By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

THE Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association is launching today its Pacific Hotel and Restaurant Expo, or PHARE, 2007 and Travel Trade Show.
A ribbon cutting ceremony is set for 10 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Guam. The three-day expo will run from Thursday, April 12, through Saturday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
GHRA said PHARE 2007 will be the venue where industry professionals can find the latest in technological innovations, in addition to products and services that meet the needs of today’s hotel, restaurant, tourism and military industries from a variety of regional and international businesses, government agencies and military approved vendors.
The first two days will exclusively be open to the exhibitors and vendors of PHARE as well as industry professionals. The third day will be open to the public.
Over 83 exhibitors will feature delicious food and beverage samplings, hourly door prizes, exhibitor drawings, contests, seminars and bartending and culinary competitions.
The PHARE 2007 will include:
* A Travel Trade Show component with exhibits from the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Kosrae Visitors Bureau, the Palau Visitors Authority represented by Sam’s Tours, Pacific Asia Travel Association, and Magnificent Micronesia. In addition, the Guam International Airport Authority and the Guam Visitors Bureau will be providing a mini-exhibit of the upcoming 40 years of tourism campaign, which will begin in May 2007;
* “Developing a Better Prepared Industry” seminar focusing on safety and security issues in the hospitality industry. The seminar is scheduled on Thursday, April 12, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at TJ’s, Hyatt Regency Guam. The PHARE 2007 seminar presenters include representatives from the Guam Homeland Security/ Office of Civil Defense, the Guam Police Department, Guam Fire Department and divisions of Citizens Corps including CERT and CAPE;
* A “Shaken Not Stirred” bartending competition sponsored by Smirnoff Original Vodka and distributed by ST Corporation, on Friday, April 13, at TJ’s at the Hyatt Regency Guam;
* “An EGGstra Special EGGstravaganza” professional culinary competition, sponsored by Quality Distributors, Fiji Water and the Micronesian Chef’s Association, on Friday, April 13, 2007 at 11 a.m. in the foyer area featuring nine professional chefs vying for the coveted first place, which comes with the title and trip to the Philippines courtesy of Continental Micronesia; and
* “Yahoo with Wahoo” student culinary competition, sponsored by Triple J Five Star Wholesale Foods, Fiji Water and Guam Community College/GPSS ProStart Culinary Academy, on Saturday, April 14, at 11 a.m.