The Convention Industry Council is inviting all members of the event and meeting industry to participate in the APEX F&B Challenge by creating an original recipe for consideration by a panel of expert judges. Entries must be submitted by Sept. 29 in order to be considered. Further information and guidelines are online at APEX Challenge.

All entries will be highlighted on the CIC Web site. Throughout October, meeting and event planners, including the 75,000 planners who are members of CIC's member organizations, will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite entries. The entry from each category that receives the most votes will take home the "Planners Choice" Award.

"The APEX Challenge was created to present food and beverage professionals with a fun and creative way to support APEX," said Mary Power, president and CEO of CIC. "With 100 percent of all entry fees for the Challenge supporting the development of accepted practices through the Accepted Practices Exchange, participants are contributing to the future of the industry while being recognized for their talents.”

APEX is an ongoing drive to create standard practices in the event and meeting industry.

The Convention Industry Council's 31 member organizations represent more than 98,000 individuals and 15,000 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry. Formed in 1949 to provide a forum for member organizations seeking to enhance the industry, the CIC facilitates the exchange of information, develops programs to promote professionalism within the industry, and educates the public on its profound economic impact. In addition to the APEX initiative, the CIC is also responsible for the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program. Other programs include Project Attrition and the CIC Economic Impact Study.