Exhibitors and visitors alike are gearing up for the fast-approaching International Boston Seafood Show, which takes place from 20 to 22 March at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
SeafoodSource is your official source for show news. SeafoodSource editors Steven Hedlund, April Forristall and Mercedes Grandin and SeaFood Business editors Fiona Robinson, James Wright and Melissa Wood will be scouring the show floor and conference and meeting rooms for the latest news. Got a news tip or story idea? Stop by SeafoodSource and SeaFood Business booth No. 1781 and talk to an editor, or drop your information off at the press office in room No. 050, which is located near registration. Or e-mail us at [email protected]. And check SeafoodSource regularly for the latest updates.
Also, show attendees can access an interactive floor map, exhibitor list and conference schedule on an iPhone®, iPod Touch®, iPad® or BlackBerry Smartphone®. Click here for instructions on how to download the International Boston Seafood Show app.
There are 923 companies from 41 countries exhibiting at this year’s show, compared to 870 companies from 43 countries in 2010. Countries making their first-ever appearance at the show include Bangladesh, Lithuania and Latvia. Spain, Scotland, the Faeroe Islands and Vietnam have increased their presence at the show. A few U.S. representatives have also boosted their presence at the show, including the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, U.S. Catfish Institute and Copper River Seafoods.
Mary Larkin, VP of seafood expositions for Diversified Business Communications, which produces the show and publishes SeafoodSource, is optimistic about this year’s event. “Each year we seek to attract more exhibitors and attendees by offering an event with original content, including new educational conferences, business and networking opportunities,” said Larkin. “The 2011 event is already reflecting an improving economy with more exhibits and the true global focus of the industry with more products on offer.”
Show highlights include:
• Entrepreneur and actor Wayne Rogers will give the free keynote address on Sunday 20 March at 12:30 p.m. In his “It is Time to Make Your Own Rules” presentation, Rogers, who portrayed “Trapper John” McIntyre in the hit TV series M*A*S*H, will share the keys to his success over the past four decades. Filled with insights and engaging stories, Rogers will discuss realistic strategies for success in today’s business environment, where the traditional career path isn’t as readily available as it once was.
• The winners of the annual Seafood Excellence Awards will be unveiled in the Culinary Demonstration Theater on Sunday 20 March at 3:30 p.m., as awards will be presented to the best new retail and foodservice products. Click here to view a list of the 11 Seafood Excellence finalists, which were unveiled last month.
• For the first time this year, a game lounge will be set up on the show floor at booth No. 2081, where attendees can challenge colleagues to soccer, hockey, ping pong or a variety of other games. The game lounge will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday 20 March and Monday 21 March and from 12 to 2 p.m. on Tuesday 22 March. So relax and take a break.
• Two events are taking place for the second time this year — the Tweet & Meet Tweet-up and the Twitter Wall. On Monday at the City Bar in the Westin Waterfront, attendees and exhibitors can get together with friends, network with peers and meet industry colleagues for a casual networking and socializing event. Throughout the show, show management, SeafoodSource and SeaFood Business editorial staff, exhibitors and attendees will be tweeting show news, tips and perspectives. Use the #ibss11 hashtag when tweeting about the show s that your tweets will appear on the Twitter Wall.
• William “Chopper” Young will defend his title as the fastest shucker in the East for the fifth consecutive year. The fifth annual Oyster Shucking Contest takes place in the Culinary Demonstration Theater on Monday March 21 at 3:30 p.m.
• Finally, the show’s conference program is chock full of seminars to further your seafood knowledge. Click here to view a schedule of seminars. To attend the seminars, participants must hold a Gold or Silver Passport as part of their registration. Click here to register for a Passport.
See you in Boston!
