The Art of Design Issue 18 2016 | Page 92

Hotelympia 2016 Preview Hotelympia returns in early 2016 (29th February – 3rd March, 2016 ExCeL London) with the UK’s greatest hospitality event promising more product innovation than ever before, fed by laser guided trends and insight drawn from the UK’s culinary capital, the most comprehensive range of suppliers yet, plus allnew competitions and some of the UK’s most celebrated chefs. Registration is now live (www.hotelympia.com/ register) for the biennial four-day show, the home of hospitality innovation, which will see the unique needs of visitors from every sector of hospitality, from hotels and restaurants to pubs; cafes; contract catering; casual dining; the cost sector and beyond, catered for by 1000 of some of the world’s most pioneering exhibitors in Food & Drink; Catering Equipment; Technology; Interiors & Tableware; Careers and sustainability-focused Waste-Works. With over 120 exhibitors already confirmed in the equipment hall – the largest line-up ever amassed under one roof – state-of the art catering equipment is yet again set to be one of the jewels in the Hotelympia crown. New for 2016 is a unique and impressive ‘Meet the Buyer’ Programme, created in partnership with CESA (Catering Equipment Suppliers Association) which will see buyers’ requirements matched to the exhibitor whose equipment best meet their needs. They will then be able to speak directly and confidentially to manufacturers on everything from technical specifications to energy saving benefits. Crucially, they will also be able to compare and contrast kit and try before they buy. A host of leading industry lights will be offering insight-packed presentations on The Stage including: the master of service, restaurant manager of the world famous, Three Michelin-starred Waterside Inn, Diego Masciaga; Eric Partaker, co-CEO of casual innovators Chilango; leading designer and sustainable architecture pioneer, Oliver Heath; former Hotel Manager of The London Edition, Edwin Kramer; Martin Williams of London city restaurant, M; restaurateurs and master foragers, Richard and Oliver Gladwin; Michelinstarred chef, Mark Sergeant and star of TV’s The Apprentice, now a designer in her own right, Ella Jade Bitten. With Discovery, Delivery and Efficiency as key watchwords, the technology-focused HOSPACE Hub will offer a number of panel discussions around acquisition, service experience and efficiency for both guests and diners. Hot-button subjects will include: distribution; reservations; marketing and loyalty; point-of-sale; up-selling; table management; in-room technology; service automation; supply chain and inventory management. The Hub will welcome a number of key influencers and experts onto its stage, including: Google UK’s Head of Hospitality, Terri Scriven, who will be talking about how sites can, with limited resources, make digital channels a boon rather than a bane; CEO of Hotelympia Innovation Award winners, Orderella, Denis Collet, who will be discussing functional technology and how its development is being driven by a whirlwind of customer demand; Digital Blonde Karen Fewell and My Ly, Senior Marketing Manager for YO! Sushi, who will be debating the merits of digital marketing on a budget and Tom Valentine, Co-founder, Secret Escapes, who will be investigating the developing of relationships between booking agencies and restaurants and hotels. Another first for Salon, front-of-house staff will now also get to demonstrate their skills and put their efforts to the test in a selection of service classes. It’s not just about food, Hotelympia’s Drinks Cabinet and Drinks Innovation Theatre will grow to encompass craft beer, cider, spirits and wine as the drinks scene moves from strengthto-strength. The Drinks Innovation Theatre will not only house talks on the profitability of alcoholic beverages, but also how getting your hot drinks offering right can be equally as rewarding. After the shining success of 2014, the Hotelympia ‘Show Makers’ – a team of specially trained young ambassadors – will be on hand throughout the four days, offering advice and guidance on forthcoming attractions and creating bespoke pathways through the show, depending on visitor criteria and interests. Yet again the Show Makers have been recruited from leading catering college, Westminster Kingsway, with students trained by Lisa Campagnola, the lady behind the London Olympic Gamesmakers. Also making a second appearance at the show will be Waste-Works – a new, co-located event focusing purely on suppliers of waste solutions and services seeking to target the hospitality sector. The attraction will consist of a high level speaker programme, alongside a large number of specialist exhibitors. In addition to the three competitive elements of International Salon Culinaire; La Parade des Chefs, Salon Display, and Live Theatre. Visitors can pre-register for Hotelympia 2016 now by following this link: www.hotelympia. com/register New for 2016 is The Skills Theatre which will give chefs at the very beginning of their careers – including apprentices and students, and those who have not competed before – the chance to experience the thrill and bright spotlight of competition with classes including butchery, fishmongery, pastry, sugar-craft and many more. Companies seeking to find out how they can promote their business at Hotelympia 2016 and reach an audience of over 30,000 professionals can visit www.hotelympia. com, contact Andrew Pantelli on +44 (0)20 7886 3055 or email andrew.pantelli@ freshmontgomery.co.uk to see how the new look Hotelympia can be the inspiration for their hospitality business in 2016.