Expo Comida Latina to Debut in 3rd City
By Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 5/10/2004
In 2005, San Antonio will be added to the list of sites for Diversified Business Communications' Expo Comida Latina. The show, already held in Los Angeles and New York, targets food and beverage professionals from the retail and food service industries; and exhibitors featuring Mexican, Central and South American products.
"We are seeing an increased demand for our Expo Comida Latina franchise in locations with high Latino populations, such as Texas, which is second only to California in Hispanic population," said Nancy Hasselback, Diversified president and CEO.
With the addition of the Texas show, Hasselback said Expo Comida Latina will be within the reach of more than 60 percent of the U.S. Hispanic population.
There could be obstacles. Beginning Sept. 30, the State Department will require all foreign visitors (with the exception of those from Canada and Mexico) to be photographed and fingerprinted before entering the United States. Previously, travelers from the 31 countries that participate in a visa-waiver program were excluded from fingerprinting and photographing.
Then there's the Bioterrorism Act, which requires international food suppliers to register their facilities and provide prior notice of their import of food products – making it more cumbersome for many companies to exhibit in the United States
Stephen Phillips, DBC's show director for Expo Comida Latina and All Asia Food Expo, said that foreign exhibitors and their respective embassies and trade offices in the United States are monitoring the changes to regulations on a daily basis. According to Phillips, none has reported the regulations as an impediment to exhibiting. Still, Phillips said, "We tell all of our exhibitors to start the visa process at least 90 days prior to the show."
He added that exhibitors and prospective visitors from Texas were canvassed, and responses were all positive. About 2,500 visitors and 80 to 100 exhibiting companies are expected.
The show will be held April 24-25, 2005 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The Los Angeles and New York editions will be held in October this year.
