NAC Plans 2015 Concession Hospitality Expo For Cincinnati In July

CHICAGO -- The National Association of Concessionaires will host its International Concession & Hospitality Expo at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati hotel and adjacent Duke Energy Convention Center from July 21 through 24. The event, formerly the NAC Annual Convention and Trade Show, is now in its 33rd year.

This year's conference will lead off with NAC committee and board meetings followed by the Mickey Warner Award reception in the Hyatt at 4:30 p.m. Convention-goers then can attend a baseball game at Great American Ball Park between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds.

Wednesday's activities begin with a 5K run and walk, with proceeds benefitting the association's educational fund. Preregistration is required.

Following a continental breakfast, film critic and historian Leonard Maltin will deliver the keynote address, "The Magic of Movies," exploring the importance of the in-theater experience in the enjoyment of cinema. This will be followed by the first general session, a discussion of "The Food Experience."

In preparation for the trade show at the Duke Energy Convention Center, there will be a series of three-minute presentations at 12 noon by exhibitors with innovative products on display. Lunch and the first day of the trade show will follow, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A government relations panel session will follow at 4 p.m., reviewing state and federal legislative and regulatory issues that affect concessionaires. The silent auction reception at 6 p.m. will round out the day's activities.

Thursday, July 23 will feature the show's second general session, "Making Food Jump off the Plate," presented by culinary consultant and author Denise Vivaldo from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Breakout sessions will follow at 10:45 a.m.

At 12:30 p.m., the 2015 membership luncheon and annual business meeting will be highlighted by presentation of the Mickey Warner Award and the Krystal La Reese-Gaule Membership Award, as well as the election of new association directors. The trade show will reopen at 2 p.m. and close at 4 p.m. An Oktoberfest in July outing is set for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

On Friday morning, NAC member volunteers will report to the Duke Energy Convention Center for the association's USO Community Service Project an Breakfast, after which they will pack individual gallon storage bags with samples of the many products that were displayed at the NAC Trade Show the previous two days. Exhibitors and members are requested to provide extra product to help fulfill the need for the local USO. The 2015 event will end with an informative venue tour of the Hyatt.

The National Association of Concessionaires also will offer two of its acclaimed certification courses in conjunction with the International Concession & Hospitality Expo.

The Concession Manager Certification program will be conducted from July 18 through 21; it provides 25 hours of instruction in a participative classroom environment. The program outline includes sections on management, profit planning, cost control systems, menu planning, branding and more.

At the end of the course an exam is given; those who pass it may use the designation CCM (Certified Concession Manager) or, for suppliers, ACE (Allied Concession Executive).

The Executive Concession Certification program will be offered on July 24 to graduates of the Concession Manager Certification course, upon which it builds while providing specific tools and concepts needed at the executive level. There is no exam. Those who complete the course may use the designation ECM (Executive Concession Manager).

Information about NAC programs, services and activities is available at naconline.org. Registration materials for the International Concession & Hospitality Expo and the two certification programs may be downloaded from nac-store.myshopify.com by clicking on "nac-expo" at the top right of the page.