Atlanta-based Urban Expositions has further expanded into the restaurant and foodservice industries by scooping up three shows from Reed Exhibitions and one more from the New York State Restaurant Association.

The Reed shows are the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo and Expo Comida Latina, as well as the association’s International Restaurant & Foodservice Show, which was managed by Reed.

"We have been searching for strategic opportunities to grow our retail/hospitality sector and these shows perfectly reflect the profile and development potential we were hoping to find," said Doug Miller, President, Urban Expositions.

He added, "We are proud to take over the reins from Reed Exhibitions and the New York State Restaurant Association, and look forward to building upon the successful track record that they, along with the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and California Restaurant Association, have firmly established for these shows.”

These four news shows will join Urban Expositions’ Airport Revenue News, which services the restaurant/food service and retail components of the airport industry.

Urban Expositions will assume ownership immediately, although Reed Exhibitions will manage the upcoming Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo Aug. 18-20 and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, Sept. 22-24.

As part of the acquisition, Reed team members will move into Urban Expositions’ new office space in Connecticut.

"Urban Expositions is ideally suited to take over the management of each of these shows," said Nancy Walsh, executive vice president of Reed Exhibitions North America.

She added, "They understand the specialized needs of B2B events. Their management has built a solid reputation over the years for its hands-on management style and commitment to customer service - assets that will serve them well in the restaurant/hospitality industry and contribute to the continued growth and success of each of these events. It was important to Reed that the events went to a customer and employee focused organizer."

Urban Expositions was founded in 1996 and has 28 shows each year, primarily in the gifts, airport and souvenirs sectors.

The new Urban Expositions food service teams will be working closely with the executive leadership of the state association sponsors for each respective new show, including the New York State Restaurant Association, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and California Restaurant Association.

“The New York State Restaurant Association is excited as an organization to work closely with Urban Expositions in the years to come to continue to build and evolve the vision my father initiated more than four decades ago,” said Rick Sampson, president and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, of his father Fred.