50th Anniversary Bournemouth Hotel and Catering Exhibition

Historic Show Opens Its Doors Tomorrow 7-8th March 2006

Come and See One Of The Largest Traditional Cheddars Currently in Existence!

The historic 50th anniversary Bournemouth Hotel & Catering Exhibition opens its doors from tomorrow and will welcome thousands of visitors to the Bournemouth International Centre throughout Tuesday 7th - Wednesday 8th March 2006. The landmark event will be the most significant to date featuring new innovations, tasting opportunities, cookery demonstrations, new features, networking opportunities, and free business advice for visitors. It will also display one of the largest traditional cheddars currently in existence, weighing half a tonne, created in honour of the golden anniversary event by Ford Farm, a Dorset speciality cheese producer.

The two-day event will commemorate 50 years of hospitality in the south. Celebrity chef, Lesley Waters will officially open the event at 10.00am on 7th March and she will also be signing copies of her new book ‘New To Cooking' to help raise funds for the charity Hospitality Action.

Taking place in the fully refurbished halls of the Bournemouth International Centre, the landmark event will feature many special attractions. The Show's Bournemouth & Poole College Cookery Theatre, sponsored by Electrolux, will feature professional live cookery demonstrations with major celebrity and leading chefs in the industry, including Brian Turner, Anton Edelmann, Lesley Waters, and Peter Vaughan. The Café du Monde Gaggia Coffee Bar will also feature live demonstrations with Simon Robertson, three times World Barista Championships UK Champion, creating the perfect lattes and espressos.

Visitors can attend the HCIMA (Hotel and Catering International Management Association) Free Business Seminars, which will provide free advice for small hospitality operators to overcome their every day business problems.

The ‘naked' chefs, who have taken part in a daring 2007 charity calendar, will also make an appearance at the event and will sign calendars for visitors on the Hospitality Action charity stand. There will also be plenty of mouth-watering tasting opportunities for visitors within the Speciality Food and Drink areas.

The Exhibition's director, Anna Wallis of the CEM Group said, "We have pulled out all the stops to make this the most special, exciting, informative and inspirational event in its 50 year history, packed with features and benefits for all types of businesses in the sector."

To attend the event, visitors can pre-register at www.hotel-expo.co.uk or call 01425 485040.