotions and issues facing the industry today.
    The Off-Premise Track gives retailers their own educational program.

Networking Events
    We’ll be updating you on all the fun and exciting nightly networking events, for which “The Show” is known, in coming issues, and more detail is available at www.nightclub.com. Some of the highlights are  the return of the Five Star and Market Maker Awards; the Culinary Excellence Awards; the Sky Ranch Hall of Fame Dinner; the Rock, Rhythm & Blues opening night event hosted by Deluca Liquor & Wines Ltd., Anheuser-Busch Inc. and Island Oasis; a Sammy Hagar concert; The Main Event, at the Palms, honoring the Top 100 Clubs in America, at properties including Moon, ghostbar, Rain and the exclusive Playboy Club; Vino Las Vegas; TAO Tuesday at TAO Asian Bistro & Nightclub; Sizzle With Sidney Frank Importing; the GLBT Party; and the DJ Spin-Off. Stay tuned for updates!   NCB