NAC – 2017 Year in Review
As the calendar rolls from 2017 to 2018, it is important to take some time out and review the past 12 months and appreciate another banner year for the National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) and its members. As members of NAC, this is your Trade Association. We are truly grateful to have an active and engaged membership, Board of Directors and sponsorship group that skillfully navigates through the evolving, sometimes challenging, yet always exciting leisure-time food and beverage concessions and hospitality industry. Details on each of following items can be found on Naconline.org.
CinemaCon – The NAC/NATO relationship continues to reach new heights as evidenced by the full NAC agenda and outstanding participation by our members in this ever-expanding exhibition industry event. The schedule featured another full-house for our seminar on the increasing trend of alcohol service at the movies and of course, the NAC Bert Nathan Award Ceremony. The meeting room space, exclusively for our members, was booked solid and we experienced outstanding foot traffic at the NAC booth which resulted in several new members. CinemaCon 2018 will take place on April 23-26 at Caesars Palace and plans are already well under way.
The Al Lapidus/Variety Boys & Girls Club Scholarship Golf Classic – The 2017 Classic once again featured strong support from both golfers and sponsors. Starting in 2018, the event will be known as The NAC Annual Golf Outing and will feature an expansion in the line-up of beneficiaries. The event will take place on April 23, 2018 at the Bali Hai Golf Club in Las Vegas, just minutes away from Caesars Palace. The Association is calling on heightened sponsorship and player participation levels as the proceeds will benefit these deserving partners: Variety – the Children’s Charity, The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, The Variety Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles and NAC Educational programs.
The NAC Concession & Hospitality Expo – The 35th installment of The Concession & Hospitality Expo was held on July 11-14, 2017 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona. Food and Beverage Concession leaders braved the sweltering heat of the Valley of the Sun to enjoy four days of educational sessions, engaging speakers, networking opportunities, venue tours and a two-day trade show with over 90 vendors. The 2018 Concession & Hospitality Expo will be held on August 7-10, 2018 at the Marriott New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana. Trade show booths, sponsorships and registration are all available now. In a related development, NAC announced future dates and locations for Expo. The 75th Anniversary of NAC in 2019 will see the Expo travel to our home base of Chicago on July 30th – August 2nd at the Fairmont Chicago Hotel. The Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Hotel in Orlando Florida will host the 2020 Expo on July 28th – 31st.
Regional Seminar Series – We wrapped up the 2016-2017 cycle of “Leadership Counts” and announced the upcoming 2018-2019 cycle, “Building and Energizing Results Oriented Relationships” featuring Mark Hunter. His message of results oriented relationships will be attractive to both Operators and Suppliers. Mark is the author of two books, High-Profit Selling and High-Profit Prospecting, and brings his experiences of initiating and maintaining great working relationships to life. The high energy, two-hour session is anticipated to appear in five locations throughout 2018 with a goal of adding more during the two-year-cycle.
CCM, ECM and ACS Certification –The Association held Concession Manager Certification (CCM) training sessions at the NAC Expo in Scottsdale and another at Florida International University on October 27-30 immediately following ShowEast. The result was scores of new industry professionals sporting the CCM designation next to their name and title as they invested in their professional future and improved the tools and skills needed to manage a concessions program efficiently and profitably. The next CCM class is scheduled for The 2018 Concession & Hospitality Expo in New Orleans.
An online version of the CCM class was piloted in the first semester of 2017 in cooperation with the University of Memphis Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management and is now being offered as an option designed to make the course more accessible to industry professionals who don’t have the time or travel budget, or simply prefer an on-line learning experience.
After taking a year off, the Accredited Concession Supplier Certification (ACS) program will return at the 2018 NAC Expo in New Orleans. This is a one-day seminar that teaches suppliers how a concession operator thinks; the priorities, service objectives and challenges of concessionaires; and how a supplier can be a partner in meeting those needs and objectives.
The Executive Concession Manager Certification (ECM) program will also return in New Orleans. The one day course, which is highly interactive, builds upon the basic CCM course while providing specific tools and concepts that are needed at the executive level.
International Presence – NAC leaders traveled to EXPOCine in Sao Paulo, Brazil where over 100 attendees took part in a corporate program for this Cinema trade show. This group also made a stop at Vista Ultra Cine in Rio de Rio de Janeiro, Argentina to give a corporate program for over 50 concession professionals at this Cinema trade show representing South America.
ShowEast.edu – NAC collaborated with ShowEast for two days of in-depth programming with a focus on the food and beverage, restaurant equipment, and kitchen and bar design in the industry. The program was led by NAC Director of Education Larry Etter, CCM.
Future Leaders Committee – The creation of this new committee recognizes the need to identify and develop emerging leaders within the industry and the NAC Membership in upcoming years. The Future Leaders Committee is charged with investigating means to engage the next generation of members as well as advise current NAC Leaders on the needs of this burgeoning audience.
Emeritus Membership – There is a new option for retired or transitioning professionals in the Concession and Hospitality Industry. The new Emeritus Membership is in effect immediately and is offered to any former full or associate NAC member who is currently retired and not employed or acting as a consultant.
Honors and Awards- The Association once again honored the best and the brightest in the industry:
Andrew Cretors, ACS, President of C. Cretors and Co., accepted the 2017 NAC Bert Nathan Memorial Award at the CinemaCon All-Industry Award Breakfast on Tuesday, March 28 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Nominations are now open for the 2018 award.
Joe Joyce, CCM, formerly Director of Food & Beverage for Playhouse Square, accepted the 2017 Mickey Warner Award during the NAC Expo on July 13th in Scottsdale.
Tish Hardric; ACS, National Sales Manager-Theatre Division; Great Western Products, captured her third Krystal La Reese-Gaule Membership Award for the fiscal year 2016. The presentation took place at the NAC Expo on July 13th in Scottsdale.
Government Relations –NAC Government relations efforts continue to work with other allied industries and associations on the important legislative and regulatory issues in a tumultuous business and political environment.
Three-Year Strategic Plan – The Association is in the second year of a Three-Year Strategic Plan. A major part of this plan is to address two overriding Issues. The first is how NAC can better support its members through business development. The second is how NAC can stay relevant and become a stronger, more effective association.
Get Involved – NAC Committees are always looking for additional volunteers and leaders. Your assistance and input on matters pertaining to your fellow NAC members are always welcome. The current NAC Standing Committees and their individual mandates are listed on naconline.org.
Any and all developments are widely reported and easy to find via naconline.org, NAC Weekly News and Social Media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn and twitter. We highly encourage you to make these a regular part of your work day to stay abreast of all things NAC and Concessions.
As always The NAC Board and Staff are here for you and invite you to take full advantage of your membership and encourage others to join.
Have a very prosperous, safe and Happy 2018!
Category: Feature
