SHOW TIME: Las Vegas will host restaurant HR honchos in February; catering and beverage experts arrive in March.

Photo: Newscom

FEBRUARY

22-24
PEOPLE POWER

Find out how to keep the good employees you already have and attract even more like them at the HR in Hospitality Conference. Venue is the Wynn Las Vegas.
800-727-1227
www.hrinhospitality.com

28-3/3
SUPPLY SIDERS

Expect to find plenty of energetic new content when the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association rolls out the 2010 edition of COEX (Chain Operators Exchange). Site is the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. Don't forget: as the IFMA website puts it, “Registration for operators is free, so bring the team.”
312-540-4400
www.ifmaworld.com

MARCH

5-7
HEAT SEEKERS

Big flavors never go out of fashion, and you can't go to a better event to help you produce them than the National Fiery Foods and Barbecue Show. The event takes place at the Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque, NM.
505-873-8680
www.fiery-foods.com

6-9
TUNED-IN TEACHERS

If you like meeting upbeat people who are super-smart about the restaurant business, head for the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers hospitality training conference. Site is the Grand Hyatt San Francisco.
800-463-5918
www.chart.org

7-11
BIGGER PARTY PROFITS

Hey, who doesn't want to do more reception, party and catering business? Find out how to get in on the action by attending the Catersource 2010 Conference & Trade Show. It's set for the Las Vegas Convention Center.
877-932-3632
www.catersource.com

8-10
LIQUID ASSETS

It's hard not to have a good time while searching for revenue-building ideas at the Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show, which is held at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Here's how the event's dress code reads: “Attendees should avoid wearing any clothing that may be interpreted as promiscuous, provocative or overly suggestive.”
617-219-8330
www.ncbshow.com

10-13
SWEET SWING

Golfers take note: The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation presents the Ted J. Balestreri Leadership Classic at Pebble Beach, CA. Proceeds help fund 800 restaurant industry scholarships.
312-715-5384
www.nraef.org/events/golf

11-14
ACT NATURALLY

Find new sources of healthful ingredients by attending Natural Products Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center. It's colocated with two other shows: Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace 2010 and Healthy Baking Seminar West.
866-458-4935
www.expowest.com

Kiosk Extra

STICKUP: Learn how to protect your restaurant.

Our original thought for the “Crazy Town” section of the RH website (www.restaurant-hospitality.com) was that it would give us a place where we could cover crimes of which restaurant operators were perpetrators or victims, or which had occurred on their premises. Bad idea. We found so many grotesque incidents that we had to limit ourselves to reporting only the humorous ones. But the experience gave us a sense of how many scary things regularly occur at restaurants, which is why we're highlighting the inaugural national conference of the newly formed National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association. It's set for Feb. 24-26 at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport near Dallas. The working title is “Claims Avoidance and Litigation Management” and there will be plenty of restaurant-specific content. Session topics range from “Crime Doesn't Pay: How to Protect Yourself from Liability for Third Party Criminal Acts” to “Incident Investigation Techniques” to “Slip and Fall Strategies and Remedies.” Presenters include Tracy Hurst of Ruby Tuesday. For more information, go to www.nrrda.org or call 847-324-7050.

Our original thought for the “Crazy Town” section of the RH website (www.restaurant-hospitality.com) was that it would give us a place where we could cover crimes of which restaurant operators were perpetrators or victims, or which had occurred on their premises. Bad idea. We found so many grotesque incidents that we had to limit ourselves to reporting only the humorous ones. But the experience gave us a sense of how many scary things regularly occur at restaurants, which is why we're highlighting the inaugural national conference of the newly formed National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association. It's set for Feb. 24-26 at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport near Dallas. The working title is “Claims Avoidance and Litigation Management” and there will be plenty of restaurant-specific content. Session topics range from “Crime Doesn't Pay: How to Protect Yourself from Liability for Third Party Criminal Acts” to “Incident Investigation Techniques” to “Slip and Fall Strategies and Remedies.” Presenters include Tracy Hurst of Ruby Tuesday. For more information, go to www.nrrda.org or call 847-324-7050.