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Association Reports Attendance, Exhibits Up at Recent Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show

CHICAGO — Both attendee and exhibitor numbers showed positive growth at the 91st annual Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show sponsored by the National Restaurant Association (NRA), the association reports.
Organizers say the increases registered at McCormick Place underscore the NRA Show’s position as the restaurant and hospitality industry’s premier international forum for the products, services and information that operators need to grow their business.
The May 22-25 NRA Show attracted more than 58,000 registrants, the association reports, which is a 6% increase over 2009. They hailed from 120 countries.
“NRA Show 2010 was a tremendous success, and we have received excellent feedback from both exhibitors and attendees about the high energy and wide array of easily accessible business solutions showcased on the trade-show floor,” says Ira Cohn, convention chair for NRA Show 2010 and president of ARAMARK Business and Industry Group. “The Show provides a valuable, efficient, and cost-effective opportunity to interact, under one roof, with all aspects of the foodservice industry from throughout the world.”
Approximately 1,700 exhibitors, covering more than 480,000 square feet, showcased their most innovative new products and services.
A first-time exhibitor was the FOODtegrity Hospitality Linen Network, an alliance of 15 independent linen-service providers in the United States.
FOODtegrity members reportedly offer a full line of quality table linen, kitchen garments, matting and restroom products—everything to make a hospitality operation run smoothly from the front of the house to the back.
Brian Rountree, commercial sales manager for Rinnai, says his company’s tankless water heaters are making inroads in the hospitality market, but he is still working to educate consumers on their benefits. The equipment heats water as hot water is needed but otherwise sits idle. One unit will serve a 30-pound washer, he says.
Chef Works previewed its new line of color uniforms. Grant Berman, senior vice president of national accounts, says the new palette offers mix-and-match options for the front and back of the house.
Cintas Corp. promoted its single-source ability to offer everything from uniform purchase and rental services to facility services to fire protection. Customers are pleased to build relationships with individual professionals who can coordinate a multitude of services for them, instead of having to work with multiple salesmen, says Brian Garry, senior director for food service.
The annual Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show will return to Chicago May 21-24, 2011.
 

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