Drawing tens of thousands of attendees and hundreds of exhibitors from more than 120 countries around the world, the annual Hotelex Shanghai trade show and conference at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) in Pudong, Shanghai, is one of the largest hospitality events in the world, and the best-attended event for the foodservice industry in the Asia Pacific region.
Positioned as a “one-stop purchasing platform” for the hospitality industry, Hotelex Shanghai features exhibitions by major hotel brands, equipment makers and management groups from China and other parts of the world, including Italy, Spain, Germany, Japan, the Middle East and the US. Hotelex also attracts extensive domestic and international media coverage with attendance by many leading consumer and industry outlets.
“Besides its size and comprehensive exhibitor profile, what distinguishes Hotelex from other similar shows is that it provides one of the most extensive product profiles in the industry, showcasing many different hospitality solutions under one roof in 10 themed categories,” says Zoi Fan, senior marketing manager for the Food & Hotel Group. Those categories include catering equipment and supply; bakery; tableware; appliances and amenities; textile and IT and security; fitness and leisure; food and beverage; coffee and tea; and wine and spirits.
This year’s Hotelex Shanghai is the biggest yet. Roughly 80,000 people are expected to attend, up from 68,811 last year. Conference organisers also expect to see about 1,500 exhibitors and 124 country representations, an increase from 1,245 exhibitors in 2012. Exhibit floor space has also expanded by about 30%, to 130,000 sq m.
The opening ceremony on the first day provides a chance to network with industry peers. A gala dinner for VIPs will follow the ceremony. For the rest of the three days, attendees may peruse exhibits in halls E1-E7 and N5-N2 at their leisure.
In a strategic alliance with FCSI’s Asia Pacific Division, the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration and the China Tourist Hotel Association, the show has maintained focus every year on low-carbon concepts, green innovation and sustainable designs. China’s tourism industry has developed rapidly in recent years with a 9.26% yearly growth rate and a market projected to reach RBM296bn in 2013. Home to 1,700 star-rated hotels and some of the tallest buildings in the world, China sets a global standard for innovative hospitality and building design.
“Hotelex Shanghai is concerned about the practice of innovative design and green concepts,” says Fan. “Accurate positioning and tailor-made service attracts well-known international brands and buyers from all over the world. The IPA Match-Making meeting, an annual Hotelex feature, offers face-to-face opportunities for suppliers to meet hotel owners, contractors and hotel project supervisors.”
Cutting-edge kitchens
The focus on green concepts is further highlighted by the annual FCSI APD’s 21st Century Kitchen exhibition. For the last two years, the exhibit has showcased innovative foodservice equipment and technologies, dedicated to addressing global environmental climate change and food supply issues. FCSI APD is also holding a public seminar on 2 April near the APD booth in Hall 4. The theme is foodservice in the 21st century. EAME chairman Jonathan Doughty FCSI will share an innovative strategy and approach he uses for his foodservice operators and investor clients to help them stand out. Other speakers include François Tesnière FCSI on the new innovative modular kitchen design to reduce energy usage, and maximise efficiency, and Tony Wang, FCSI on the latest trends in Chinese cuisine using western technologies. Many of the featured concepts and products incorporate designs intended to lower carbon emissions, reduce waste, water and energy, integrate greener food supplies and equipment, and more.
This year’s exhibit will be in Hall 4 of SNIEC. FCSI members have been invited to submit proposals for displaying their green innovations. A 2013 FCSI APD best innovation and technology award will be presented during the event.
The FCSI APD and Hotelex Shanghai strategic alliance has been a vital one for the show’s success. “FCSI is the premier association promoting professionalism in foodservice and hospitality consulting,” says Fan. “Together we can share, support and inspire each other as we learn about new technologies and concepts in the industry that broaden our horizons.”
Many world-class competitions will take place during the show, including the China barista championship, China national final, China latte art championship, China master bartender competition and the gelato China cup.
“Leading exhibitors will launch their latest products,” adds Fan. Those include the 2013 China hotel industry summit on Optimising Supplier Management and Cost Control, together with the sixth annual hotel professional executive international elite forum: High Quality Investment and Group Purchasing for Hotels. In addition, an international design team from Singapore, Hong Kong and China will set up four suites of sample hotel rooms on behalf of leading hotel brands to showcase some of the most advanced technology and modern designs in the industry. A group of Italian designers will create two additional model rooms.
Design for life
HDD (Hotelex + Design & Deco) is an annual trade fair dedicated to hospitality design, decorative solutions and affiliated products and materials. It caters for hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, clubs and other commercial spaces. Held with Hotelex Shanghai in the North Hall of the SNIEC, the fair, which spans 400,000 sq m, will draw an estimated 100,000 attendees and 2,800 exhibitors this year. The eight themed sectors are Hotelex Shanghai; expo build; ceramics China; expo light; China clean expo; hotel furniture; expo finefood and expo
coffee and tea.
FCSI APD at HOTELEX Shanghai 2013
FCSI members at Hotelex Shanghai are invited to the Asia Pacific Division annual general meeting and conference on Monday 1 April 2013 at 10am and 2pm respectively in SNIEC Hall 4, conference room M25, conference room 25. There will be a panel discussion on the use of cook chill applications to meet the rising demand of foodservice in China. A cocktail party at Crowne Plaza Century Park Shanghai from 6.30pm on Monday 1 April will wrap up the day. For the APD conference and cocktail event, please register at fcsi.org/?page=HotelexShanghai2013
On 2 April, FCSI APD will host a public education forum on Foodservice in the 21st Century in Hall 4, including sessions on The Revolutionary Modular Kitchen by François Tesnière FCSI and Plant Based Foods – The Environmental Connection by Clara Pi. The 2013 FCSI Asia Pacific Technology and Innovations Award Ceremony rounds off the forum. Pre-registration is required. For a full schedule, please go to hotelex.cn/Events/2013EventCalendar/FCSI/tabid/4871/language/en-US/Default.aspx
