24th Annual American Express Restaurant Trade Program Features The Industry's Best And Brightest At The FOOD & WINE Classic In Aspen, June 13-15, 2013

ASPEN, Colo., June 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrated chefs, restaurant operators and leading hospitality industry professionals will gather at the historic Hotel Jerome in Aspen from June 13-15, 2013, for the 24th annual American Express Restaurant Trade Program.  The American Express Restaurant Trade Program is an exclusive feature of the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen.  This year's Restaurant Trade Program will consist of three panels and two interactive workshops offering best practices and insights from some of the country's brightest culinary stars, as well as valuable networking opportunities. 

"American Express is committed to providing the restaurant industry with the necessary insights to help build their businesses year-round through initiatives like the Restaurant Trade Program," said Stephanie Chadwick, Vice President of the Restaurant Merchant Services Group at American Express.  "As an ongoing advocate and business partner to the restaurant industry, American Express is proud to present the Trade Program – a unique experience celebrating the individuals who shape this sector." 

The Restaurant Trade Program kicks off Friday, June 14, at Aspen's Hotel Jerome with two panels moderated by Steve Dolinsky (Food Reporter, ABC 7 News in Chicago; Founder, Culinary Communication):

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

• Employee Relations: Recruit, Train & Retain (12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.) will feature Rick Bayless (Chef and Owner, Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, XOCO), Danny Meyer (CEO and Founder, Union Square Hospitality Group), Gretchen Selfridge (Restaurant Support Officer, Chipotle Mexican Grill) and Bobby Stuckey (Owner, Frasca Food and Wine).  Whether it's driving employee loyalty or engagement, our panelists will discuss key tools and techniques on how to improve sales and profit margins through employee relations.

• The Power of Partnerships: Cause Marketing (1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.) will be led by panelists Jose Andres (Chef and Owner, ThinkFoodGroup), David Gordon (President, The Cheesecake Factory Inc.), Marc Murphy (Chef and Owner, Benchmarc Restaurants [Landmarc + Ditch Plains], Benchmarc Events) and Marcus Samuelsson (Chef and Owner, Red Rooster Harlem, Ginny's Supper Club; Author, Yes, Chef; Founder, FoodRepublic.com); the panel will examine how partnering with charitable organizations has benefited their business and financial bottom line, as well as share best practices for choosing the right strategic partnership. 

The Restaurant Trade Program will continue on Saturday, June 15, with one panel moderated by Steve Dolinsky and two interactive workshops:

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

• Decoding the Web: How to Harness the Power of the Internet (9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.) will feature Grant Achatz (Chef and Owner, Alinea, Next, The Aviary), Richard Blais (Chef and Owner, FLIP Burger Boutique, HD-1, Juniper & Ivy, The Spence; Author, Try This At Home; Founder, TrailBlais) and Mike Church (Vice President, Interactive Ecosystem).  These panelists will share insights on communicating information across multiple digital platforms within the restaurant industry and how this is changing the way to interact with customers.

Workshops:

• Behind the Scenes: Breaking into Broadcast (1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.) will feature Steve Dolinsky (Food Reporter, ABC 7 News in Chicago; Founder, Culinary Communication), Susan Feniger (Chef and Co-owner, STREET; Co-owner, Border Grill Restaurants and Truck; Author, Susan Feniger's Street Food: Irresistibly Crispy, Creamy, Crunchy, Spicy, Sticky, Sweet Recipes), Ming Tsai (Chef and Owner, Blue Ginger, Blue Dragon) and Andrew Zimmern (Chef and Owner, AZ Canteen; Host, Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World, Bizarre Foods America).  Attendees will learn best practices for making the most of broadcast segments, then have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on cooking demo that will be videotaped and reviewed with the experts.

• Back to Basics: Social Media Fundamentals (1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.) will feature John Besh (Chef and Owner, August, Besh Steak House, Luke; Author, My New Orleans, My Favorite Table) and Chris Cosentino (Chef and Owner, Incanto, Boccalone Artisanal Salumeria; Author, Beginnings: My Way to Start a Meal; Founder, Offal Good).  Join this interactive workshop to learn from the pros how to navigate important social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and others.

About American Express

American Express is proud to present the 24^th annual Restaurant Trade Program at the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen.  American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.  For more than 30 years, American Express has assisted in efforts to enhance the growth of the restaurant industry by creating and implementing programs designed to benefit restaurateurs.  American Express also supports the restaurant community through sponsorships and commitments to a diverse range of industry organizations.

Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/companies/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress. 

Key links to products and services:  charge and credit cards, business credit cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, business travel, and corporate card

Note to Editors:
For more information on the 2013 American Express Restaurant Trade Program, please visit foodandwine.com/classic.

Media Contacts:
American Express
William Tsang
212-640-0933
[email protected]

Baltz & Company for American Express Restaurant Trade Program
Sarah Abell
917-584-8567
[email protected]

SOURCE American Express