Annual Conference

We want you to join us as we make a “Toast to the Coast” at IFEC’s annual conference in Santa Barbara, CA November 7 – November 9, 2022 at the beautiful, beachfront Mar Monte Hotel.  Join industry colleagues at the premier foodservice communications event fall of 2022 in a resort style hotel, tastefully renovated, with gorgeous views of the ocean, steps from the beach and walking distance to Santa Barbara’s famed “Funk Zone”.   Santa Barbara, The American Riviera®,  is renowned for their gorgeous south-facing location tucked between the ocean and mountains and boasts of an amazing agricultural heritage (avocados to cannabis) along with proximity to an incredible wine region and unparalleled access to the freshest of ingredients and inspiring chefs. Julia Child loved Santa Barbara, why wouldn’t you?

 

    • Chef Showcase: this may be the only IFEC Chef Showcase to be ON THE BEACH! To be held at the historic Cabrillo Pavilion, a premier oceanfront event venue.
    • Food Tours: explore the best of what Santa Barbara has to offer the foodservice world! Avocados, cheeses, uni, wine, cannabis – you name it Santa Barbara has it!
    • Editor’s Roundtable–a media-only, directed discussion on the hot button topics related to challenges in the B2B world, including strategies for digital content.
    • Publicist’s Professional Development Session  – “Tik Tok Strategy” with Lena Katz

    The annual conference has the full complement of IFEC signature events: NEW* Virtual Meet the Press, Office Hours, Chef Showcase, Activity Stations, New Member/Family Activity, the Annual Meeting, the Betty and TerrIFECer awards, plus countless networking, tasting and learning opportunities.

  • See the full agenda here IFEC 2022 Agenda

     

SEA more about SB

Cabrillo Pavillion

Mar Monte Aerial

Mar Monte Ocean Front Terrace

Mar Monte Pool

Can you picture yourself making amazing work connections in a beautiful setting?

Not too late to register
Book your hotel now
65% of IFEC survey respondents report getting an introduction to a new colleague/collaborator and 54% indicated that getting content or a picture in a story was a direct result from attending an IFEC conference.

Members are eligible to participate in Office Hours, watch this video to get a glimpse of what happens during Office Hours.
Sponsorships
Any IFEC members are welcome to sponsor at the annual conference.  What can sponsorships do for your brand?

Create story leads “The product presentations spark story ideas, provide culinary leads (from those companies that bring along their chefs) and make the IFEC meals and breaks very tasty…. product presentations really bring the products to life for those of us who usually just see press releases.” — Patricia Cobe, senior editor, Restaurant Business magazine

Make memorable impressions “They help to supplement the pitches I might get at Office Hours and I will remember when developing future editorial. For example, mangoes got on my radar (and in my editorial calendar) more because of IFEC than any other p.r. channel. A feature on different color potatoes came out of a long-ago product presentation.” —  Patricia Fitzgerald, executive editor, School Nutrition magazine

Provide product education “I like the product presentations and I think they’re great in terms of learning about an ingredient/different ways to use it on the menu/different dishes. … I tweeted about almost every product presentation I went to, I tweeted photos too. I think they give me ideas or inspire a story…” — Tara Fitzpatrick, associate editor, Food Management & Supermarket News

Generate PR partnerships “The best results are often unanticipated, such as when a food editor comes up afterwards and asks for an exclusive to feature the product or another publicist says ‘let’s partner on something next time.'” — Don Odiorne, former vice president food service, Idaho Potato Commission Types of Opportunities Chef Showcase Learning Session Activities Featuring Products Product Placements in Meals Gift Items & Similar Branding Opportunities

Past Conference Locations
Year       City                                  Dates                 Hotel                                   President
2021       Annapolis, MD                Oct 25-27             The Graduate                      Nicole Duncan
2020       Virtual                             Oct 25                 IFEC-To-Go                           Kelsey Casselbury
2019       Madison, WI                    Oct 28-30            The Edgewater                     Douglas Peckenpaugh
2018       Raleigh, NC                     Oct 24-27           Marriott City Center              Tom O’Brien
2017       Boulder, Co                     Oct 25-27           The Boulderado                    Patty Fitzgerald
2016       Minneapolis                     Oct 26-28           Radisson Blu                        Cathy Holley
2015       Portland, ME                    Nov 2-4              The Westin Harborview         Sam Oches
2014       Dallas                              Nov 3-5               Dallas Omni                          Sam Oches
2013       Portland, OR                   Oct 28-30            Doubletree by Hilton             J. Yarbrough
2012       Nashville                          Nov 5-8              Sheraton Music City              Megan McKenna
2011       Washington DC               Nov 7-10             Washington Plaza                 Jason Stemm
2010       New Orleans                    Nov 7-12            Royal Sonesta                       D. Hood Crecca
2009       San Diego                        Oct. 12-15         Westin San Diego                 Tia Woodward
2008       Cleveland                         Nov. 3 – 6           Renaissance Cleveland        Allison Perlik
2007       Austin                              Nov 5 – 8             Austin Omni                          Mary Humann
2006       Chicago                           Nov 14-17          Renaissance Chicago           Alexei Rudolf
2005       Savannah, GA                 Oct 25-28           Hilton Savannah DeSoto       Bret Thorn
2004       Seattle                             Oct 12-15           Red Lion on Fifth Avenue     Don Odiorne
2003       Denver                             Nov 4-7              Westin Tabor Center            Jamie Estes
2002       Santa Fe                          Nov 5-8              El Dorado                             Mary Petersen
2001       Providence, RI                 Oct 30-Nov 3      Westin Providence               John Williams
2000       Napa, CA                         Oct 31-Nov 4      The Silverado                       Paula Disbrowe
1999       Miami                               Oct 12-15           Hyatt Regency Miami            Amy Shipley
1998       San Antonio                     Nov 1-5              Plaza San Antonio                P. McCormick
1997       Portland, OR                    Oct 5-9               Portland Hilton                     Larry Levine
1996       Philadelphia                     Nov 12-16          Bellevue                               Gail Bellamy
1995       Charleston                       Nov 14-18          Omni Charleston Place         Steve Siegelman
1994       San Francisco                  Nov 15-18          Stouffer Stanford Court        Kerri Conan
1993       Milwaukee                        Sept 29-Oct 2     The Pfister                           Mike DeLuca
1992       Tucson                             Nov 11-13           Westin La Paloma               Jeanette Riechers
1991       New Orleans                     Nov 11-16          Omni Royal Orleans            Mary Barber
1990       Boston                              Oct 29-31           Omni Parker House            S. Allmendinger
1989       Vancouver, BC                  Sept 6-9             Westin Bayshore                Tom Elliott
1988       St. Louis                           Oct 19-21           Marriott                               Eunice Morris
1987       Savannah, GA                  Oct 13-17           Regency Hyatt                    Nancy Backas
1986       Santa Fe                           Sept 17-20         El Dorado                           Cliff Berman
1985       Toronto                             Sept 11-14          King Edward                       Andrew Douglas
1984       Orlando                             Oct 31-Nov 3     Lake B V Conf Ctr               S. Michaelides
1983       Monterey, CA                    Aug 17-20          Hyatt Del Monte                  Chet Holden|
1982       Louisville                          Sept 21-24          Hyatt Regency                    K. Sanderson
1981       Williamsburg                     Oct 22-25           Cascades                            Carol Lally
1980       Honolulu                           Sept 2-4              Royal Hawaiian                   Jeanette Riechers
1979       Minneapolis                      Sept 5-7              Marquette Inn                     Cecile LaMalle
1978       Washington, DC               Oct 27-31             L’Enfant                             Steve Weiss
1977       Seattle                              Sept 16-20          Olympia
1976       Houston                            April 5-8              Galleria
1975       Montreal                           Sept 9-12            Chateau Champlain
1974       Kansas City                      Oct 21-24            Crown Center
1973       Mexico City                       Sept 16-19          El Camino Real
1972       New Orleans                     Sept 26-29          Royal Sonesta
1971       Memphis                           Sept 22-24
1970       Carefree, AZ                     April 28-May 1
1969       Chicago                            April 8-11
1968       Atlanta                              March 20-22
1967       Washington, DC                April 12-15
1966       San Francisco                   April 27-29
1965       Boston                              April 21-23
1964       New Orleans                     April 9-10
1963       Chicago
1962       Chicago
1961       Chicago
1960       Chicago
1959       Chicago
1958       Chicago
1957       Chicago
1956       Chicago