RESTAURANT CONFERENCE CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST!?

Every other year the American Institute of CPAs puts on a restaurant conference. There is actually a lot to discuss and learn about restaurant accounting and taxation. The restaurant arena is constantly changing. We have ever changing tax laws, new employment rules and regs and the assertive SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) setting rules of how restaurant companies report their operations to the public. This stuff might put most people to sleep but it is critically important to the smooth and efficient functioning of one of the largest segments of our national economy. There are over 12 million people employed in the restaurant industry - not counting ancillary employment.

So 2010 is the year "on year" when the conference is to occur. But it has been cancelled for lack of interest; meaning not enough people paying $1 thousand a pop to attend. That is incredibly unfortunate for the restaurant industry. There is an amazing amount of misinformation and just bad practice committed by uninformed restaurant controllers, financial officers, accountants, etc.

What can be done to bring back the National Restaurant Conference? For one thing, stop trying to hold it in Las Vegas! Who in their right mind wants to go to Vegas in June when the temp is 110 degrees and watch a bunch of seniors lose their shirts at the slot machines? Try going back to Chicago and mesh it with the May Food Show. Accountants could get two birds/shows with one stone.

Tell me what you think. Is it good riddance or should we try to hold a regional restaurant conference? Anyone up for a Southeast Restaurant Conference?