It's show time
Hotelympia is here again. Here's what to look out for, and how to get there.
The biggest exhibition in the culinary calendar is about to open its doors. More than 1,000 companies will be showing products relating to every aspect of the industry at Hotelympia 2002 next month (4-8 February, Earls Court, London).
Look out for state-of-the-art kitchens and equipment; the latest trends in food and drink; contemporary design in furniture and table-top settings; and futuristic technology (in the form of Hostec, a stand-alone technology show co-hosted at Hotelympia, see page 31) and facilities management - everything that anyone in the hospitality could want.
More than 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the show. Fifteen hundred chefs will be competing in 131 competitions in the world-famous Salon Culinaire International des Londres, which encompasses the Live Theatre, La Parade des Chefs and Display Salon. More than 1,600 people will dine in La Parade, the exhibition's competition restaurant, over the five days of the show.
There are nine focused pavilions at Hotelympia including North American Foodservice Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) and Spanish Exporting Manufacturers Association for the Hospitality Industry (AFECH). Among the international produce pavilions are German, Italian, Scottish, Northern Ireland Group, the Welsh Development Agency and a Speciality Foods Pavilion. The Northern Ireland Group will also be exhibiting in the Furniture, Furnishings and Tableware sector.
The salon will see several new classes being run during the course of the week. Keeping abreast of modern times, salon director Peter Griffiths has introduced classes with increased product awareness, such as the Major International Masterchef event, the Cherry Valley Duck Development class and the British Airways Global Masterclass. Also new to the show is the Kikkoman Masters chefs' challenge, where chefs will be asked to prepare and cook two dishes with a modern European theme, each using Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce as an ingredient.
Be sure to look out for the New Product Awards, which seek to recognise innovation, insight and creativity within the industry, and take place on the first day of the show. The results will be announced at a gala dinner on Monday night.
Hotelympia is also a must for the catering student, with Springboard organising Student Tours (Tuesday 5 February to Friday 8 February) and Nestlé running the annual Toque d'Or competition to find the restaurant proprietors of the future on stand number 1052, adjacent to the company's product stand.
Six specialist trails have been set up for visitors who are looking for a specific path to: pub and bar; housekeeping highlights; tea and coffee; sandwich shops; new products; and international products, ensuring that each visitor gets the most out of the exhibition.
Tickets for Hotelympia 2002 are free in advance by registering at www.hotelympia.com or by calling the ticket hotline on 0870 429 4644.
Hotelympia 2002
Monday 4 to Friday 8 February
Opening times: Monday-Thursday 9.30am-5.30pm, Friday 9.30-4pm
Venue: Earls Court (One and Two), London
Sectors: food and drink; catering services and equipment; furniture, furnishings and tableware; premises and facilities management; technology
Accommodation/travel: Expotel 020 7372 2001
How to get in
Pre-register on the Hotelympia Web site to ensure fast-track entry: www.hotelympia.com (quoting reference HOTP)
How to get there
Car: Earls Court is close to the M3, M4, M25 and M40/41, with easy access to inner London via the South Circular (A205) and the North Circular (A406). For reservable parking at Earls Court call 0800 0568444. Other parking is available nearby.
Underground: District line to Earls Court or West Brompton (for Earls Court Two).
Train: West Brompton for Earls Court. More than 100 trains a day from Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction and an hourly service from Gatwick via East Croydon.
Air: Gatwick Express into Victoria Station from Gatwick Airport, then take District Line underground to Earls Court (20 minutes), or train to West Brompton for Earls Court. Heathrow Express to Paddington from Heathrow Airport, then take District Line to Earls Court (20 minutes).
Eurostar: From Paris, Brussels and Lille to London Waterloo, take Jubilee line from Waterloo to Westminster, change to District Line to Earls Court.
Travel information: for up-to-the-minute travel information call London Transport on 020 7222 1234.
