Florida Restaurant Show 2018

Event Dates
2018-09-06 - 2018-09-08
Organizer
Exhibitors
450
Event contact title
Contact
Event contact first name
Wayne
Event contact last name
Kakos
Email
wkakos@urban-expo.com
Event contact telephone number
(203) 242-8121
Description

Your fascination with food. Your creativity. Your love of people. Your talent for nourishing their bodies and their souls. Imagine 3 days in the heart of Orlando — one of the world’s most vibrant cities — where you can focus on all the magic and mystery that attracted you to food in the first place. Give yourself the gift of learning!  From the art of ancient grains to the latest in lighting for Instagram, from the fine points of fermentation to designing smart kitchens, from veggie-centric dining to the prospect of delivery by drone. Spark your creative appetite and turn your passion for the industry into a sustainable business. 

Whether you’re an independent owner, quick-serve restaurant operator, chef, caterer, baker, bar or nightclub operator, hospital, hotel or commercial foodservice personnel — join us September 6-8, 2018, at the the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show at the Orange County Convention Center.  Join 8,000+ of your peers at the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, where you'll have access to the hottest menu trends, state of the art design and décor, the best in business education and 450 of the leading vendors and purveyors dedicated to serving the restaurant & foodservice community — all under one roof. 

Watch live culinary performances and awards ceremonies and listen in on roundtables. Energize your business — pick from within our program tracks: Hot Trends, Building Winning Teams, Marketing & Social Media, Operational Excellence, and more.  Emerging trends abound on the show floor with 450+ exhibitors and in our exciting special events and pavilions. 

Introducing the NEW Healthy Food Expo Florida — co-located with the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show.  Celebrating foods that are both good for you and delicious, bringing together the leading purveyors of healthy, natural, and organic products. Discover the most wholesome meat, seafood, and dairy products; delectable baked goods and desserts; tempting point-of-sale snacks – even eco-friendly ware-wash, so you can make your back-of-house operations as natural as what’s on your menu. We’ve got it all, for every type and size of food business and every day-part that you feature

Each special event and feature area has been developed to help you become more informed, more educated and more profitable ... the Food Trends Experience which will excite your senses and keep your menu fresh and exciting; culinary demonstration on the Center Stage presents top chefs and artistry — live; our educational sessions bring knowledge to enhance your business savvy and boost profits; the New Product Showcase gives you the first look at the latest innovations; American Culinary Federation Culinary Competitions & Cook-offs brings you the thrill of team competition; the Beer, Wine & Spirits Pavilion explores the latest alcoholic beverage trends and how to engineer your beverage menu to maximize profits; and more!

Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.    Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.    Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.   The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.    MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.     MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.