2008 Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo This Month, Moving Next Year

L.A. Live might be luring more conventions downtown, but one biggie is on its way out: The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo will move to San Diego in 2009. The expo, which takes place August 23-25 and is supposedly the largest of its kind on the West Coast, attracts thousands of people interested in the wonderful world of operating restaurants. Spokesman for the show's producers, Ron Mathews, says the expo "has had a wonderful home in Los Angeles for many years, but we feel there is an opportunity to add a dose of freshness to the event, and San Diego is a hot culinary market that is perfect for our customers."

We've been a few times, and as a consumer it borderlines on the mundane (floor mats, to-go containers, menu covers, lighting systems) to the caloric (most of the food samples are of the frozen/processed variety) to the totally rad (Thomas Keller gave an inspiring keynote speech in 2005). But for those in the biz, there are seminars, ideas, trends to be found. More often than not, everyone just ends up in the wine and beer garden (who knew Michelob had so many different kinds of beer?).
· L.A. Live Lures Conventions Downtown [LAT]
· San Diego to be New Home for the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo in 2009 [MarketWatch]