Held at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, The Hospitality Show this year attracted over of 250 exhibitors and thousands of attendees. Taking place 19-21 January, the show’s central focus is ‘the best of British hospitality’ and features designated areas for hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafés, delis and the cost sector.
A variety of new products and services in food & drink, technology, catering equipment, interiors, tableware and careers are launched and showcased at the show.
This year’s show saw the introduction of Staff Canteen Live. Big name chefs, including local boys Luke Tipping from the Michelin-starred Simpsons restaurant in Birmingham and Richard Turner of Turners Birmingham, cooked in front of a packed crowd and offered practical advice on their culinary technique.
A Business Mentor programme proved to be a real success, with industry luminaries, including FCSI UK & Ireland chair Niccola Boyd-Stevenson FCSI and training expert Marcus Kilvington, hosting free one-to-one sessions with visitors throughout the show.
On the Business Briefing stage a ‘Design Forum’ session hosted by Jeremy Blake, UK chair of Purcell and featuring Neil Morten from GMP Design and MASS designer Clinton Pritchard was particularly well attended. The panel of designers cited the boom in wireless technology as well as the rapid uptake in LED lighting as two important trends to watch, while also highlighting the important qualities the design community brings to the table when working with foodservice clients.
“We designers are the catalyst, the force that can come in and bring influence and suggestions,” said Pritchard. “We can illustrate to clients the level of quality a customer is expecting, even on a subconscious level. We take into account the operational and functional needs and make sure it all works for the client.”
The show’s Star Product Awards saw the Orderella app crowned as the best new product in British hospitality. The app essentially turns a smartphone into a mobile waiter, providing customers with real time feedback about the status of their order. Managing director of show organiser, Fresh Montgomery, Toby Wand, praised Ordella’s ingenuity. “Congratulations to Orderella on delivering such a stunning innovation – one that, according to judges, will set the agenda for the next decade.”
The judges also gave special mentions to Gram’s SUPERIORPLUS 72 refrigeration cabinet for its revolutionary sustainable design and the VENTA modular buffet system by Signature FSE.
Michael Jones
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