“Trade shows are about making connections,” explained Myra Starnes, the founder and head of Leisure Time Unlimited, Inc, owner and producer of the Hotel, Motel & Restaurant Supply Show of the Southeast (HMRSSS). Myra and her team made it easy to do just that for the general managers, owners, operators and vendors who gathered for the event on January 24 – 26, 2023, in Myrtle Beach, SC, an internationally known resort location.
The mood was very upbeat at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, where HMRSSS took place over three days, providing ample opportunity for connections to be made.
The event’s success is based on making it easy for attendees to learn about products and services that can help their operations and for vendors to meet qualified leads. This was HMRSSS’ 47th event, and many vendors have been exhibiting at the show for years. First-time exhibitors said that they had quality conversations with the attendees.
A Variety of Vendors
From vendors providing Access Control Systems to Window Shades & Blinds and every category in between, the show provided attendees with various vendors to meet. Here are just a few of the 300 that exhibited this year:
Adam Sulimirski, Managing Partner at Icon EV Cruise Car, had an impressive utility vehicle on display. What was even more impressive were all the standard features that are included in their vehicles. They have several models to choose from to meet your property needs.
Kevin Halperin, Account Manager at Employee Credit, explained how they could help companies with employees receive the Employee Retention Tax credit. They are an attorney-owned and operated tax credit firm with a team of attorneys and accountants that can help you not just file, but file correctly.
Muriel Haney of Restaurant Technologies shared that the company services 27,000 restaurants, hotels, casinos, grocery stores, universities, and corporate campuses across the country, providing safer, smarter kitchens for the food service industry.
Keith Chlapaty, Founder and President and Katie Rychener, Marketing Director of EdgeMate Pool Chair, displayed a great product designed to help enhance the guest experience and grow revenue around and literally “in” a property’s pool.
Bob Jones provided tastings of the great products sold by Striped Pig Distillery.
Trevor Firetog and Edgar Dominguez, MattressFirm Commercial Sales, discussed how MattressFirm supports commercial and charitable organizations by providing quality mattresses at wholesale prices.
EcoClear Products has several solutions to deal with bugs and odors. Allen Lord, Commercial Sales Manager, demonstrated how effective their odor removal product was, destroying odors at the molecular level instead of simply masking them.
NHG, Nurture Hospitality Group‘s Adrian Lopez Sepulveda, CEO, Tim Workman, Chief Development Officer and Alejandra Zavaleta, Marketing Director, displayed their amenities products and shared their WECARE philosophy, with product packaging made from plastic that would have ended up in the oceans. Instead, it is recycled and processed to give it a responsible use again.
Crystal Estabrook and Tony Booth of Stay-N-Charge explained the various incentives and benefits for properties and guests with Electric Vehicle charging solutions.
DUSAW had smart locks and hotel safes on display. Isaac Fink, Sales Associate and Ben Eidlisz, COO, highlighted the DUSAW Smart Lock, which can be opened through various methods, including a physical key, a pin code, a fingerprint, an RFID device, or via an app.
For attendees looking for delicious coffee, Tyson Leavitt poured samples from The Morning Jump Coffee Company, a family-operated coffee shop and roastery created by a service-disabled veteran. Their coffee is available for commercial purchase.
Jill Sharp, Vice President – Hospitality, and Sharon Lynne Smith, Hospitality Sales Representative, Jamison Bedding Company, shared that Jamison mattresses have been handmade in the USA since 1883, and the company has been a supplier to luxury hotels and resorts for over 50 years.
ScarletConnect is hotel software designed by hoteliers. Seth Kines, Founder & CEO, worked for several years in the hospitality industry.
Seth recognized the need for a one-stop-shop solution and developed ScarlettConnect, software that streamlines the guest experience, starting with the sales process and ending with the post-stay review.
Bed Bug Heat Doctor/PrevSol is a family-owned and operated business founded in 2013 by Jeff and Shelly Zimmerman. They explained that their bed bug heaters are proudly made in the USA, with over 10,000 heaters in all 50 States and Canada.
Brad Schneider, Senior Energy Consultant at PTAC Energy Solutions, discussed the benefits and cost savings smart PTAC thermostats could provide properties. Brad also displayed a HEPA Air Purifying Filter that fits over existing PTAC units to filter out viruses, bacteria, dust and other unwanted items from the air.
A Winning Formula for Vendors and Attendees
From its first show to its 47th, HMRSSS has never charged members of the hospitality industry a fee to attend. The focus of the event is for attendees and vendors to make connections, so there are no keynotes or breakout presentations to distract from the trade show floor. The variety and number of vendors exhibiting make it effective for all participants. Vendors are also listed in “The Vendor Mall in the Sky”, an HMRSSS online resource for attendees to use throughout the year.
Put HMRSSS on your calendar for next year on January 23,24 & 25, 2024 and come to Myrtle Beach. It’s the perfect place to mix business and pleasure, learn about the latest offerings for the hospitality industry and make connections!
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