For those involved in the many aspects of the hotel, restaurant, and hospitality industry, the pinnacle event of the year is certainly the national convention held in Chicago at McCormick Place. The annual restaurant show features more than 2,100 exhibitors showcasing products and services in more than 890 product categories. More than 70,000 people attend from all 50 states and 110 countries.
A recent communication with Lifetime Brands, the fine folks who bring us Mikasa products, indicated they would certainly be present at the 2011 Chicago show.
Major areas of focus include food, beverage, equipment, dinnerware, barware apparel, tabletop, furnishings, design, technology, and services -- all areas of interest for good event planning. This show is not open to the public, so credentials reflecting food service or hospitality industry is required, or at least requested.
Having said that, it could appear that the Chicago show might be boring. Perhaps nothing of real interest or excitement happens within these hallowed halls.
Maybe for the uninitiated.
At every restaurant and hotel show in the country, including the grand-daddy in Chicago, lurks a certain group of professionals---definitely with proper credentials, referred to as 'headhunters', or recruiters. Most of them wear this moniker with pride, as a certain amount of esoteric information is carried by them all.
For instance, while promenading around the convention floor, and pressing flesh with executives and managers of myriad hospitality-type companies, it might well be that manager the recruiter is talking to is planning on leaving his company—and only the recruiter knows it, or another manager will soon be fired---and the recruiter has been hired to find a replacement. They say knowledge is power.
The mystery surrounding the world of the headhunter is respected and feared by many. A knowing smile or a whisper into the ear of an individual can cause tongues to wag, and people to become worried.
For this reason, many associated organizations make a point of inviting headhunters to 'the hospitality suite.' Some folks who attend restaurant and hotel shows know nothing of this amenity, yet a lot of business gets initiated at these special events. Indeed, some seasoned headhunters make directly for the hospitality suites, ignoring the show itself, and are treated to copious quantities of exquisite wines and food, served on high quality china.
By the end of the day, the bloated recruiters are not only sated with food and beverage, they have managed to accumulate at least twenty to thirty business cards---new candidates to add to the rolodex, and new clients to satisfy with the new candidates.
Conventions and trade shows are great. Carry on.
Comments