Inaugural Las Vegas Food & Beverage Industry Week Will Feature Four Premier Shows Under One Roof
February 28, 2022
Leading trade show organizers Emerald and Questex have teamed up to launch the inaugural Las Vegas Food & Beverage Industry Week, featuring four premier food and beverage trade shows taking place concurrently at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).
Running March 21-24, SIAL America, Bar & Restaurant Expo (formerly known as Nightclub & Bar Show), International Pizza Expo and World Tea Conference + Expo will unite decision-makers from all sectors of the recovering $1.5 trillion food and beverage industry under one roof at the 4.6-million-square-foot facility.
“We’re excited to collaborate with Emerald and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority [LVCVA] to bring key food and beverage buyers together in one central location to deliver a new high-value experience that combines key education, product activations and customer interaction,” said Tim McLucas, vice president, Bar & Restaurant Group, Questex.
A collaboration between international trade show organizers Emerald and Comexposium, SIAL America is a first-of-its-kind cross-category generalist food and beverage show that supports the food and beverage market. Boasting a long-standing reputation as a premier event host for the industry, SIAL convenes importers, food service companies, distributors, retailers, wholesalers and restaurateurs looking to discover, innovate and learn.
Now in its 38th year, Emerald’s International Pizza Expo is the pizza industry’s leading event that welcomes pizzeria professionals from across the world. Focused on all elements of the pizza industry, the show features suppliers, educational sessions presented by top industry professionals and national competitions.
At Bar & Restaurant Expo, attendees have a chance to get ahead of the curve by learning about the latest trends and troubleshoot challenges facing their businesses. With participants ranging from single-unit to national chain operators and the industry’s largest hospitality groups, the show delivers the latest in experience and innovation to move business.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, World Tea Conference + Expo honors the traditions and the future of tea. Besides providing access to leading suppliers and timely educational sessions, this year’s event promises to deliver new features and enhancements.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Questex for the inaugural edition of Food and Beverage Industry Week,” said Jessica Blue, executive vice president, Emerald. “It will be an exciting and invaluable week for everyone in the food and beverage industry.”
Since in-person meetings and conventions returned to Las Vegas in June 2021, the LVCC has hosted more than 58 trade shows and events attracting upwards of 800,000 attendees, showcasing confidence by trade show organizers that meetings can be held safely and efficiently, according to LVCVA officials.
“We are grateful for our partnership with Emerald and Questex, and we are excited to welcome the first-ever Las Vegas Food and Beverage Week to the Las Vegas Convention Center,” said Brian Yost, COO of the LVCVA, which owns and operates the LVCC.
He continued, “Las Vegas brings key industries together, fostering in-person connections that move business forward. We look forward to providing the organizers, exhibitors and attendees of these shows with an ‘Only Vegas’ experience.”
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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.
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