The FRLAEF is excited to announce the 12th Annual ProStart Culinary Team Competitions will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Hall F on February 24 and 25.  The Rosen Plaza Hotel will be our host hotel for this event.  They are providing a room rate of $129 per night or $146.58 (including taxes).  The Rosen Plaza is located directly across from Hall F.  It is a very short walk to the Convention Center. 

Please note that the Orlando Pool and Spa event along with the NBA All Star Weekend will take place at the same time as our competition.  These events will make parking at the convention center extremely limited and challenging.  That is one of the reason we selected the Rosen Plaza since you can walk to the Convention Center from there.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

The final competition schedule will be determined by January 13.  Our intent is to start at 11 AM on Friday, February 24.  That way teams can travel to Orlando on Friday morning.  On Saturday, February 25 we intend to start by 8:30 AM.  The schedule will be finalized after the competing teams are finalized.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

The Rosen Plaza hotel rooms are being held on a space available basis.  They are providing a room rate of $129 per night or $146.58 (including taxes).  The room rate is being held under the "Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association."  To access this rate, you must use the group name when making your reservation.  The current room rate online is $255.67 so you want to make your reservation using our group.  You can access the room block until February 3.  However, the room rate is only available if the hotel is not full.  We recommend you make your hotel reservations today.  You have until February 15 to make changes or cancel your reservation.  All reservations require a deposit of one room night and tax.  To contact the hotel, please call 800-627-8258.

SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARDS

The Salute to Excellence Awards (formerly held in conjunction with the FRLA Show) will take place on Saturday, February 25 at 6 PM at the Rosen Plaza Hotel.  The awards dinner will recognize all ProStart Competition, Pineapple Award, Scholarship recipients and Hospitality Excellence Awards winners.  The FRLAEF will cover the cost for all competing students and instructors.  All award recipients will also be able to attend the Salute to Excellence free of charge.  If you have guests interested in attending the awards dinner, the charge will be $60 per person.

STIPENDS

The FRLAEF will provide stipends to competing teams.  The stipend amount per school will be determined by the number of events you compete in.  Below is a breakdown of the stipend amount received.  The stipend check will be sent to your school by January 13.  If you adjust the competitions your team competes in after you receive the check, you will owe FRLAEF the difference.

4 Competitions (Gourmet Meal, Management, Edible Centerpiece and Waiters Relay)

$586.32 - Equivalent to 4 hotel room nights at the Rosen Plaza. 

3 Competitions

$439.74 - Equivalent to 3 hotel room nights at the Rosen Plaza. 

2 Competitions

$293.16 - Equivalent to 2 hotel room nights at the Rosen Plaza. 

1 Competition

$146.58 - Equivalent to 1 hotel room nights at the Rosen Plaza.

APPLICATION

In order to compete, you must complete the competition application which can be found here.  For your application to be eligible you must return your Fully Implemented paperwork along with your Fall Survey.