The events at Catersource are designed to inspire your creativity and expose you to the latest trends in food, design and décor, presentation and more. Several exceptional spaces around Caesars Palace, as well as unique off-site locations, will be home to events that offer ideas, resources, networking and fun! Welcome Reception
The events at Catersource are designed to inspire your creativity and expose you to the latest trends in food, design and décor, presentation and more. Several exceptional spaces around Caesars Palace, as well as unique off-site locations, will be home to events that offer ideas, resources, networking and fun!
Welcome Reception
Every year we kick off the Conference with this great networking opportunity. Get to know other attendees, caterers from around the world, and establish new connections, resources and friendships! Caesars Palace Pool of the Gods is a stunning backdrop for drinks and discussions as you get ready to immerse yourself in all that the catering industry has to offer.
Search Event
Diamonds and champagne will flow in Las Vegas at the SEARCH late night soiree. Unwind and network the night away with a glass of champagne: Each glass of SEARCH champagne purchased will be rewarded with a free raffle ticket for a chance to win a one carat diamond solitaire, valued at over $3,000. One lucky winning guest will leave the party that night with the one carat diamond!
More champagne, means more opportunity so drop in and clink glasses with us in support of the relief efforts of SEARCH, assisting those members in the event industry in times of need.
Admission to this party is free* (cash bar) and the night will be fabulous - join us!
* There is no charge to attend this event, the only cost is if you choose to participate by ordering SEARCH Champagne.
For further information about the work of the SEARCH Foundation, visit www.SEARCHfoundation.org or view the SEARCH Film at www.theSEARCHfilm.com.
Xperience Lunch
Xperience a lunch event that feeds your need to discuss the topics YOU choose! As you enter the lunch, you choose seating based on subject matter - weddings, owner opinions, sales and marketing, finance, decor, food and beverage and more. You’ll be paired up with like-minded attendees and industry experts and experience a thorough discussion with multiple view points on a topic that matters to you!
Sponsored by: 
“Out of the Box” Lunch
Back for a third year, the Catersource “Out of the Box” Lunch is a great way to help you realize your full creative potential for boxed lunches and drop-off catering and make some real impact on your bottom line! This lunch is centered around a contest of the best boxed lunch entries: Contestants will present their most creative entries for boxed, bagged or plated delivered lunch while you cast your vote for the winning entry.
Grab some lunch, meet the industry’s movers and shakers, view dozens of unique boxed and delivered lunch ideas and check out the newest and best products on the market.
Sponsored by:
Wedding Lunch
presented by ISES Las Vegas and WIPA
Decadence: The Muses of Matrimony
Say “I Do” to the hottest wedding event of 2012! This year’s wedding luncheon promises to have and to hold the most inspired trends in all areas of wedding production from design and entertainment to food and beverage.
Our speaker, celebrity wedding planner and wedding muse extraordinaire Marcy Blum will engage you in an interactive conversation about the real issues facing wedding professionals. Always provocative, Marcy will give you her take on what’s really happening in the market today and what the horizon holds for wedding professionals. Never one to play it safe, her views are fresh, uncut and totally on trend.
Photo: The ISES Las Vegas-WIPA Wedding Gallery will be a three-dimensional showcase of wedding vignettes. Here’s an example of the style of production you see from the first WIPA Wedding Gallery at Vibiana in Los Angeles. Pictured here, a dessert table created by Good Gracious! Events.
Photo by Callaway Gable
PURE Sensation
Drink, dance and be decadent at Las Vegas' premier night club!
With four distinct experiences enveloped in two stories of decadence, PURE has been named the No. 1 Club in the Country by E! Entertainment, and has been dubbed the top Las Vegas club by America Online, Las Vegas Review Journal, Las Vegas Weekly and Las Vegas Citylife.
Event producers Cade and Ingrid Nagy will showcase some fresh new twists on presentation and food. You’ll experience some of the coolest, newest ideas in the events industry as you enjoy a fun night with colleagues and peers. While details are still being finalized, know that this party is the highlight of the Conference year after year and 2012 will be no different!
Check out our PURE Sensation wrap-up!
Floral Sculpture Demo with Preston Bailey
For the first time ever, acclaimed event designer Preston Bailey will present a floral sculpture demo in front of a live audience. This is a very limited, exclusive opportunity to see what goes into the stunning floral displays at the center of one of Preston's events.
ICA CATIE/ Event Solutions Spotlight Awards
This is YOUR industry award show! For the very first time, get free access to the exciting awards presentation of the ICA CATIE Awards and Event Solutions Spotlight Awards during the Catersource Conference & Tradeshow. This presentation will be attended by the Who’s Who of the catering and events world and is a great opportunity to rub shoulders with and be a part of the leaders and innovators who are shaping the industry.
Feel the excitement as you eagerly await the announcement of this year's winners in categories such as Best Buffet Presentations & Menu, Best New Food Concept, Innovative Mixology, Event Planner of the Year and Chef of the Year. Then celebrate the success of our industry at a cash bar networking reception immediately following the presentation.
Pit Mater BBQ Dinner
If you enjoy BBQ or include it as part of your catering offerings, then you don’t want to miss the chance to see the country’s BBQ experts in action!
Mike Mills, owner and founder of Memphis Championship Barbecue in Las Vegas, is a four-time World Champion, and the only three-time World Grand Champion at the Annual Memphis in May cook-off in Tennessee - the “Super Bowl of Barbecue.” Affectionately known as “The Legend,” Mike has received hundreds of other awards, including National Grand Slam & Grand Champion, Grand Champion Sauce, and Grand Sauce in various states across the nation.
Mike will be cooking up a storm while you watch, enjoying a drink and some appetizers as you kick off this evening BBQ dinner event! After you've browsed the pits, move inside for a five course Pitmaster dinner served family style. Mike will talk about each course as it’s presented, explain what you’re eating and the best way to prepare it. This will be a great educational experience where you learn while enjoying an amazing dinner.
The “Why Is It That...?” Breakfast
with Mike Roman & Meryl Snow
Join Meryl and Mike for an entertaining, fun and insightful breakfast that will answer the "Why is it that…?" questions that caterers face each and every day:
• Why is it that clients make last minute changes?
• Why is it that chefs quit during the busy season?
• Why is it that health inspectors always visit at the worst times?
• Why is it that clients under-guarantee?
This is a great way to start your day – networking, food and some surprises!
Trends with Tutera
End the conference with a bang! Come enjoy a glass of wine and a snack while browsing David Tutera’s wedding trends gallery. You’ll get a preview of the latest trends, get some fresh ideas, take pictures and mingle with wedding professionals as you hear David’s take on what’s to come for the rest of the year. See the latest in invitations, colors, place settings, linens, themes, favors, centerpieces and more. As an added bonus, David Tutera will great every guest and pose for a photo on the red carpet after this event!
