SINGAPORE – The hospitality industry in Asia Pacific is projected to see capital investment in Australia and many countries and regions in Asia such as Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Recent figures have put investment volumes in the region in the first half of the year at more than US$2.9 billion, with the focus mostly in gateway cities of Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney and Melbourne.
All this investment means that industry players in the foodservice and hospitality sectors in Asia will be seeing more opportunities, as new and existing properties look to develop their brands or enhance the customer experience with new equipment or innovative technology and services.
With 80 per cent of exhibition space sold, HotelAsia, one of the specialised events held during Food&HotelAsia, is a dedicated and integrated platform to showcase a comprehensive range of foodservice and hospitability equipment, machines and accessories by international exhibitors.
HotelAsia will be a hotbed for new, state-of-the-art equipment and innovative technology when the event opens at Suntec Singapore during 24-27 April 2018.
“HotelAsia is a well-regarded international sourcing and networking arena that has been delivering business success for players in the food and hospitality sectors since its inception in 1978. With industry’s eyes trained on investment and expansion activities in key Asia Pacific cities, the show is an opportune platform for global sellers to showcase best-of-breed technology, products and services to a focused group of buyers,” says Mr. Paul Wan, Managing Director of UBM SES, organiser of HotelAsia.
The event will occupy 25,000 sqm of exhibition space – making FHA2018 22 per cent larger compared to its previous edition in 2016. To date, more than 30 new exhibitors have joined the fleet and they include Amarex Corporation, ATA, Bisva, Coolmes Commercial Kitchen Equipment, Expresso System Technology, Fonderia Finco, GGF, Hygieia Warewashing, Jetcool Holdings, Josef Holler, Kalo Refrigeration, Krome Dispense, Lotus, Naixer Refrigeration Equipment, Ningbo Sino Food Machinery, PT Arindo Cipta Perkasa, Qingdao Dashang Electric Appliance, RJ Environment Solutions, Sofinor, Syntech Chemicals, Wood Stone Corporation and more.
Besides international and local brands, HotelAsia2018 will also feature international group pavilions from China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and USA. By opening day, the event expects to host about 600 exhibitors and 11 group pavilions from across the globe.
Hive of activity
With concurrent events and a host of new features added to the event line-up, HotelAsia2018 will be a hub of activity, ensuring sellers is well connected with the right buyers. These include:
- Ask-the-Expert Session – Trade attendees have the opportunity to consult one-to-one with experts and professionals from Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI) on remodeling or building their kitchens
- Business Workshops @ Knowledge Theatre – Restaurants and café owners as well as professionals from hotels and catering institutions can gather advice from industry experts and consultants on funding and kitchen design
- Digital Marketing Workshops – Led by FleishmanHillard, the workshops will offer attendees with professional help in digital marketing, such as how to increase branding and leads, managing crisis and social listening
- Purchasers Village – To facilitate networking and knowledge exchange amongst regional buyers. Provides buyers with a proactive business matching prior to the show to ensure they meet the important and relevant sellers which will maximise their time at the show
- Thematic Tours – To connect buyers looking to boost productivity or efficiency with the relevant solution providers on the exhibition show floor. Tours are conducted daily, during the show, at allocated timings.
Recognising sustainability standards through product innovation
Jointly organised by HotelAsia and FCSI Asia Pacific Division, the inaugural SCI Equipment Awards is held in support and recognition of food service equipment manufacturers who have incorporated sustainability in their innovations.
The competition will feature six awards in two categories – Heavy Equipment and Light Equipment.
Judging criteria and scoring are based on sustainability, cost savings and innovations, with a rating for each criterion.
These criteria range from judging the equipment performance, how it minimises the eco-impact, to how it improves work efficiency or saves labour, customer satisfaction and more.
Hailing from FCSI, the distinguished panel of judges include: Ms. Clara Pi, Past Chair/China Representative and FCSI World Wide Board Director; Mr. Man Kai Hong, Managing Director of Constructive Consultant Co Ltd; Mr. Shigeru Suzuki, President of Y. Inoue Office, Ltd; Mr. Brandon Kua, Founder of Citrus Consult Sdn Bhd and Partner at Innovative Project Solutions; and Mr. Anton Lee, Director of Ricca Design Studios, Hong Kong & Shanghai.
“To protect the future health of our planet and combat climate change, it is imperative that each industry addresses the impact it has on the environment and forges a path to a low carbon future. It is even more important for the foodservice industry, as our food supply alone contributes to more than a third of total global greenhouse emissions. That’s more emissions than all the cars, planes, and trains combined, not to mention the carbon emissions and resource utilisation from foodservice equipment in general. Thus, the sector plays a major role in cutting down emissions to ensure a sustainable food supply chain,” says Ms. Clara Pi, Past Chair/China Representative, FCSI Asia Pacific Division, FCSI World Wide Board Director.
“The SCI Equipment Awards was conceptualised to encourage and acknowledge the efforts of these foodservice equipment manufacturers to enhance sustainability standards through product innovation. This is a very important and special award for foodservice equipment manufacturers and distributors in Asia and we need the collaboration of equipment manufacturers and distributors. Let’s join forces to make this event a success and work towards a sustainable future for generations to come!”
Open to all HotelAsia exhibitors, online submission of entries for the award will start in the third quarter of 2017 and the closing deadline is 23 February 2018. The Award will conclude with a prize giving ceremony held during HotelAsia2018, and winning innovations will be displayed at the show.
Opportunities for hands-on learning and intellectual discourse
The Live Hot Cooking and Plated Food Display categories from Asia’s top culinary competition – the FHA Culinary Challenge (FCC), will be staged at HotelAsia2018, drawing talents from Asia’s culinary world to pitch their skills against peers and present their abilities to a panel of high profile judges.
On the learning front, the third edition of Central Kitchen Asia Conference will be held alongside the FHA International Conference’s Food Services track at HotelAsia, providing delegates an opportunity to engage in lively, intellectual discourse with industry thought leaders.
HotelAsia2018 will be open from 9am to 6pm at Suntec Singapore. Visitors only need to register once to gain access to HotelAsia2018 at Suntec Singapore and the other five specialised events of FHA2018 at Singapore Expo.
