“The growing energy and optimism of restaurant operators, dealers and distributors were tangible at this year’s NRA Show,” says NRA Show convention chair.
The 92nd annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant (NRA), Hotel-Motel Show and 4th annual International Wine, Spirits and Beer Event (IWSB) at showed positive growth in attendee and exhibitor numbers. 
NRA Show 2011 was held at Chicago’s McCormick Place May 21-24, and IWSB was held in conjunction with the NRA Show on May 22-23.
Among NRA Show registrants, there was a 4% increase in the Restaurant/Foodservice category, a 6% increase in the Dealer/Distributor category, and 8% increase in the Press category. This year’s event attracted nearly 58,000 registrants, according to preliminary analysis. On the exhibitor side, the show saw a 9% increase in square feet occupied over 2010, covering more than 515,000-square-feet. More than 1,900 exhibitors showcased the most innovative new products and services in the marketplace.
“The growing energy and optimism of restaurant operators, dealers and distributors were tangible at this year’s NRA Show,” said C.W. Craig Reed, convention chair for NRA Show 2011 and director of food and beverage, Broadmoor Hotel. “The business solutions and product innovations by our exhibitors, coupled with the inspiring ideas and broad expertise of our speakers, created an environment where attendees could find all the products, services and know-how they need to enhance their productivity and profitability. These tools, resources and insights will help the restaurant industry continue its economic recovery, which in turn will positively affect the nation’s economy.”
Highlights
A not-to-be-missed World Culinary Showcase, where world-class celebrity chefs performed cooking demonstrations and interactive discussions live. The theater-style arena allowed visitors to watch the action up close and personal. This year’s celebrity chefs included Wylie Dufresne, Marcus Samuelsson, Rick Bayless, Richard Blais, Gale Gand, Stefan Richter, Sam Kass and many more.
Thousands of food and beverage products were introduced on the NRA Show floor, including the first-ever Food and Beverage Products Innovations Award recipients— making it the best place to source new consumable products. In fact, Bravo’s Top Chef runner-up Chef Stefan Richter found everything he needed to prepare three dishes for his World Culinary Showcase cooking demo from exhibiting companies throughout the trade show floor.
The hugely successful International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB)— the only industry event focused exclusively on growing restaurant and hospitality bar programs— featured hundreds of world-class beverage alcohol brands and labels and attract thousands of buyers. Held in conjunction with the Show on Sunday and Monday, IWSB has continued to gain momentum since its debut, officially “selling out” exhibit space for the first time since it’s launch in 2008. Exhibit space in IWSB increased by more than 46% over 2010, with a total number of exhibiting companies that grew by more than 16% over 2010.
In addition, Dante LoPresti of Double A at Mercadito Chicago won the second annual IWSB Star of the Bar competition at Restaurants Rock. Hosted by Bravo’s Top Chef judge, Tom Colicchio, Restaurants Rock raised funds for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s ProStart program, which prepares 90,000 high school students nationwide each year for careers in the restaurant industry. LoPresti’s Pink Lion cocktail awarded him $5,000 cash and the coveted title.
The NRA Show and IWSB Event were both complemented by an impressive lineup of education sessions— addressing the National Restaurant Association’s industry imperatives: jobs and careers; food and healthy living; sustainability and social responsibility, and profitability and entrepreneurship. They covered everything from menu development to workforce management to social media to the mobile foodservice crazy, and from technology trends to going greener and much more.
For more information on these and the many other Show features, including downloadable photos, videos, and the Floored! blog, visit www.restaurant.org/show.
NRA Show 2012 will be held May 19-22 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The 2012 International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event will be held May 20-21.
