Caterer Middle East has launched its inaugural conference to bring together executive chefs, F&B directors, restaurant managers and nightlife operators for a one-of-a-kind interactive forum.

The Caterer Middle East Conference: Food and Business will be held on March 19 at Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai, with more than 150 industry professionals set to attend.

The one-day interactive event will comprise a series of panel sessions debating topical issues and featuring prestigious industry speakers, as well as practical workshops aimed at addressing everyday challenges.

Caterer Middle East editor Charlie Lyon commented: “We are delighted to launch the Caterer Middle East Conference, the first event to really tackle the challenges impacting the UAE’s chefs and F&B managers and openly discuss the opportunities for further growth of this exciting industry.

“With a theme of ‘food and business’, the event will be focused on the bottom line, providing you with the tools and techniques to increase revenue, cut expenses, improve operations and maximise profitability.

“It will also provide a rare chance to network and share ideas with more than 150 industry peers, all gathered with the collective aim of discussing the way forward for the UAE’s culinary landscape.”

The event has been launched following consultation with an advisory panel of industry experts, each one of them responsible for some of the UAE’s most respected F&B institutions.

They include: chef Mark Patten, VP culinary, Atlantis The Palm; chef Scott Price, executive chef, Hilton Dubai Creek; Chef Uwe Micheel, director of kitchens at Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Creek and president of the Emirates Culinary Guild; Markus Thesleff, c-founder, Okku; Ajaz Sheikh, operations director, Zuma; and Felix Hartmann, assistant F&B director at Madinat Jumeirah.

During a meeting at Okku Luxury Japanese Restaurant and Lounge, the panel debated the issues and trends most relevant for chefs and F&B managers working in today’s highly competitive restaurant industry.

ITP Business Hospitality group editor Louise Oakley commented: “The meeting revealed a range of important topics, from recruitment and management stresses to HACCP and financial considerations, as well as a hunger for advice on how to use social media and capitalise on emerging trends. It is these issues that the Caterer Middle East Conference will seek to address”.

Not-to-be missed panel debates and workshops

• The Great Debate: Can hoteliers run restaurants?
• Panel discussion: Recruitment, retention and remuneration
• Panel discussion: Recouping ever increasing costs
• Panel discussion: Social media marketing
• Panel discussion: 2012 dining and nightlife trends
• Workshop: How to get started on HACCP
• Workshop: Developing a return on investment plan
• Workshop : Independent outlets — how the relationship between the restaurant and the hotel works in practice
• Workshop: Transforming leadership and management capability

How to get involved

• Executive chefs and F&B directors attend free of charge, please email sue.lobo@itp.com to register

• For more information or speaker enquiries, please contact Michael.mcgill@itp.com

• To sponsor the Caterer Middle East Conference and secure exclusive access to more than 150 top F&B experts, please contact Diarmuid O’Malley on +971 4 444 3568 or email diarmuid.omalley@itp.com

Vital details
Caterer Middle East Conference: Food and Business
Date: Monday 19 March
Time: 8.15am-5.00pm
Venue: Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai