BARCELONA, Spain – Show cooking by Michelin-starred chefs, the re-creation of a hotel equipped with the latest in interior design and technological applications, coffee tastings, conferences, talks and debates as well as a space devoted to start-ups are just some of Hostelco ’s proposals to showcase the latest trends in products, processes and services to professionals who want to integrate innovations into their business to satisfy their increasingly connected guests in search of personalised experiences.
Professionals from the hotel, catering and hospitality industries as well as interior designers and experts from the contract channel will have the opportunity to update their knowledge and find inspiration what Hostelco has designed to unveil the new technological and sustainable solutions that help optimise companies’ profitability and meet customer demands at the same time.
Thus, the show will erect the Hostelco Live Hotel, with the re-creation of different hotel spaces such as reception, the gym and guest rooms in various styles, new architectural concepts and integrating the latest in technology and connectivity. This will be the task of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation and its Hotel Technological Institute (CEHAT-ITH), the brand Oss Fitness, and the design studios DyD Interiorismo, Estudio Contract, Carmela Martí, Cuesta Studio and Ingenia Studio.
Hostelco Live Arena, meanwhile, will be the space where debates, talks and presentations will be held by more than 80 experts in catering and hospitality to address issues related to design, interiors, sustainability, new business concepts, the customer experience and the use of disruptive technologies. The conference will be divided into more than 20 sessions with the collaboration of CEHAT-ITH; the Spanish Hotel and Catering Industry, CEHE; the consultancy firm Barra de Ideas and the Top Food&Beverage (F&B) Club, among others.
Likewise, coffee will take centre stage in an area dedicated to promoting the universe and the possibilities of the ‘star’ product of bars, catering and the Horeca channel. In addition to tastings and demonstrations on how to prepare and drink coffee, the space called “Hostelco Live Moments” will also include new food options and the latest trends in patisserie, ice cream, bakery and cocktails, creating a ‘sweet’ and stimulating space.
The trade fair will also feature a Speakers Corner, which will serve as a meeting point for manufacturers, distributors and technical services. Some thirty talks will cover new developments in equipment, maintenance processes, security, regulations and certifications.
Gastronomy and innovation in the spotlight
Hostelco and the Restaurama show at Alimentaria, the main Spanish food and beverage trade fair, will share activities at The Experience Live Gastronomy, with show cooking, workshops and lectures by Michelin-starred chefs who will be preparing their recipes live and giving talks on current culinary trends and those destined to influence the future in the kitchen. The Experience will once again host the finals of major international competitions such as the Chef of the Year Competition and the Waiter of the Year Competition. It will also host a programme of conferences, demonstrations and show cooking aimed especially at the food service industry.
Another activity held in conjunction will be “Food & Hospitality Startup Revolution”, a space reserved for the companies winning a call for recognising the 16 most innovative and disruptive startups in the sector. In addition to presenting their products and projects in this area, the chosen companies will have the opportunity to participate in the “Food & Hospitality Startup Revolution Awards” and win the Most Innovative Startup Award and the Most Successful Startup Award. In this way, Alimentaria and Hostelco aim to support the most creative and innovative business initiatives, thus facilitating their visibility and insertion in the market.
Hostelco will also host several events organised by some of its collaborating entities, such as the plenary meeting of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation, CEHAT; the executive committee of the Spanish Hotel and Catering Industry, CEHE; the ordinary and extraordinary general assembly of the Coffee Cultural Forum; the ITH Board of Directors’ meeting, and also the Club Top F&B board meeting. The show will also host on-site training courses given by the BulliFoundation through CaixaBank Lab Campus, the CEHE Campus and the ITH Academy.
Hostelco & Alimentaria
Hostelco, the leading show in Spain and European benchmark in its field, organised by Fira de Barcelona and the Spanish Federation of Associations of Equipment Manufacturers for Hospitality, Collectives and Related Industries (FELAC), is being held from 4th to 7th April 2020 at the Gran Via venue alongside Alimentaria.
Both shows will occupy a surface area totalling around 85,000 m2 and bring together about 3,000 exhibiting companies, thus creating one of the largest international platforms and a benchmark for the food industry, gastronomy and catering equipment, as it will display the most comprehensive and cross-cutting range of products from the domestic and international markets to the distribution chain and the Horeca channel.
