Mission Statement

U.S. Hotel/Restaurant and Foodservice Equipment Dealmaker Trade Mission

Toronto, Canada

October 18- 20, 1998

Mission Description

The U.S. Commercial Service in Toronto is organizing a three-day U.S. Hotel/Restaurant and Foodservice Equipment Dealmaker to provide U.S. small and medium sized, export-ready, companies with a cost effective and highly efficient means to promote their products and services in the Canadian hospitality market. In addition to meeting, one-on-one, with pre-qualified potential trade partners in Canada, participating firms will receive broad market exposure and valuable market insights from market research and focused industry briefings. Participants will also benefit from various networking events including a visit to HostEx '98, Canada's premier hospitality industry trade show scheduled for October 18-20, 1998 at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

For a fee of only US$750, the U.S. Commercial Service will provide individual participants with:

• A two-day schedule of prearranged, one-on-one, business meetings with qualified prospective Canadian trade partners;
• Facilities for business meetings and display of product samples and promotional materials;
• Industry specific market research and briefings by industry experts;
• Networking opportunities, including Free Admission to HostEx '98, Canada's premier hospitality trade show featuring more than more than 1,000 exhibitors and attracting over 14,000 trade show visitors;
• Broad market exposure in the Canadian market;
• Special discounts on hotel accommodations and a range of logistical support;
• The best U.S. trade development support available in Canada.

Participation in the U.S. Hotel/Restaurant and Foodservice Equipment Dealmaker is open to all U.S. companies in the following sectors:

• hotel/restaurant and foodservice equipment
• hotel/restaurant supplies
• hotel/restaurant furniture and décor
• food and beverage equipment
• smallwares
• hotel/restaurant management systems and technology

Commercial Setting

New hotel construction in Canada is up from coast to coast with major projects such as the 350 room/US$35 million Trilogy Development hotel project in downtown Toronto; the US$28 million Hyatt Hotel in Calgary; the 428 room/US$70 million Sheraton Tower Hotel in Vancouver; and other new hotel projects being announced at an astounding pace. Hotel occupancy rates in Canada's major metropolitan centers and resorts are reaching new highs as a result of Canada's low exchange rate which is attracting large numbers of U.S. and other foreign visitors and keeping Canadian vacation and convention goers close to home. Hotel developers are also taking advantage of the current economic conditions to increase Canada's hotel capacities with new multi-million dollar entertainment centers such as the Technodome in Toronto on the drawing board and in anticipation of major events such as the 2008 Olympics in Canada.

Growth in real income, consumer spending and Canada's tourism sector has also stimulated a significant expansion within the restaurant industry. According to the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA), Canadian foodservice sales reached US$23 billion in 1997, an increase of 3 percent from 1996 and they are projected to grow at an annual rate of 3-5 percent through the year 2000. New restaurant openings and increased competition in the industry has made the Canadian hospitality industry extremely receptive to new products, new concepts and new technologies.

Canada's growing hotel and restaurant sectors offer excellent export opportunities for U.S. manufacturers and exporters serving the hospitality industry. Given the current market conditions, the access to Canada which U.S. firms enjoy under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the timeliness of this low-risk, low-cost export promotion event, the U.S. Commercial Service anticipates a very strong interest in the U.S. Hotel/Restaurant and foodservice Equipment Dealmaker at HostEx '98 in Toronto.

Mission Goals

The goal of the U.S. Hotel/Restaurant and Foodservice Equipment Dealmaker is to assist U.S. small and medium-sized firms with their trade development in Canada by providing them professional business counseling and a cost-effective, low-risk, and hassle-free means to establish and develop valuable long-term business contacts in Canada, our number one export market.

Mission Scenario

The U.S. Hotel/Restaurant and Foodservice Equipment Dealmaker is a three-day trade mission to Toronto, Canada on October 18-20. For a fee of US$750, participating U.S. firms will benefit from a full range of business facilitation services and logistical support provided by the U.S. Commercial Service in Toronto.

The mission program will begin with a briefing on local economic and business conditions as well as hospitality/food service industry trends. Following the briefing, mission members will participate in two days (October 19-20) of pre-arranged, one-on-one, business meetings with pre-qualified prospective trade partners. Each mission member will have a meeting area with table and chairs, also suitable for exhibiting table-top and/or pop-up displays. Off-site meetings may also be scheduled as appropriate. Mission members will also receive free admission to the HostEx '98 trade show and will have an opportunity to network with exhibitors and visitors to the trade show. Pending negotiations with HostEx '98, the Commercial Service may also have a Business Information Office (BIO) on the trade show floor where mission members' literature and small product samples could be displayed. The Commercial Service will also provide mission members with logistical support throughout the mission and will provide follow-up support to help mission members realize their trade objectives in the Canadian market.

Timetable

Recruitment for the U.S. Hotel/Restaurant and Foodservice Equipment Dealmaker will begin with the release of this mission statement and publication of this announcement in the U.S. Federal Register. To ensure a high quality program for each mission member, participation will be limited to the first ten qualified firms that register for the event on a first-come first-served basis.

Recruitment Start: Immediately

Registration Ends: September 18, 1998

Mission Members Arrive: October 18, 1998 (Preview HostEx '98)

Dealmaker Program Begins: October 19, 1998

Dealmaker Ends: October 20, 1998

Follow-up: As long as required

Recruitment and Criteria for Participation

Recruitment for the U.S. Hotel/Restaurant and Foodservice Equipment Dealmaker will be conducted in cooperation with our U.S. Export Assistance Centers throughout the United States, individual state offices of international trade and commerce, and all relevant U.S. multipliers and trade associations. The Commercial Service in Toronto will also publicize this event by e-mail, direct mail and, in some cases, through video conferencing with prospective participants. Information on the U.S. Hotel/Restaurant and Foodservice Equipment Dealmaker is also available on the Internet, including CS Canada's home page, http://www.ita.doc.gov/cscanada, and will be listed in a Federal Register notice.

The criteria for participation are as follows:

• relevance of the company's business line to mission goals;
• potential for business in selected manufacturing markets;
• timeliness of the company's completed application/ registration material and payment of the mission participation fee;
• provision of adequate information on the company's products and/or services and communication of the company's primary objectives;
• certification that the company meets the Department's guidelines for participation
• goods and services promoted in this Dealmaker must be at least 51% U.S. content.

Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Contact Information

Rita Patlan
Project Manager
U.S. Commercial Service, Toronto
480 University Avenue, Suite 602
Toronto, ON M5G 1V2

Tel: 416/595-5412, ext. 223
Fax: 416/595-5419
E-mail: rita.patlan@mail.doc.gov