IH/M&RS Supports Relief Efforts; 58,000 Attendees Expected

NEW YORK— The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS), which kicks off Saturday, Nov. 10, will offer opportunities for members of the lodging industry to aid relief efforts to rebuild lower Manhattan. The 86th annual IH/M&RS runs from Nov. 10-13 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center here and is expected to draw 58,000 attendees and 1,900 exhibitors. The IH/M&RS has designated the American Red Cross, the Twin Towers Fund and the Uniformed Firefighters Association Widows and Childrens Fund as beneficiaries of all show-sponsored fundraising. The fundraising/support efforts include: • IH/M&RS Attendee Registration: The IH/M&RS will donate a portion of each attendee registration fee to relief charities. • “Lunch With a Hero”: New York City rescue workers will be the guests of IH/M&RS exhibitors and attendees at daily fundraising luncheons. Chefs competing in the sixth annual IH/M&RS Chefs Championships will prepare 150 meals on each show day with proceeds from ticket sales benefiting relief charities. • “Celebrate America the Beautiful” Hospitality Ball: Proceeds from ticket sales for the 86th annual International Hospitality Ball will benefit victims of the World Trade Center attack. The event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the New York Marriott Marquis. “By offering a variety of relief and support initiatives in connection with the show, we intend to express our collective support to victims, rescue workers and industry colleagues impacted by this tragedy,” said Gene Rupnik, chairman of the IH/M&RS Board of Directors. A number of IH/M&RS exhibitors have expressed an interest in conducting in-booth activities to support relief efforts, according to Rupnik. In addition, the Restaurant Futurists Conference at the IH/M&RS has been altered to offer industry management and operators guidelines for recovery. A special panel has been put together titled, “Rebuilding From Here: Moving Forward After the Events of Sept. 11.” Panelists include Drew Nieporent, Myriad Restaurant Group; Clark Wolf, Clark Wolf Co.; and Hugh Hardy, Hardy, Holzman, Pfeiffer Associates. The Whiteman Report, conducted by Michael Whiteman of the Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman Co., will pay tribute to the World Trade Center and Windows on the World. Bill Primavera, director of Restaurant Futurists, noted that “every presentation, from restaurant design to human resources, food safety and sanitation will refer in some way to the changed environment of our industry.” The IH/M&RS will feature four keynote sessions with the first one looking at how travel will be influenced by the recent terrorist attacks. Titled “Emerging Lifestyles and Travel Trends,” that session will be presented by Peter Yesawich, president/CEO, Yesawich Pepperdine & Brown. It will take place on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 10:30 a.m. The other keynote sessions include: • “The Advancement of Women in Food Service: Where Weve Been, Where Were Going,” Nov. 10, 1:30 p.m. It will be led by Abigail Kirsch, caterer and special events planner, with panelists including Ariane Daguin, DArtagon, Newark; Gale Grand, Tru, Chicago; and Nora Pouillon, Asia Nora, Washington, DC. • “E-Business and the Bottom Line,” Sunday, Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. The session will be moderated by Francis Nardozza, KPMG Consulting, with panelists including Scott Anderson, SWAN; D. Lee Davis, Unisys Corp.; Clay Dickinson, IBM Global Services, Travel & Transportation; and Richard Jackson, AH&LA. • A CEO panel titled “Economic Forecast: Adapting to the Weather,” Monday, Nov. 12, 10:30 a.m. Kirby Payne, American Hospitality Management LLC, will moderate the session. Panelists include Dieter Huckestein, Hilton Hotels Corp.; Douglas Shifflet, D. K. Shifflet & Associates; Paul Whetsell, MeriStar Hotels & Resorts; and Gary Williams, Coakley & Williams Hotel Management Co.