LOS ANGELES, CA – The 2018 Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expowill offer dozens of education sessions covering a wide range of topics from preventing bar theft to sexual harassment claims to navigating medical marijuana and more across five separate tracks. This complimentary education program will be offered during the Expo & Conference taking place at the Los Angeles Conference Center, August 19-21, 2018. Restaurant, foodservice and catering professionals will learn about the latest trends, technologies and methods by attending the timely and trending presentations delivered by industry experts who will cover topics vital to the restaurant and foodservice industry.
“We have gathered many excellent speakers for our event in August who will focus on hot topics operators are facing every day, everything from marketing tactics to profitability to building a strong team, and many more,” said Tom Loughran, Vice President for the Clarion UX Food & Beverage Portfolio. “Our education program has been recognized for delivering cutting-edge content by leading subject matter experts. This year we are offering over 40 sessions across five different educational tracks that will provide restaurant and foodservice professionals with actionable solutions – all designed to improve their business and profitability.” To view the full conference schedule, visit this link.Increasing Revenue with Beer: Assortment, Menu, Pairing, Service, presented by Peter Camps with Heineken USA and Preventing Theft Behind the Bar with David Scott Peters of The Restaurant Expert, will be two of the sessions featured in the Bar and Beverage track.
The California Restaurant Association will present Feeling the Pinch: Restaurant Leaders Share Ideas for Talent Solutions as part of the Building a Winning Team track. In addition, Celeste Young Romos of Restaurant Success Center will present Easy Ways to Protect Your Restaurants from Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Claims. Other speakers will include Darren Dennington of Service with Hospitality Group, Donald Burns, The Restaurant Coach and Tommy Mirisola of Mirisola Hospitality LLC, to name a few.
Ben Diaz, Chef/Founder of CBD Cuisine will discuss The Latin Influence and the high-end blend of Latin-American flavors which will be presented on behalf of Sabor Latino in The Hot Trends track. Other sessions will include an insightful presentation on Navigating Medical and Recreational Marijuana in the Workplace as well as keeping a restaurant relevant, creating an optimal customer experience, pivots to accelerate business, and Legal Center LIVE hosted by the California Restaurant Association.
A dynamic panel of journalists, led by Andrew Harris of The SoCal Restaurant Show, and featuring Eater LA, Orange Coast Magazine and other food publications will honor the Memory of Fifi Chao, the beloved restaurant critic and food writer for the OC Business Journal, in PR Bootcamp for Restaurants in the Marketing and Social Media track. In addition, Carin Oliver of Angelsmith will discuss How to Get Butts in Seats with a Successful Facebook and Instagram Marketing Strategy.
The Operational Excellence track will offer insights protecting your cash flow, business aspects of running a restaurant, leasing space, profitable catering practices, how to navigate legal liabilities, automation, and food costs. One session featuring a panel of C-Suite industry executives will discuss the Best Practices in Reducing Employment Law Liability in California and in another session Kevin Wise, Founder and Partner of SCI Business Group, will present the key essentials needed in order for a restaurant to survive and stay on top in this ever changing and challenging industry.
Attendees of the 2018 Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo will also have access to two additional education programs. New this year will be Healthy Food Expo West,which will include an education program featuring sessions such as Vegan vs. Vegetarian and Carnivores…Understanding the Differences and Catering to All and others on incorporating gluten free, modern day food safety, the plant-based cuisine trend, how restaurants can offer healthier options and increase profits and specific healthy recipes. For more information on the educational sessions offered as part of Healthy Food Expo West, visit this link. Attendees will also have access to Coffee Fest Education where passionate coffee and tea professionals will learn skills through a robust education program. Coffee Fest also offers several workshops that require an additional registration fee. For a complete list of sessions and workshops, visit this link.
The 2018 Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo will be held Sunday, August 19 – Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The tradeshow and conferencewill provide 9,000+ industry professionals with access to the hottest menu trends, state of the art design and decor, a renowned education program, special events including Hip Sip, Rapid Fire Challenge and several culinary demonstrations, and 450+ of the leading vendors and purveyors dedicated to serving the restaurant & foodservice community. The tradeshow and conference, started in 1936 is managed by Clarion UX, formerly Urban Exposition (www.urban-expo.com) and sponsored by the California Restaurant Association (www.calrest.org). For more information, visit www.westernfoodexpo.com. The 2018 event will be co-located with Coffee Fest and Healthy Food Expo West, and attendees will have access to all three events.
