The Hospital Caterers Association returned to Harrogate in March, 2011 for their annual conference after a 13 year absence.
With the organisation of the event rotating through the 17 regional branches, the event has historically moved locations to the host region. 2011 saw the HCA returning to Harrogate on 8th and 9th March, but this time utilising the Harrogate International Centre, due to the event’s growth.
Andrea Dalton from HCA said: “As the HCA’s event has grown we have continued to seek new venues to meet the needs of our event. The Harrogate International Centre was an ideal choice and this year’s event proved to be a great success. Delegates came from all over the UK to the event, with numbers increasing once again. The exhibition hall in particular looked fantastic and its location next to the Royal Hall was ideal.”
Harrogate International Centre’s Alison Griffin said: “The continued growth and development of the centre during our long history has allowed us to take on more and more ambitious events over time. With conference spaces capable of seating 2,000 people and exhibition space in excess of 16,500 sqm, we are once again moving forward in 2011, with the addition of our two new event halls. Such developments ensure we appeal to an ever widening range of potential clients and organisers.”
The Lean and Green theme of the 2011 HCA event is particularly appropriate to HIC, which is expected to achieve an ‘Excellent’ rating under BREEAM (British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) – the leading measure of a building’s environmental performance.
Founded in 1948, the HCA is a national organisation with branches in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The aims and objectives of the Association focus on the promotion and improvement of the standards of catering in hospitals and healthcare establishments in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and elsewhere; the education and training of persons in healthcare catering services, and the provision and improvement of the professional interests and status of those engaged in healthcare catering services.
The delegates were made up from healthcare catering managers, hotel services and facilities professionals and suppliers, nutritionists and dieticians, representatives from the Department of Health, NPSA, LACA, NACC and other interested parties, who are all decision makers, working at a high level within their organisations.