On Friday, March 31, The Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association hosted its annual Bacchus Bash to benefit hospitality education through the CFHLA Foundation. Held at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, the 2017 Bacchus Bash featured over 20,000 attendees and earned $108,000 to provide scholarships and grants to area hospitality students and schools.
Guests enjoyed a night of food, fun and continuous live entertainment throughout the outlet mall, along with a fabulous silent auction of over 150 items. Forty local hotels and restaurants participated in Bacchus Bash, offering samples of their best food and drinks and competed for various awards including:
Best Original Drink – Caribe Royale Orlando – Jugo Lunatico
Best Menu Item – Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport – Kalbi Brisket
Best Dessert Item – JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes – Coconut and Chocolate Parfait
Best Presentation Original Drink – CFHLA Engineers’ Council – Transfusion
Best Presentation Menu Item – B-Line Diner/Hyatt Regency Orlando – Chicken & Biscuits
Best Presentation Dessert Item – Orlando World Center Marriott – Green Tea Profiteroles
Most Creative Booth – CFHLA Engineers’ Council – The Walking Dead
Most Interactive Booth – Paramount Hospitality Management – Disco
People’s Choice Award – Paramount Hospitality Management
CFHLA would like to offer a special thank you to this year’s Bacchus Bash Leadership Team, Chairman Louis Robbins, President & CEO, Key Performance Hospitality Management and Vice Chairs, Steve Cadaret, General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton located in the Disney Springs Resort Area; Bill Friedrich, General Manager, Embassy Suites Orlando International Drive/Convention Center; Rod O’Connor, General Manager, Avanti Resort Orlando; and Brian Wong, General Manager, Celebration Suites Hotel.
CFHLA recognizes Coco Cola Beverages Florida for serving as the Bacchus Bash Platinum Sponsor.
Photo caption: CFHLA Board Chairman David Bartek with the Loews Hotel Bacchus Bash booth.