Photos & Video: Butterfield & Vallis Trade Show

October 19, 2016

The Food Service Division of Butterfield & Vallis held a trade show today [Oct 19] in the Harbour View Ballroom at the Hamilton Princess.

The event was opened by Bill Hanbury , CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, with more than 40 suppliers from overseas in attendance. The theme for this year’s show was “Get Prepared” for the 2017 America’s Cup.

Chief Operating Officer Spencer Butterfield said, “Welcome to the seventeenth annual Butterfield & Vallis Food Service Division food show.

“We’re excited to have with us close to 40 of our top suppliers, showcasing everything from the daily necessities to the latest in today’s food trends. Whether that be proteins, produce, paper products and everything in between.

“We’re all aware that Bermuda’s an upscale market. Whether it’s local clientele or an executive entertaining a business lunch or spouse for dinner, we’re proud to provide chefs with the ingredients to produce the creative dishes that you see on menus all across the island.

“Our theme today is preparation. As we’re anticipating increased volumes and highly specific needs. We’re encouraging the hospitality industry to be proactive in their readiness for the crowds that will undoubtedly be drawn to Bermuda for the spectacular America’s Cup racing in June of next year.”

CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority Bill Hanbury said, “Butterfield and Vallis is a terrific corporate citizen for our island country. They don’t know how to say no. Every time you ask them to do something, they always say yes, and I’m really grateful.

“The theme of this year’s trade show is be prepared. It’s actually a very appropriate motto for some things that we need to be prepared for.

“One, the industry, the tourism industry needs to be prepared because I’m happy to tell you that the tourism economy is finally recovering after many, many years of decline. We’ve seen 2016 as a very solid year for tourism growth and we think the future’s going to be even better.

“Matter of fact, vacation air arrivals are year-to-date up fourteen percent. That’s an incredible number. We’ve seen solid increases in hotel occupancy, job creation and economic impact for tourism. These are the best numbers in close to ten years and honestly, the entire island, I think, can feel that sense of energy that’s coming out of the tourism economy.

“The future looks even brighter. We should close out 2016 with a flurry and actually further increase on the numbers that we’ve already put up on the score board. We’re very, very excited about that.

“Honestly, this double digit growth we’re seeing is better than any other Caribbean nation and any other destination on the east coast. We ought to be really, really proud of that.

“Team effort from people like Butterfield and Vallis, in the hotels, our restaurants, our attractions are all doing really good work. We’re now predicting that 2017 will mirror some of Bermuda tourism’s glory days of the past. I want to say that again, mirror some of the glory days of the past.

“There will be no shoulder season in 2017. We anticipate that tourism workers will continue to be employed in a time that was a once dreaded downturn in the economy.

“My message about Bermuda and the reviving tourism economy is be prepared. Be prepared to enjoy the ride as we go back to being one of the preeminent luxury tourism destinations in the world.

Also, we need to be specifically prepared for America’s Cup, and Spencer mentioned it, in May and June 2017. I know the team, the Butterfield and Vallis team are working hard preparing for what will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for Bermuda.

“This is our Superbowl, our Wembley. This is our World Cup. We fully intend to take maximum advantage of that opportunity.

“What we’ve done with America’s Cup is it’s taken us to places we could never go on our own. Bermuda could never go to the places that America’s Cup is taking us. We’re not going to disappoint. I assure you, we will not disappoint.”

“Over that five week calendar, we’re actually expecting, I’m afraid to tell you these numbers, a lot of visitors. We’re going to see tens of thousands of air arrivals. We could see actually over 100,000 people arrive here by sea. Very, very scary numbers.

“I saw some of these numbers when we were at the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup events, the World Series events in Portsmouth and Chicago, New York. It actually was really quite extraordinary.”

Click to enlarge photos: