Press Contact:
Melissa Gray (914) 421-3263
mgray@glmshows.com
IHMRS 2011 DRAWS LARGE CROWD OF SERIOUS BUYERS READY FOR INDUSTRY RESURGENCE
- Addition of Specialized Areas Draws New, Targeted Buyers -
NEW YORK, NY, November 22, 2011…The 96th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show® (IHMRS), held November 12-15 in New York City, welcomed an additional 2,800 buyers to the 2011 market, attracting a total of 17,955 hospitality executives and 23,953 total trade attendees. Buyers from major chains to independent properties remarked that IHMRS 2011 felt like a homecoming of the industry, with exhibitors echoing those sentiments.
“This year, the IHMRS has continued to bring back major corporations in large groups,” said Leo Vogel, vice president of contract sales for Sealy, Inc. “What has been one or two representatives for the past few years, is now 30 to 40. This is traffic we’re not seeing anywhere else.”
“We were thrilled with this show,” said Julie Gorges, marketing coordinator for Spring USA®. “Traffic was up, and the customers we expected to see were all here – plus some. We’re heading home with a lot of leads, from within the U.S. and also internationally, including Mexico, Brazil, Italy and Poland.”
The Hospitality Leadership Forum kicked off the 4-day event on Saturday, November 12, attracting more than 500 lodging executives. Highlighting the event was a keynote luncheon focused on the growing importance of hotel food and beverage operations, featuring famed chefs Daniel Boulud, Floyd Cardoz and Dan Kluger. The annual CEO Leadership Panel and U.S. Lodging Industry Summit Panel also addressed hot button topics, including the state of the industry, future projections, and the next “big thing”. Breakout sessions tackling a variety of issues continued through Monday, November 14.
Back following a successful debut in 2010, Boutique Design New York co-located with the IHMRS, attracting 4,686 designers, hotel and restaurant owners and purchasing executives – a 61 percent increase over 2010. A sold-out exhibit hall of more than 200 interior product manufacturers presented the latest in furniture, lighting, wall coverings, fabric, seating, accessories, artwork, carpet and flooring, materials, bath and spa. In addition, BDNY offered timely education, networking events and special exhibits.
Foodservice professionals representing every sector of the industry returned for the 3rd annual New York Marketplace, presented in conjunction with M. Tucker, a division of Singer, NY LLC. Within this dedicated space, manufacturers of equipment, tabletop, and small wares were complemented by cooking demonstrations, food samplings, wine and beverage tastings, and more. In addition, the Kitchen Arts and Letters bookstore returned with book signings by best-seller authors including Ron Suhanosky, “The Italian Table;” Gabrielle Hamilton, “Blood, Bones and Butter;” and Maxime Billet, “Moderist Cuisine,” among others.
Making its debut this year, the Hotel F&B Zone served as an edited division of statement-making products for hotel, resort and casino food and beverage operations. Endorsed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association Food & Beverage Committee, exhibitors within this area featured such products as Bar Equipment, Beer, Wine & Spirits, Breakfast Foods, Buffet ware and Catering Accessories, Cooking Equipment, China, Glassware and Flatware, Coffee and Tea, Menus, Software & Technology, Specialty Food and Beverages, Table Linens and Uniforms.
Also introduced this year, the i.Menu Expo provided restaurant owners and operators with a look at new technology solutions to manage both front and back of the house operations. Hosted in partnership with i.Business Magazine, the i.Menu Expo showcased developers of iPad and Android tablet apps, accessory manufacturers and hardware vendors.
“The debut of these specialized focus areas – ‘shows within the show’ – attracted new, targeted buyers and enhanced the overall market experience for both exhibitors and attendees,” said Lynn White, IHMRS show manager. “From the Hotel F&B Zone and The New York Marketplace, to the iMenu Expo and Technology Innovation Center, this was a market that catered to each attendee’s specific needs.”
The best new products at IHMRS 2011, determined by a panel of editors from the leading hospitality trade publications, received Editors’ Choice Awards during the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, November 13. Winners were Royal Botania (design), G.A. Systems/Bedsledzz (equipment & supplies), Concept Amenities (guest amenities), Corkcicle (tabletop), PowerKiss (technology), Emeco (green design), CookTek® Induction Systems, LLC (green equipment & supplies), Cintas Corporation (green guest amenities), Bugambilia International (green tabletop), and Verve Living Systems (green technology). Receiving the Kenneth F. Hine Best of Show Award was Corkcicle for the Corkcicle Wine Chiller, an innovative product that keeps white wine cold and brings room temperature red wine down to cellar temperature, eliminating the need for messy ice buckets.
The Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design were once again held in conjunction with the IHMRS, honoring eight design firms for outstanding hospitality design. Nearly 150 entries from 24 countries were considered. Grand prize winners were WOHA (bathroom), AB Concept (Guest Room), Wilson Associates (Lobby/Reception), Rockwell Group and CCS Architecture (Lounge/Bar), Alex and Carrie Vik (Suite), One Plus Partnership Limited (Restaurants-Casual Dining), Elliott + Associates Architects (Restaurants-Fine Dining), WOHA (spa), Wilson Associates (Best Hotel Design-Urban), and WOHA (Best Hotel Design-Resort). In addition, Gold Key sponsors Interior Design and HOTELS magazines presented the 2011 Designer of the Year award to BAMO, and NEWH, The Hospitality Industry Network presented its ICON of Industry distinction to Harvey Nudelman of Fabricut, Inc.
The 97th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show will take place Saturday, November 10, through Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Following a full-day of conference and networking activities on Saturday, November 10, the IHMRS will feature three full days of exhibits from Sunday, November 11, through Tuesday, November 13. Collectively, BDNY and IHMRS present some 700 hospitality industry suppliers and attract 30,000 trade attendees.
The International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show is sponsored by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc., and the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association; and is managed by GLM.
For IHMRS exhibitor information, contact Lynn White, show manager, at GLM, 1133 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, NY 10604-3547. Telephone (914) 421-3249. Fax (914)
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