Audio Interview with Rob Grimes, Chairman & CEO, Accuvia

HOSTEC and EURHOTEC have combined! Rob Grimes, who serves as Conference Co-Chairman, (along with IH&RA CEO Alain-Philippe Feutré), took a few moments to discuss what was behind combining and ultimately expanding the show, which will be co-located alongside Hotelympia to be run at Earls Court, London, February 4-8, 2002.

Robert Grimes is Chairman of Accuvia. Accuvia is what was formerly known as CynterCorp, three knowledge services companies - CynterCon, CynterPubs and CynterShow that now operate collectively as Accuvia. The company is expanding their coverage of information technology and services in the foodservice, hospitality, and retail industries and will also launch new publications, further develop their focused consulting and research services and continue production and expansion of educational and networking events internationally. The company is headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD

In 1996, Rob co-founded, with Nation's Restaurant News, FS/TEC, the foodservice industry's largest technology tradeshow and conference. In 2000, he launched HOSTEC, a technology-focused exhibition and conference for the hospitality and foodservice industries in the U.K, which in 2002 will join forces with the IH&RA and is now called HOSTEC/Eurhotec Exhibition and Conference.

Rob has been a regular technology columnist for Nation's Restaurant News and has contributed articles to many other industry publications in the U.S. and abroad as well as co-authored and contributed to a number of books. He has also spoken at over 150 industry shows, conferences and events in the past thirteen years.

Rob has received many industry and company awards over the years. In April 2000, Rob was honored with the Maryland Executive of the Year Award sponsored by the Maryland High Technology Council. His companies have awarded the 1999 & 2000 Deloitte & Touche Maryland Technology Fast 50 Award and the 1999 FastTrack Revenue Growth Award, sponsored by Arthur Andersen. Other awards include The Joseph A. Sciulli Entrepreneur of the Year Award (1996), sponsored the Suburban Maryland High Technology Council; The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year Award (1994), World Young Business Achiever Award (1994), sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and presented by His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh; and The Penn State Alumnus of the Year Award (1994).

HOSTEC, now in its third year, brought together over 2000 attendees at the 2001 event held in London. EURHOTEC, now in its seventh year, similarly brought together another 2000 attendees at their 2001 event held in Paris.

By merging the two events into one, and expanding the combined event from 3 days to 5 in conjunction with Hotelympia with over 50,000 of its own attendees, the attendance at HOSTEC/EURHOTEC is expected to increase to over 10,000 from all over the European marketplace, and will be unmatched as being the largest and most complete technology event of its kind in Europe.

In aligning these two major industry events, HOSTEC/EURHOTEC will continue to maintain the quality concepts of an Exhibition, Conference, Industry Awards, Think Tank and Networking Functions they have been known for. Ensuring its success, HOSTEC/EURHOTEC is guided by a stellar Advisory Board and Sponsors from leading suppliers, trade associations, and publications. Both Accuvia and the IH&RA will co-develop all aspects of the event.