The 2015 Hospitality Show was pitched as a celebration of the best of British, and visitors came in their droves from across the UK to join in the festival of innovative new products and show stopping new attractions – contributing to a giant 20 per cent rise in attendance.
Gangways were packed throughout the three days with attractions such as the Business Briefing Stage playing host to big name interviews, inspiring panel sessions, and the unveiling of the first-ever Star Product Awards winner. Show debutante, The Staff Canteen Live with its lineup of leading chefs and the competitive spotlight of Salon Culinaire, also provided irresistible draws for the culinary world.
Visitors and exhibitors alike were unanimous in their praise of the show’s “special atmosphere” hailing it as “inspirational”, “the best yet” and “the only place to source hospitality’s newest products in 2015”.
Best new products
Show highlights included Orderella’s revolutionary smartphone app being crowned as the best new product in hospitality, and Gram UK scooping the online People’s Choice gong for its SUPERIORPLUS 72 refrigeration cabinet, both part of the show’s Star Product Awards Top Ten.
It was standing room-only for mercurial, Michelin-starred chefs Simon Rogan and Daniel Clifford, the former imparting his years of experience at the pass, while the latter provided an inspirational live cooking demo.
When they weren’t addressing a packed Business Briefing Stage or HOSPACE
Hub, the Hospitality Show’s band of over 35 business mentors, including celebrated chef and restaurateur, Andreas Antona, Head of Innovation for Coup de Pates, Neville Moon, entrepreneur Martin Williams and social media guru, Karen Fewell, were helping show visitors address business challenges in free one-to-one mentoring sessions.
Runaway success
Managing Director of show organiser, Fresh Montgomery, Toby Wandsaid: “To our incredible exhibitors, inspirational speakers, mentors, competing chefs and, of course, our visitors who came out en masse in a huge show of support, a massive thank you from myself and the team for making the 2015 show such a runaway success. We began with the remit of showcasing the best of British hospitality and feel we have, with the industry’s support, been able to deliver just that – a show to help kick-start the new business year into life.”
Show far exceeded expectations
Glenn Roberts, Managing Director, Gram UK also commented: “We’re tremendously honoured to be chosen as the People’s Choice winner in the Star Product Awards. The show far exceeded our expectations, we had a good mix of end-users and small and large operators, and were busy throughout the three days. A product catalogue is one thing, but giving people the opportunity to see, touch and offer their verdict on the products is so important. The Hospitality Show gives us the opportunity to do business face to face, and that is invaluable.”
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