Event Spotlight: Best Friends National Conference

BEST FRIENDS NATIONAL CONFERENCE SHOWCASE THE POSSIBILITIES OF VEGAN CUISINE

The Best Friends National Conference called Cobb Galleria Centre and the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel home this July for four days of education and networking. Held at the convention center for the first time, the attendance of 1,500 exceeded organizer expectations and generated over 1,200 room nights.

Animal welfare leaders and nonprofit experts from all across the country came together to gain the knowledge, tools, and inspiration to help Save Them All. Most of the attendees were vegan, giving our culinary team the opportunity to showcase their creativity in developing the menus for nearly 20 hosted food functions.

“As an animal welfare organization, Best Friends always strives to serve food at our events that has the least impact possible on animals,” said Cathie Myers, Senior National Events Specialist for the Best Friends Animal Society. “On-menu, plant-based food options from convention centers can be tough to find, so we’re always dependent on the Chef and staff being open to new ideas. It takes some creative thinking in order to serve food that not only meets our ethical standards, but is also pleasing to our palates. Chef (Nick) Walker and his team created a wonderful series of buffet-style menus that not only met our stated goals, but also had our attendees raving.”

To learn more about Best Friends, please visit bestfriends.org.