June 19, 2006, TORONTO. The Board of Directors of the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) have decided to combine two of Canada's premiere food and beverage and hospitality trade shows, Canadian Food & Beverage Show and the HostEx Show beginning in 2008, and re-locate to Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Canada.
"The event, will be promoted as The HostEx Show and the Canadian Food & Beverage Show, will maintain the product segregation that the shows currently have. But both shows will be held under the same roof and admission will be gained with one badge", said Douglas Needham, President, CRFA.
The association's exhibitor advisory committees for both shows met over the course of a year, and were impressed with the 1-million square foot Direct Energy Centre; finding it a large, modern trade show building with plenty of parking, high ceilings, floorports for water, electricity and telecommunications as well as 31 loading docks.
"This change represents a joint commitment by the association and the exhibitors who wish to elevate the two shows to a level worth of our $50 billion industry, and its 1-million employees. Combining the two shows and moving them downtown allows us to refresh and revitalize both shows and offering greater efficiency and convenience for both exhibitors and industry operators", said Needham.
Future Dates: March 2-4, 2008 The HostEx Show and the Canadian Food & Beverage Show March 8-10, 2009 The HostEx Show and the Canadian Food & Beverage Show March 7-9, 2010 The HostEx Show and the Canadian Food & Beverage Show
About the Shows: Canada's largest hospitality trade show, HostEx brings together suppliers and foodservice operators from across the country and is an ideal environment for introducing new products and services to those responsible for making buying decisions. Nearly 10,000 foodservice professionals attend the Toronto-based show. HostEx is home to informative workshops, more than 950 booths featuring food and beverage products, equipment, services and technology and special feature areas that showcase some of Canada's most popular menu items. The Canadian Food & Beverage Show is the annual showcase dedicated exclusively to suppliers of food and beverage products for the hospitality industry. The F&B Show offers attendees the opportunity to develop new menu ideas from over 630 exhibits as they prepare for the busy spring and summer seasons. The Food & Beverage Show attracts over 9,770 qualified attendees giving them an opportunity to visit international, national and local suppliers of branded, specialty, niche and commodity products.
About Direct Energy Centre Renamed in June 2006, Direct Energy Centre's over 1-million square feet of space is the largest exhibition and convention centre in Canada and the sixth largest in North America. Designed for maximum efficiency, hi-tech service delivery and environmental stewardship, the venue is supported by a regional population of seven million in a diverse and dynamic economy. Direct Energy Centre is located on the grounds of Toronto's celebrated Exhibition Place, where exhibitions and agricultural fairs have been held since 1879. Situated on 12.5 acres of waterfront parkland, this state-of-the art facility is conveniently located in Toronto's downtown core - close to hotels and major highway access. For additional facility information go to www.directenergycentre.com.
About Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association is one of the largest business associations in Canada. Since it's founding in 1944, CRFA has grown to more than 31,000 members, representing restaurants, bars, cafeterias and social and contract caterers, as well as accommodation, entertainment and institutional foodservice. CRFA's mission is to create a favourable business environment and deliver tangible value to our members in all sectors of Canada's foodservice industry. |
