The 1999 meeting marks CH&MA's return to its own conference and trade show following a two-year relationship with the California Restaurant Association's Western Foodservice Expo.  According to David Britton, CH&MA vice president of marketing, "We had several challenges with the Western Foodservice Expo that persuaded us to return to our own event.  Lodging managers and operators found it difficult to leave their businesses during the Foodservice Expo's mid-August dates.  Exhibitors told us they want an audience more focused on lodging establishments.  And everyone seems to prefer the variety of destinations available to us with our own conference."

Britton says, "The Palm Springs area has always been a popular conference destination with CH&MA members and exhibitors.  Returning to a resort area, we again are able to include some fun elements in our conference program that just were not practical or possible in conjunction with the Western Foodservice Expo.  We're looking forward to a great event."

Companies interested in exhibiting at CH&MA's Desert Renaissance Leadership Conference can obtain show information by contacting Kathy Drewes at (916) 444-5780, FAX (916) 444-5848, or e-mail [email protected].

With more than 1,100 lodging establishment members representing over 167,000 rooms, the California Hotel & Motel Association is the largest state lodging trade association in the nation.  CH&MA provides operations, technical, educational, marketing and advocacy services to California's lodging industry.