Food Network and Travel Channel Personalities to Headline Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Marketing/Operations Summit

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Press Secretary
850.224.2250 x255
ERay@FRLA.org
(Tallahassee, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is thrilled to bring nationally renowned television personalities to its annual Marketing/Operations Summit scheduled for Tuesday, July 29 through Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at the Hilton Tampa Downtown. The event, designed to assist the hospitality industry in exploring new business trends, will be headlined by Chef Robert Irvine, Host of the Food Network’s “Restaurant: Impossible,” and Anthony Melchiorri, Host of the Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible.”

“This year’s celebrity presenters offer unique insight into the world of hospitality by sharing their hard earned hands-on experience,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “In an ever-evolving industry, it is imperative our members stay current on best practices and FRLA’s Marketing/Operations Summit is truly an experience that hoteliers, restaurateurs and suppliers can’t afford to miss!”

With more than 40 years of combined experience, Melchiorri and Irvine will showcase exceptional expertise in their fields. Melchiorri has an unmatched ability to break down problems and find solutions that generate profits. In addition to being the host and lead in Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible,” he also runs his own company, Argeo Hospitality, consulting on hotel projects for private owners and investors. Chef Irvine has cooked his way through Europe, the Far East, the Caribbean and the Americas, in hotels and on the high seas. As the host of “Restaurant: Impossible,” Irvine attempts to save America’s most desperate restaurants from impending failure in just two days with only $10,000.

The event will also feature world-class presenters from Coca-Cola, Firehouse Subs, Bloomin’ Brands, Wyndham Vacation Rentals, Tijuana Flats and more. Media is invited to attend portions of the two day event and asked to contact Elizabeth Ray atERay@FRLA.org or 850.224.2250 x255 for information.

WHAT:
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Marketing/Operations Summit

WHEN:
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
12:30 – 5:15 PM
Registration opens at 11:30 AM
*MEDIA INVITED TO ATTEND PROGRAM FROM 1:00 – 3:00 PM*

Wednesday, July 30, 2014
8:00 AM  – 12:00 PM
Registration opens at 7:30 AM
*MEDIA INVITED TO ATTEND PROGRAM FROM 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM*

WHERE:              
Hilton Tampa Downtown
211 North Tampa Street
Tampa, FL 33602
813-204-3000

COST:          
FRLA Members is $99.00
Non-FRLA Members is $109.00
Hotel accommodations not included

Seating is limited. For a full agenda, registration and additional information, please visit http://frla.org/events/marketing-operations-summit. To see photos from last year’s event please click here.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, September 7-9, 2014 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy.  We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go towww.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.