50 reasons to visit Hospitality 2007
It's the buzziest, busiest and biggest hospitality show of the year - but if you need any other reasons to visit Hospitality 2007, read on…
1. It's the biggest dedicated event for the hospitality industry this year. Taking place from 22-24 January at the NEC, Birmingham, it's the show you need to visit if you want to get down to business.
2. Check out more than 350 exhibitors with new product launches and exciting stand features.
3. Find new suppliers, or just chat about future possibilities.
4. There are three dedicated seminar theatres focusing on careers, technology and the HCIMA's small business seminars.
5. The all-new Salon Culinaire.
6. The Speciality Food Pavilion, where you can taste, see and smell a vast range of new and unusual foods from a variety of large and small companies.
7. Four dedicated areas to help you find exactly what you need to see: Catering Equipment Interiors, Exteriors and Tableware Food & Drink and Hostec.
8. It's easy to get to from all areas of the country.
9. The perfect networking opportunity - everyone who is anyone will be there.
10. The Compass-sponsored Live Theatre will see top chefs battle it out over the three days to gain a coveted Salon Gold medal.
11. The Salon Display will appeal to the artist in you - from works in fat through to plated buffets.
12. Fine-dining restaurant La Parade des Chefs will be at the heart of the show. Jointly sponsored by Welsh Beef & Lamb and Delice de France, it will play host to brigades from three Michelin-starred establishments: Simpsons, Edgbaston Gleneagles and Claridge's. To reserve your place, visit www.hospitalityshow.co.uk and click on La Parade.
13. See the chef brigade from Manchester United take on eight other teams, including Chelsea, in the Major International Culinary Challenge.
14. Expand your knowledge of ethnic cuisine by watching competitors battle it out to be named Tilda Chef of the Year.
15. Get "A Passion to Inspire", thanks to the Steelite International-sponsored cooking competition, which will be held in the Live Theatre.
16. Not to be missed is the Rational Master Chefs Grand Prix, where teams of top chefs battle it out to be crowned number one.
17. The Skillery, hosted by the Craft Guild of Chefs, will see chefs push the boundaries of culinary art as they demonstrate new twists and innovative ideas in culinary excellence. The varied programme, designed to appeal to chefs at all levels of the industry, reflects the diverse nature of the sector today.
18. Haydon Groves, Avenance executive chef at Lloyd's of London, will highlight the skills that saw him win the coveted Contract Caterer Award 2006 (23 January at 3.45pm).
19. Matt Orr, chef at M&J Seafood, will give a filleting masterclass (23 January at 10am).
20. Tom Kerridge, chef-patron of the Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, will demonstrate a range of techniques that helped him to win the Pub Chef Award 2006 (22 January at 1.45pm).
21. The four UK finalists in the World Skills Competition, will showcase their talents (23 January at 1.45pm).
22. The HCIMA Small Business Seminars, sponsored by British Gas Business, where more than 15 seminars across the three days will provide visitors with expert advice and guidance on specialised areas of the hospitality industry's thriving small business community. And they're free.
23. Mad Hatter's Tea Party - a discussion panel hosted by the HCIMA and Arena to look at issues surrounding Fairtrade (22 January at 3.45pm).
24. The fashion of food - a look at nutrition and food trends for the future (23 January at 10.30am).
25. A seminar on sustainability - the future generation of our produce (24 January at 2pm).
26. Build it and they will come - making your online marketing activities work for you (24 January at 10.15am).
27. Finding the right partner - a look at product-matching in the spa industry (22 January at 10.30am).
28. Retention and recruitment are two of the most challenging issues facing companies and employers in the hospitality and leisure industry. For employees, Careers in Hospitality will be the perfect place to highlight your skills and discuss possible future opportunities with leading organisations including Mark Warner, Four Pillars Hotels, Thistle Hotels and Compass Group.
29. The sight, sound and smell of the perfect espresso or cappuccino will never be far away on 24 January as Hospitality hosts the regional finals of the UK Barista Championships, sponsored and supported by the UKBC. Marvel at the skills of professional baristas and get ideas as they work their magic.
30. The GS Magazine-sponsored Design Showcase will give you inspirations and ideas for interior and exterior design projects. Two creations will be at the heart of the stand…
31… the first, by architects Scape Design Associates, will incorporate an undercover bar, which could help to overcome the forthcoming smoking ban…
32… the second showpiece is designed by United Designers and will reveal how a boutique hotel's lobby can be far more than just an area to walk through.
33. The Hostec Marketplace will show more than 60 leading suppliers demonstrating the latest technology solutions from front-desk booking systems through to table-ordering and Wi-Fi.
34. The Hostec seminars will run in the dedicated Seminar Theatre across the three days and will feature many real-life case studies presented by leading exhibitors. The area will be the perfect location to chat through problems, ideas or issues with leading professionals.
35. The newly announced Hostec Technology Conference on 23 January will cover all those burning IT issues and bring together senior-level executives in the hospitality industry for a dynamic day of strategic education and networking. Admission is £75 a head.
36. The British Contract Furnishing Association will showcase the best in furniture and furnishings design.
37. See the latest Vad chair from Lesco (stand 864/6), which boasts formal cleanliness and sinuous lines, a tribute to the tradition of the Scandinavian masters. Vad is produced using certified Polygiene technology, rendering the seat antibacterial.
38. The Lindale large sofa fixed-back settee combines style, elegance and luxury and has a coil-sprung base, fibre-filled back cushions and foam-filled seat cushions. The frame is a hardwood frame, dowelled screwed and glued (White & Newton, stand 864/7).
39. Equilibrium carpet tiles from InterfaceFLOR (stand 864/5) offer the perfect colour co-ordinated balance between modern flooring needs and stylish design. This range of popular, highly textured carpet tiles now has an extended range of 24 exciting colourways.
40. The new Probax chair from Sky Creations (stand 864/4) is described as more comfortable than an ordinary office chair and has greater "sit-ability", allowing the user to remain at their desk, concentrating for longer, thus increasing productivity.
41. Speciality Breads (stand SP161) will launch its new thaw-and-serve merende breads in the Speciality Food Pavilion. Described as similar to Spanish tapas and Greek meze, they are perfect for dipping in oils and vinegars, or as canapés and buffet breads.
42. Mighty Leaf Tea (stand SP153) will allow visitors to taste its new range of nine Wellness infusions for the spa market as well as its six sumptuous chocolate dessert teas.
43. Leading organic producer Doves Farm (stand SP151) will display its newly designed healthy snack range specifically packaged for the food service industry. The products, which include flapjacks, cereal bars and gluten-free biscuits and waffles, are ideal to meet the growing consumer demand for organic, Fairtrade and free-form alternatives.
44. Leave your name at the Steelite International stand and you could win a table-setting for 100 people, including the finest Steelite china, exclusive fine crystal stemware, and unique stylish cutlery worth more than £6,000. The competition is open only to visitors to Hospitality 2007, so what better reason to attend than having the chance to re-equip your establishment with some of the finest tableware in the industry.
45. The Tea Lounge will illustrate why tea is still the nation's favourite beverage. With representation from brands including Tetley, Tea Pigs and Cafédirect, the area will be a haven for all those who know about the benefits of serving a decent cuppa, and will also feature many speciality blends, as well as new products such as chai and white tea.
46. There are more than 100 catering equipment companies waiting to demonstrate their latest products. From the first knife-sharpener for both serrated and smooth blades, through to the smallest combination oven - whatever your equipment needs, Hospitality 2007 will have it.
47. Exhibits from more than 120 food and drink companies will be available to taste, touch and smell.
48. Whether it's new tablecloths or a complete interior makeover, Hospitality will provide everything a budding designer could need. More than 80 companies will highlight new colours, styles and ideas.
49. Technology changes by the minute, rather than the year, and therefore the 50-plus companies in the Hostec marketplace will be critical contacts as new software develops, and hardware becomes even more important to your business.
50. And, finally, the main reason why you should be there: Hospitality 2007 is the largest dedicated event for your industry. Whether you're a CEO, manager, chef, receptionist, waiter, bartender or IT specialist, whether you're front of house or back of house, customer-facing or not, Hospitality 2007 is the greatest chance this year to see the latest developments and learn up-to-the minute skills.
