Culinary Center Added To Annual Resort Trade Expo

OCEAN CITY -- On March 4-5, hospitality buyers and sellers are invited to meet in Ocean City for the 38th Annual Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association Trade Expo.

Held each year at the Ocean City Convention Center, the regional Expo is produced by the local, non-profit trade association. The Expo welcomes the return of many loyal exhibitors and showcases new and emerging products and trends. Hospitality professionals from many industry sectors will have the opportunity to peruse nearly 400 exhibit booths.

Making its debut this year is the new Culinary Center, which will feature energy saving foodservice equipment, culinary demonstrations and discussions.

One of the biggest changes in foodservice equipment over the last few years is the emphasis on energy and labor savings.

“Going green will be popular for some time, so manufacturers continue to develop equipment which uses less electricity, gas and water while being more user friendly. This is why we’ve created an innovative, cutting edge Culinary Center,” said OCHMRA Executive Director Susan Jones.

The equipment area has been organized by leading kitchen designer, Rob Brown, of Savoy-Brown and Culiquip.

Attending the Expo allow attendees face-to-face interaction with product representatives. Attendees will be able to see, touch, taste and feel products during the show. The Expo is only open to hospitality professionals. Therefore, to attend guests must be in the lodging or dining business, a liquor store, convenience store, cafeteria, nursing home, hospital or school.  

With the challenges of operating a small business, the association believes it is critical to bring together the industry to share ideas and work in unison.

“By communicating and collaborating we help further our industry,” said Mary Eastman, co-owner of the Cayman Suites and president of the OCHMRA.

Eastman has been involved in the Expo for over two decades and notes that “the Expo is the perfect place for local operators to find ways to improve how we do business. By coming together to learn about innovative new strategies and ways to cut cost, we all win.”

Expo hours are Sunday, March 4,11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Monday, March 5, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Exhibitors and attendees must be 21, no exceptions. Register online by Feb. 24 at www.oceancitytradeexpo.com. After, Feb. 17, on-site is available for $10 per person with proof of being in the industry.