The Hospitality Show returns to NEC Birmingham this January (19th-21st) to celebrate the very best of British hospitality.
Britain’s largest hospitality event of 2015 will showcase the newest business innovations, provide a platform for established and emerging companies to display their products and put more emphasis on the developing culinary world than ever before.
Best of British
This time around the core focus for the show is the ‘Best of British’ – a launch pad for everything new and great in British hospitality. Focus areas include: hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafés, delis and the cost sector, with the show providing a showcase for cutting edge products and services from the core fields of food & drink, technology, catering equipment, interiors, tableware and careers.
The show floor is the perfect place to network and do serious business, with the event consistently attracting high quality exhibitors and special guests sourced from across the industry.
Below are just some of the highlights that visitors can expect to see while at the show.
Get Face to Face with a Business Mentor
The Business Mentors are back and their skillsets are more diverse than ever. The highly popular scheme returns to The Hospitality Show offering show visitors the unique opportunity to book free 15-minute one-to-one sessions with some of the most varied and respected players in hospitality.
Are you stumped by social media? Food and drink menus in desperate need of a refresh? Do you want to learn how the right catering equipment could lower your bills? These are just some of the subjects on which The Hospitality’s dedicated Business Mentor team can offer guidance and advice.
The 2015 lineup includes: social media guru and Digital Blonde, Karen Fewell; Head of Innovation for Coup de Pates, Neville Moon; Chairman of CEDA (Catering Equipment Distributers Association) and Managing Director of Vision Commercial Kitchens,Jack Sharkey; hotel procurement expert, Gordon Anderson; drinks industry legend, Stuart Rosenblat; owner and founder of bar restaurant consultancy service Yuzu Hospitality, Steve Cash; Managing Director of Panache Consultancy and one of the top 100 most influential women in Britain’s hospitality, transport, travel and tourism sectors, Niccola Boyd-Stevenson; respected hospitality consultant, Stephen McManus; hotel profitability guru, Peter Hales; Chief Executive of the Institute of Hospitality, Peter Ducker; the outgoing Managing Director for the Gaucho group, Martin Williams; financial advisor, David Campbell; hotel management recruitment specialist, John Hunt and James Dilley, head of the hotel, hospitality and interior design teams at award-winning architecture and interiors practice Jestico + Whiles.
Visitors looking to benefit from 15 minutes with a Business Mentor can now book online at www.hospitalityshow.co.uk. Late appointments can also be taken at the show but advanced booking is advised as the sessions prove extremely popular.
Simon Rogan a Natural Showstopper
Culinary heavyweight Simon Rogan is set to bring The Hospitality Show to a fascinating close, with a not-to-be missed interview covering his burgeoning empire of restaurants and rise to prominence as one of Britain’s most unique and respected cooking talents.
At 1pm on the 21st January, day three of the show, the mercurial chef will take to the Business Briefing Stage for a look-back on his 25 years at the pass. Famed for the multi-award winning L’Enclume in Cartmel, Cumbria, he will talk about this as well as new openings The French and Mr Cooper’s House & Garden in Manchester’s Midland Hotel and, most recently, Fera at Claridge’s in London.
The Ten Best Hospitality Products of 2015
The show is set to crown the industry’s ten most groundbreaking new products, alongside a glittering people’s choice winner – as part of its new Star Product Awards scheme.
The Star Product Awards are open to all exhibitors and will shine a bright spotlight on the latest, greatest new arrivals from the worlds of food & drink, technology, catering equipment, interiors and tableware.
Not only will the Star Product Awards give exhibitors a pedestal to showcase their latest innovations to the industry, show visitors will also be treated to a scintillating first-look at some of the products that will help set the British hospitality agenda in 2015.
Show visitors will get the chance to see and experience the Top Ten Star Products throughout the three days as well as having their say in a very special People’s Choice accolade – where they’ll be able to vote via twitter with the winner announced after the show.
All entries will be judged at the show, with the ten winners unveiled on the first day of the show, Monday 19th January at 4pm on the Business Briefing Stage.
Insight and Inspiration on the Business Briefing Stage
Crowd-funding; keeping pace with a burgeoning high street; smarter menu planning; profiting from savvy design; breeding staff loyalty; forgotten foods; craft beer; competing with the casuals; all this and more when the beating heart of The Hospitality Show 2015 – the Business Briefing Stage – kicks into life this January.
Throughout the three day show (19th-21st January, NEC Birmingham) the Business Briefing Stage will play host to a programme of hot-button-topic seminars, fascinating one-on-one interviews and a glittering new awards ceremony.
At midday on day one, Chief Executive of NACFB (National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers), Adam Tyler, will chair a debate on the risks and rewards of crowdfunding and finance. High profile businesses like BrewDog and Cheshire’s Sticky Walnut have made hay from crowd funding in recent times (the former secured its £4.25m target for investment from its customers last Christmas, while the latter very recently raised £100,000 towards new venture, The Burnt Truffle).
Earlier on day one (11am), yet more sound advice for startups, single site operators small chains will be dispensed by Martin Williams, former MD of the highly successful Gaucho chain, who will be discussing research and concept development.
Procurement, staffing and getting your menus in order…
If the first day of the show is about getting an operation off the ground, then day two is devoted to procurement, staffing and getting your menus in order. Head of Innovation for Coup de Pates, formerly Delice de France, Neville Moon, will be imparting his years of experience in new product development to demonstrate how operators can use versatile products to design a profitable menu to take to the high street (2.45pm).
Mike Williams, Director of People Development for De Vere Hotels and Village Urban Resorts will be teaching visitors how to train and retain their staff (2pm) while David Loewi, Chairman of The Restaurant Association, will be in the chair for a ‘one-on-one’ detailing his rise to the top of British hospitality.
Day three on the Business Briefing Stage deals with trends, troubleshooting and the business of chef patronage and empire management.
At 10.30am, visitors can experience a craft beer case study, detailing how English brewer, Freedom, was re-financed and developed into one of the country’s leading brands. Michael Patton of Oakfield Capital Finance will be on-hand to lead proceedings.
Following on from this, Marcus Kilvington, founder of Food Profits, will be helping to troubleshoot what he has uncovered to be the industry’s seven biggest problems. Visitors in need of a helping hand into profitability are advised to sit in on this one.
World Class Culinary Competition returns
Salon Culinaire, has been updated with format changes recommended by a panel of top chefs.
There is a new online entry system and iPads will also be used for food photography to provide more constructive feedback for competitors. There will also be two award ceremonies each day – a new one after lunch in addition to the traditional presentation at the end of the day.
Salon Culinaire Chef Director, James Tanner, says: “We have tried to focus not only on ways to make the competition experience more immersive and easy to enter, but also look at staying relevant. Introducing rigid ingredient costs and target gross profit margins for teams competing in La Parade des Chefs was just one of the ways we have tried to remain faithful to the real-world experiences of modern kitchens.”
Salon Culinaire comprises three key elements: the exquisite Salon Display competition classes of Live Theatre (both sponsored by Compass Group UK) and fine dining experience, La Parade des Chefs (Sponsored by Coup de Pates/Delice de France).
Demos and Advice from Top Chefs
The Staff Canteen Live is set to make its debut at the event adding stimulating kitchen demonstrations and practical advice from big name chefs including Michelin-star chef Adam Stokes, Chef Patron of Midsummer House, Daniel Clifford, Executive Chef Gary Jones and Head Pastry Chef, Benoit Blin, both from Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.
The feature will run regular sessions every day of the show providing visitors with interactive demonstrations, recipe guidance and cooking tips. Mark Morris, Managing Director of The Staff Canteen, says: “Our focus on delivering the best chefs in the UK is still our main driver and the line-up we have gathered certainly delivers that. We plan on making the event format more informal, more interactive and great fun – that is key to The Staff Canteen Live.”
Food and Drink Top of the Menu
With British food and drink currently very much in the spotlight, the Laverstoke Park Farm Taste Experience is set to debut at The Hospitality Show. The brainchild of former F1 world champion-turned-farmer Jody Scheckter, the Hampshire-based organic and biodynamic farm is set to relocate to the Hospitality Show floor for three days. Visitors will be able to witness for themselves the unique, delicious produce that is crafted on the farm. Available to sample will be their renowned mozzarella made from fresh Buffalo milk, Buffalo fillet steaks, award-winning lamb, tasty black pudding and their new Buffalo Gouda.
Every Equipment Innovation in One Place
An array of international catering equipment suppliers are set to take centre stage at the Hospitality Show 2015, providing visitors with a unique overview of industry trends, technical developments and product innovation.
Toby Wand, Managing Director at Fresh Montgomery, which organises the event, says: “Catering equipment is very much at the heart of the show as it’s important that operators keep up-to-date with the ever-evolving world of catering equipment because it is such a key element of their business.
“The Hospitality Show is a fantastic opportunity to see what equipment will be arriving in the year ahead, view everything under one roof, talk with suppliers about their ranges and see what the future holds in terms of equipment updates and new technology.
In addition to displays by catering equipment suppliers, the CESA (Catering Equipment Suppliers Association) Innovation Zone will be the only place operators need visit to view the most relevant and up-to-date products the industry has on offer.”
Held on Tuesday 20th January, the Catering Equipment Networking Dinner represents an opportunity for visitors to relax and socialise away from the NEC and will be staged at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole.
The menu will be overseen by Adam Bennett, who is again Team UK’s representative at the 2015 Bocuse d’Or. The food will be prepared by the Junior British Culinary Team with the renowned Brian Turner comparing the auction on the night. The dinner will also support the British team’s participation at Bocuse D’or at the end of January.
Technology Hub to Attract New Ideas and Ways of Thinking
Ground-breaking technology is, yet again, set to play an integral part in The Hospitality Show. Leading exhibitors such as Aircharge by Ergo and EPOS specialists, Acorn Hospitality Systems, will be on hand to guide show visitors through some of the very latest industry innovations, while the HOSPACE Hub will offer an informative seminar programme encompassing the very latest trends and insight, including sessions on increasing efficiency and winning loyalty through technology.
One hub highlight is sure to be Digital Blonde, Karen Fewell, who will be joined by Foodservice Strategy Director at Allegra Foodservice, Simon Stenning, and My Ly, Senior Marketing Manager for YO! Sushi, to discuss consumer behaviours around eating out and technologies such as the mobile phone, wearables and social media and how this impacts food marketing and customer service approach.
Visitors can go to www.hospitalityshow.co.uk and register now for a free ticket to the show.
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