My latest communication from the good folks at the 1.8-million-square-foot George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas, is that they hosted two conventions with record-breaking attendance. How great is that? They are IDDBA (International Dairy Deli Bakery Association) and SLEEP (Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC (APSS), a joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Sleep Research Society).
I don’t have the details on SLEEP yet, but for IDDBA, yowzah, this was a flagship “foodie” event, and who wouldn’t love that? The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association is a nonprofit membership organization serving the dairy, deli, bakery, cheese, and supermarket foodservice industries. Member companies enjoy exclusive benefits and services, including the annual tradeshow, leading-edge research, training programs, management tools, and an annual trends report. It was also the association’s 60th birthday, which made things even better and more delicious!
Ecstatically, David Haaf, IDDBA president/CEO, quickly summed it up this way: “What a great last two-and-half days to celebrate IDDBA’s 60th anniversary. The show floor was filled with over 2,200 exhibitor booths and 10,000 registered attendees,” he stated.
Highlights of the show included the association’s “What’s In Store Live” experience, where the latest trends from product to packaging came to life, inspiring words from the 2024 Chair Honoree, Pat Reser, Chair of the Board, Reser’s Fine Foods, as well as the countless networking connections and business partnerships that were made.
Haaf added that IDDBA 2024 was made possible by the IDDBA member community, IDDBA staff, and the many companies the association works with daily to create this phenomenal event. He expressed his gratitude to those partners, the host city of Houston and Houston First.
Recognizing how much food can connect us all. In the spirit of thankfulness, IDDBA didn’t leave town without food donations to the Houston Foodbank and the Second Servings of Houston organization. “IDDBA, on behalf of the exhibiting companies, is proud to give back to this great community through these donations,” it was stated.
Not only that, but it should also be noted that this was the group’s third event in Houston. “When we originally worked with IDDBA to bring their show to Houston, we knew it would be a perfect pairing. This year, we were pleased to welcome the group back for the third time,” said Houston First Corporation President and CEO Michael Heckman. “Hosting the premier industry show for dairy, deli, bakery, and food service in a city known for its expansive and diverse culinary scene just makes sense. Add to that the group’s latest attendance numbers, and it’s evident this is a great match.”
In the meetings and events industry, what could be greater? Congratulations Houston!
