Event Returns To Hyatt Regency, Miami, June 28 – July 2, 2014
Taste of the Caribbean, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) culinary event of the year, brings together experts and food & beverage professionals to discuss and share the latest trends and techniques through educational seminars while enjoying some of the best Caribbean cuisine and libations the region has to offer. The event returns to Miami for its third consecutive year and will be staged at the Hyatt Regency, Miami, June 28 – July 2, 2014.
Educational workshops are a key component of Taste of the Caribbean which can enhance a culinary specialist’s skillset. Food and beverage managers can learn about the latest trends which can lead to profitability in food and beverage operations.
“Food and beverage professionals, managers and staff will benefit from the educational component offered at Taste of the Caribbean,” said Josef Forstmayr, chairman of CHTA, who oversees the event. “Chefs and bartenders will learn about the latest trends in food and beverage preparation, while managers can get operational tips for improving the bottom line in their department,” Forstmayr added.
At Taste of the Caribbean, food-related companies can exhibit at the tradeshow where they demonstrate the latest industry tools to registered culinary professionals. The tradeshow provides a one-stop forum for gathering practical information, sampling, purchasing, strengthening supplier relationships and meeting new vendors. Tabletop display registration with one delegate is US$750, plus US$175 for each additional delegate.
During a series of competitions, chefs and bartenders from each country will present a variety of Caribbean entrees and cocktails as they battle for top honors including: Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year, Caribbean Chef of the Year, Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year, Caribbean Bartender of the Year and Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year. A highlight of the event is the head-to-head competitions between Caribbean culinary teams vying for top honors in Caribbean cuisine and beverages. There are currently nine culinary teams registered for the event from Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, Curacao, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Suriname and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Participating countries are currently holding individual competitions to select who will represent them come cooking time. Each national team is comprised of two senior chefs, one junior chef, one bartender, one pastry chef and one manager. The participating team members represent hotels, restaurants or educational institutions in the Caribbean which are members of CHTA.
“The Caribbean has a unique food culture that enhances guests’ vacation experience,” said Richard J. Doumeng, president of CHTA. “Taste of the Caribbean provides a platform for showcasing the best of our region’s cuisine to professionals and consumers attending the event driving awareness for the Caribbean brand in one of our priority markets,” Doumeng noted.
Registration
Full event registration, applicable to hoteliers, government entities and food/beverage professionals attending the entire duration of the event, is US$175 for CHTA members and US$225 for non-members. The registration fee includes access to all educational sessions, all events on the program including the Awards Dinner and access to the tradeshow. The competition events are not included and are additional including US$40 for Taste of the Islands and US$50 each for the Competition Lunch and Competition Dinner. CHTA is also offering two package options for the competition events: US$85 per person for the Competition Lunch and Competition Dinner or US$110 per person for the Competition Lunch, Competition Dinner and
Taste of the Islands festival.
CHTA has arranged a group rate of US$139, plus taxes and service charges, (run of house, single or double occupancy) per night, at the Hyatt Regency Miami. The group rate is available until May 23, 2014 and can be made via the hotel website.
Relive the action from the 2013 event with videos presented by Exposure4 including: Taste of the Caribbean 2013 Overview, Judges’ Interviews, Team of the Year, Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Junior Chef of the Year,
For more information about Taste of the Caribbean click here and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) facilitates the full potential of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry by serving members’ needs and building partnerships in a socially responsible and sustainable manner. CHTA is the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the development of the region in the highly competitive and sophisticated environment of international tourism. Today, tourism is widely recognized as a pivotal industry in the economy of the region – and CHTA functions as the common denominator for this industry in a region of diverse nationalities, languages and styles, identifying mutual problems and marshaling the resources of the active and allied members to devise solutions. CHTA represents all facets of the hospitality industry with more than 600 member hotels and over 300 allied members.
For more information, visit http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com. Follow CHTA on Facebook and Twitter.
