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2020 NACC Conference Update

NACC Members,

The NACC Executive Board have been closely monitoring the Coronavirus situation that has affected the country. In the best interest of our members, the NACC Executive Board has decided to postpone the NACC Annual Conference in June 2020.

The UNLV staff has graciously agreed to host again in June 2021. Once we have more information regarding the June 2021 conference, we will send that information to the membership.

If reservations have been made at the South Point Hotel and Casino, please contact room reservations directly at 866-791-7626 to cancel your room reservation.

While we will not see you at our annual conference, we are working on different options to stay connected with our membership.

We thank you for your understanding during this difficult time. The health and well-being of our members and their families are important to us. Take care and hope to see you all in Las Vegas in June 2021. 

Thanks,
Chuck Aldridge
NACC Executive Director

2020 NACC Conference

Dear NACC Members,

The NACC Executive Board is closely monitoring the COVID 19 situation that’s impacting many sporting events and conferences across the country.

As of today, we plan to move forward with the 2020 NACC Conference hosted by UNLV from June 16- 18.

The NACC Executive Board will continue monitoring the situation with the COVID 19. If anything changes, we will make notifications to our members as soon as possible.

Thank you,

NACC Executive Board

Concessions Tip November 2019

Expect The Unexpected

By: Shawn Corr, UNLV

When I was sitting and listening to the presentation on Evacuation Procedures at the Penn State conference, it made me think back to the article that I started to write about a year ago. Still not quite what I was looking for, but it explains what we are thinking whenever we have an event going on.

October 1^st, 2017 is a day that changed Las Vegas Forever. Route 91 Harvest Festival did everything right, from bag checks to metal detectors. Everything that they could control was handled. Even with all these precautions, chaos ensued. The response was chaotic, heroic, and calculated.

Whether it is a football game of over 100 thousand or a concert of under 10,000, you always want events to run flawless and never expect something to happen. This is something that is always in the back of your mind, and you have an idea of what you need to do, but in the words of Prussian Commander Helmuth von Meltke “No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy”. Mike Tyson simplified this a bit when he said, “Everybody has a plan until I hit them”. How would your plan work? Have you thought of all of the things that are needed? Is everybody on the same page and know the plan?

Commanders intent describes the desired end goal. You need to empower your staff with the end goal, but realize that the best laid plans may not get you to the goal, if obstacles appear. Does your staff have the ability and empowerment to change the plan to get to the intended finish?

I never want to have to use an evacuation plan, and hope that nobody else has to either, but that is not reality in our modern world. We can only control what is in our circle, but we need to know how to deal with what we cannot control. Bottom line is that product and money is replaceable, but human life is not and we need to ensure that what we do helps to save lives when needed.

Concession Tip July 2019

Make the Health Department your Best Friend

By: Chris Lauber, University of North Dakota at R.E Arena

When I talk to concessions managers or people in food service about the health department, I usually get negative responses. People tend to dislike the heath inspector and complain they are mean and are out to get you. I know from experience people dislike when the inspector shows up because they know they are not doing everything correctly. If your operation was in complete compliance you should have no concerns when they show up.

From my experience, the health department inspector should be your best friend and if somehow it was possible, I would have them at all my events. Most inspectors don't want to give you a bad score, they are there to insure your operation is not endangering the public. If they see a concern they most likely want to educate you on the situation so that you can correct it. I will admit, there are some bad inspectors out there. Here in the great north, I work closely with my health inspector. In fact he has called me once to ask how I was doing something for the other arena in town. Just this week, I called my inspector to ask about a new food item and the holding unit temperature. After telling him my concerns and providing some information from the vender, my health inspector gave me the go ahead. If I started selling this item without his approval, once he came to inspect I would have been cited and had to then try to change his mind, however because I was proactive we are already good to go. He is shocked I call him for advice as no one in town takes the time to do it.

So, call your health inspector now and start building a positive relationship with them. It will pay off in the end for both you and them.