The ultimate conference and tradeshow for the catering and event industry is heading to New Orleans for its 25th anniversary! Registration is open for Catersource, the Show for Catering and Event Professionals, held March 12–15, 2017 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Register today for this inspiring event where you’ll discover hundreds of ideas you can put into action, walk the floors of an expansive tradeshow and attend exciting events.
The award-winning tradeshow floor, conveniently located in the same building as conference activities, is filled with 400+ trendsetting exhibitors and sponsors, culinary competitions, happy hours, world-class education, and delicious tastings. Additionally, the tradeshow offers face-to-face interaction, networking, and relationship-building with more than 6,500 culinary and event professionals.
Let the good times roll in New Orleans!
Catersource is returning to the location of its very first show in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Over the years Catersource has grown to be the largest, most important conference and tradeshow for catering and event professionals in the United States. This fresh location will offer more excitement and inspiration than ever before. New Orleans is a true foodie city, bustling with unique restaurants, activities, and sights to see. Savor dishes filled with rich culture, including gumbo, jambalaya, and Andouille while exploring city landmarks such as Bourbon Street and the French Quarter. It’s no secret that New Orleans matches the excitement, festivity, and energy of Catersource. You will not be disappointed and your business can’t afford for your team to miss it!
New features at CS2017
Catersource is rolling out many new features this year, promising to be the best conference yet.
- One location! Both the conference and tradeshow will be held under one roof, so you’ll have easy access to both.
- The Art of Catering Food Joins Catersource! The culinary-intensive program focuses on technical skills, new recipes, ingredients, inspiration and techniques for your back-of-house operations. You’ll be able to sample the cuisine made onstage and take home the recipes, allowing you to incorporate them into your menus. As an AOCF attendee, you’ll follow a dedicated curriculum focused on culinary learning for the first three days of the conference, and then join Catersource attendees at the tradeshow for continued learning the remainder of the week. Produced in partnership with the International Caterers Association (ICA), there is no other education for catering professionals that tops this culinary program. Owners, sending your team of chefs is an investment that will prove less costly than research and development because your chefs will bring all of the recipes back with them, keeping your business on the cutting edge of culinary trends. Ultimately, your chefs will be inspired and your business will flourish.
- Matchmaking opportunities! We’re taking the conference app to the next level this year so that networking and connecting have never been so easy. With the new meeting facilitaion functionality in the conference app you can search for exhibitors or attendees and request or accept meetings. You can meet with like-minded attendees to pick their brains or learn more about products you’re interested in purchasing or pick the brain of an attendee in any of the networking spaces. Connecting is made easy with the conference app so be sure to download it early in 2017.
- Catersource Connect Club! With the purchase of the Catersource Connect Package, you’ll receive exclusive benefits of the conference including Catersource Connect Club access. This private networking lounge allows you to relax in a calm space, escape from the busyness of the conference, and make connections that will help enhance your business.
- Networking spiced up! From “Dine-Arounds” for new attendees to breakout “Campfire Chat” sessions, there will be more opportunities to network than ever before because nothing beats face-to-face interaction. Thousands of catering and event professionals will be on hand who, just like you, have innovative ideas, are eager to learn, and are hungry to make their business more successful. Chances are you’ll walk away with a new mentor or life-long friend who understands you and your business.
Personalized Education
Education and activities at CS2017 offer many opportunities for you to tailor your experience based on your role and organizational goals:
- Catering professionals. Enhance your operations by exploring new ingredient ideas and trends, innovative plated and buffet meal presentation and the latest must-have products. You’ll also learn fresh techniques for promoting and selling your company’s offerings that your clients will devour.
- Event professionals. Planning a wedding or other major event? There’s so much to consider. Whether you’re working under a tight budget or money is no object, look to Catersource for inspiration, new design trends, drool-worthy menus, venue layouts and overall creative solutions to make your unique event a smashing success. With all these amazing resources at your fingertips, planning an event will be a piece of, um… wedding cake!
- Culinary professionals. Learn fresh culinary techniques that your clients will gobble up! The Art of Catering Food is your chance to rub elbows with 500 chefs in a boutique environment. Hungry for new and innovative recipes? You take home all of the recipes, saving time and money on research and development.
- Owners & executives. Stand out from the crowd by using Catersource as your go-to business guide. Stay on top of technology trends, strategies to increase your ROI, how to expand your business successfully, and learn efficient ways to deal with day-to-day operations from hiring to managing finances.
Get the most out of Catersource
The optional events at the 2017 conference put ideas and trends into action! Add these events to your registration to enhance your CS2017 experience and connect with your peers outside of the classroom.
- Sunday Network Reception. Kick off the 2017 conference with a casual reception in the Attendee Lounge. Join like-minded attendees in this relaxed environment designed to help you create connections with caterers and event professionals from around the world. This event is included in all registration packages.
- Monday Creole Luncheon Experience. Get a taste of New Orleans in this exciting Lunch + Learn-style event! You’ll enjoy a five-course meal showcasing the renowned cuisine of our host city while learning about the history of Creole and New Orleans.
- Monday Night Party. Grab your Go Cup—we’re venturing a wee bit out of the city for the annual Monday night party! Join us at NOLA Motorsports Park for a night you’ll never forget as the team at Catering Creations introduces fresh ideas in presentation, service, entertainment, and much more while you revel in all the catering and events industry has to offer.
- Wednesday Tech Breakfast. Start your day bright and early with an interactive discussion on the latest strategies that can help you succeed in today’s marketplace. Connect with others to exchange ideas, share favorite techniques, and brainstorm uses and tips for navigating the ever-changing catering and events digital landscape.
- Wednesday Industry Awards celebration. On Wednesday afternoon, join us at the Catersource ACE and ICA CATIE Awards celebration to recognize the best in catering and events. Toast to the success of our industry as you cheer on the winners of Best Plated Menu, Signature Caterer, regional catering excellence, and many more!
We’ll See You in NOLA!
With many exciting, new features, Catersource 2017 promises to be the best experience yet! Join us in New Orleans for our 25th anniversary celebration and be prepared to leave inspired and ready for a successful year. At Catersource, we’ve enjoyed growing and nourishing relationships with hundreds of industry folks over the 25-year history of the show. We’re thankful for those enduring relationships and encourage you to grow and nourish your own because it’s the spice of life and what your business is about—celebrating relationships.
