That's a Wrap!

Last week, over 6,500 catering and event professionals attended the annual Catersource and Event Solutions Conference & Tradeshow in Las Vegas. Hundreds of influential pros spoke at the education sessions, and over 400 top industry suppliers showcased new products and services.

Outstanding Education
The impressive lineup of speakers at CSES2016 engaged attendees with actionable ideas and inspirational stories, covering topics such as trending foods, inventive techniques, and strategies to amplify sales.

Featured speaker David Beahm introduced 6 keys to successful event design, and led attendees on a journey to discover inspiration in the Leadership Lunch.

Pictured Above: David Beahm

Food Network’s Simon Majumdar discussed his culinary travels across the globe and demonstrated some of his stellar dishes.

Former Disney University trainer Doug Lipp kicked off the Conference with a remarkable presentation on the importance of hospitality in the events industry.

 
Pictured Above: Doug Lipp

A Range of Special Events

Fantastic interactive events brought industry trends to life. The 5 @ Tao Elemental Monday Night Event featured specialty cocktails, new food and station concepts, and a vibrant atmosphere. Entertained through the end of the night, the production team, consisting of Cade Nagy and Dan Smith of Catering by Design, and Jeff Snow and MJ Potter of Catering Creations gave a new meaning to the Philosophy of Tao – sharing creative ideas for all aspects of events.
The 5 @ Tao featured an electronic dance floor and live music.

Rubber Ducky was one of the stations at The 5 @ Tao.

CSES2016 attendees danced the night away at The 5 @ Tao.

The POPalooza! Industry Awards Celebration recognized leaders in the event and catering industries. Featuring brunch-style small bites and a bloody mary and mimosa bar, attendees toasted to the success of the honored winners in style! The three award programs included: ICA CATIE Awards, Catersource ACE Awards, and Event Solutions Spotlight Awards.

Other sensational events, including the CORT Welcome Reception, Leadership Lunch, and Taste of Technology Breakfast, offered networking opportunities and powerful presentations to encourage attendees to think outside the box and discover a world of inspiration around them.

CSES2016 attendees networked with friends and enjoyed entertainment and drinks at the CORT Welcome Reception.

Excitement on the Tradeshow Floor
The Las Vegas Convention Center was bursting with creative products, interactive demos, live contests, and new features during CSES2016. The Tasting Bar featured an elimination-style cocktail competition and numerous ingredient tastings; an engaged audience gathered at the AFR Design Stage to cheer on two competitive designers as they each styled an event space from scratch; and culinary competitors from around the world competed in the DICED Culinary Competition, Rapid Recipe Challenge, and the Anchor Packaging Out of the Box Lunch Contest!

Contestants battle it out in exciting contests on the CSES2016 Tradeshow floor.

Anchor Packaging presented the Out of the Box Contest LIVE! at the CSES2016 Tradeshow.

Congratulations to the Out of the Box Lunch Contest winner!

In the Diced Culinary Competition, each team had 30 minutes to complete their assigned dish and submit for judging.

Bringing even more excitement to the floor, Sasha Souza, Emily Ellyn, and Jack Milan took the Tradeshow Headliner Stage on Wednesday morning to reveal their favorite products for 2016. The lively trio carefully selected products to enhance weddings, special events, and culinary operations for the year ahead, and handed out big prizes totaling over $10,000. Additionally, the first 400 attendees received a swag bag filled with exciting products from exhibitors throughout the show.

Two My Favorite Things attendees with their free swag bags on the Tradeshow Floor.

What’s next? Join us at our upcoming culinary-focused conference: The Art of Catering Food – coming to Washington DC August 15-17. Registration opens in April – more details available soon!

Save the date to join us at the next Conference & Tradeshow, March 12-15, 2017 in New Orleans as we celebrate Catersource’s 25th anniversary! Catersource will return to its roots at the birthplace of the esteemed Conference, in a city with unique cuisine, culture, and entertainment.

A taste of the creations at CSES2016.

Thank you to those who attended CSES2016 and we will see you next year!