HOTELEX Shanghai 2013 Sneak Peek

SHANGHAI, Jan. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As one of the largest exhibitions in the hospitality industry with the highest standards, HOTELEX Shanghai is consistently concerned about innovation and green concepts. HOTELEX Shanghai 2013 will run from April 1st to 3rd at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC). The exhibition contains ten differently themed sectors including Catering Equipment & Supply, Bakery, Tableware, Textile, Appliance & Amenities, IT & Security, Fitness & Leisure, Food & Beverage, Coffee & Tea and Wine & Spirits.

(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2013/01/14/20130114171601873289.html)
(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2013/01/14/20130114171559214908.html)

HOTELEX Shanghai 2013 will occupy the entire 11 halls with an exhibition area of 160,000 SQM, which is significantly larger, 32% larger, in fact, than 2012. International pavilions such as Italy, Spain, USA, Germany and Japan will gather at the show along with 1,500 industry leading brands. At present, 94.8% of the show's sales target has been reached.

HOTELEX Shanghai continues to inspire valuable dialogue and leverage industry standards through an unrivalled blend of forums, seminars, top-notch industry competitions and match-making sessions.

The Authoritative Voice of the Hospitality & Food Industry

HOTELEX Shanghai has always kept a strong relationship with industry associations and industry opinion leaders in China, such as the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, the China Tourist Hotel Association, the Zhejiang Hotel Association, Shanghai Tourism Trade Association Hotels Branch, the Foodservice Consultants Society International and the Shanghai Junior Chefs Club.

In addition, the China Tourist Hotel Association will help organize a VIP delegation composed of around 500 general managers from existing high star hotels and hotels under construction including Accor Group, InterContinental Hotels Group, Starwood Hotels, Jin Jiang International, China Wanda Group and Greenland Group. Some of them will be invited as keynote speakers at HOTELEX IPA match-making meetings to have direct face-to-face conversations with suppliers around the nation.

Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI) is the premier association promoting professionalism in foodservice and hospitality consulting. FCSI received numerous positive accolades in 2011 & 2012, and now FCSI is coming back to HOTELEX in 2013 to showcase products and concepts that represent the future. FCSI is always looking for extreme, futuristic ideas demonstrating its leading role in the foodservice industry. Meanwhile, an "Ask the Expert" themed area will be set up on-site and seasoned members from Europe, Africa and the Middle East will share their experience and provide the most popular green energy-saving products and solutions.

Ideas from Industry and Opinion Leaders

Professional guests are undoubtedly an essential part of the forums and a competitive advantage of HOTELEX. For 2013, HOTELEX has managed to invite those industry opinion leaders and trend setters to share and inform. The "Foodservice in the 21st Century" forum has a couple of industry pioneers to elaborate on how catering owners and operators can stand out from fierce market competition with distinguished service and futuristic concepts.

Jonathan Doughty, FCSI consultant since 1998 and Group Managing Director of FCSI EAME, provides an innovative strategy and approach to foodservice business owners/operator/investors on how to gain the competitive edge by not just becoming the best but also being different and standing out amongst your competitors in the industry.

World renowned, award-winning architect and a visionary designer Francois Tesniere will introduce his unique revolutionary concept in modular kitchen design and provide examples of his avant-garde kitchens, demonstrating the ultimate eco-friendly and eco-sustainable kitchen.

Furthermore, as a significant media partner of HOTELEX, FERMAG magazine will send eminent speaker candidates, such as Don Fisher from Fisher-Nickel and Jane Gannaway from Yum! China, who have both dedicated themselves to the foodservice industry for decades. Their topics, "Designing & Operating an Energy Efficient Restaurant" and "Yum! China E3: Energy, Environment and Economics", are something to look forward to.

Meanwhile, Tony Wang from Beijing Junchao Kitchen Project & Design, the first Chinese FCSI consultant, will elaborate on "Modern Kitchen Enhancing the Chinese Taste Buds" and offer tailor-made suggestions to Chinese foodservice owners.

Fascinating Industry Competitions for Top-notch Contenders

The China Barista Championship (CBC) is an exclusive professional competition authorized by World Barista Championship (WBC). It has become a showcase for rising young coffee professionals in China. CBC has marched into its 11th year with 24 division competitions covering the East, North, and Southwest regions of China. Champions representing 24 division competitions will gather at HOTELEX Shanghai to battle it out for the exclusive spot to compete at WBC 2013.

Additionally, HOTELEX Shanghai 2013 will showcase the China Master Bartender Competition as well, which is a professional competition initiated by the most authoritative bartender association in the nation. 2012's Shanghai Bartender Championship attracted over 70 bartenders focusing on classic and flair bartending from all over the country and attracted over 10,000 visitors during the show.

What's more, the World Latte Art Championship and 2013 Gelato China Cup will each make their debut at HOTELEX Shanghai 2013.

Onsite Displays Raising The Bar for Industry Standards

Future trends of the hospitality industry will be more individual-oriented and add more personal touches when it comes customer experience. Details such as hotel uniforms and breakfast settings have never been that crucial to hotel management.

Partnering with the Shanghai Tourism Trade Association Hotels Branch, HOTELEX will feature the Hotel Uniform Show Competition and the Star Hotel Western Buffet Display Challenge in order to set trends and represent some of the best works in high star hotels. The 2013 Hotel Uniforms Show Competitions combines catwalks and skits to show the hotel uniform culture, whereas the Star Hotel Western Buffet Display Challenge will continue to showcase various buffet styles in a most refreshing perspective.

A Food Journey for the Most Discerning Taste Buds

Expo Finefood, one of the HOTELEX themed areas, has prepared an exotic onsite food journey for the most discerning taste buds.

Expo Finefood will work closely with famous Italian restaurant Casanova to create an authentic Italian food journey by showcasing top-tier Italian chefs and the best quality Italian food ingredients. Italian food has its own charm because of its unique cooking style and techniques. Audiences will have the chance to not only taste the authentic Italian food but also sample the Italian gourmet culture right at HOTELEX.

In 2013, HOTELEX will collaborate with the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office Shanghai Center to help put on an excellent show featuring top-notch USA food ingredients. It will exhibit at Expo Finefood as a USA Pavilion showcasing several USA agricultural products and associations in Hall E6. Meanwhile, with the purpose of introducing different varieties of USA food ingredients into Chinese restaurants, U.S. high-end food ingredients will be under the spotlight through the Taste of the United States 2013 - Asian Master Chef Challenge, featuring award-winning Chinese chefs.

For further information, please contact:

Alex Nee
Overseas Marketing Executive
Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co., Ltd.
T: +86-21-6437-1178*199
F: +86-21-6115-4998
E: alex.ni@ubmsinoexpo.com
W: www.hotelex.cn