The show to go to
The biggest hospitality exhibition this country has ever seen is about to open its doors. More than 1,000 companies will be showing products relating to every aspect of the industry at Hotelympia 2000 next month (February7-11, 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, maintenance services and gym equipment - everything that anyone in the hospitality industry could want.
International flavour
More international companies than ever before are exhibiting this year. Dedicated pavilions will focus on food and drink from Sicily and Germany, alongside speciality foods from Northern Ireland, Scotland and the rest of the UK. Catering equipment from North America and Spain will be on display from the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers and FELAC, the Spanish association for catering equipment suppliers.
And chefs will be flying in from across the globe to compete in the Salon Culinaire International de Londres which will see 1,500 chefs and waiters compete in more than 85 classes in the Caterplan-sponsored Live Theatre.
Competitions every day
New for this year is a second competition theatre, sponsored by Van den Bergh's new culinary brand, Garde d'Or, where the National Chef of the Year regional heats and finals will be contested. While the National Chef of the Year heats will dominate the afternoons from Monday to Thursday, the mornings will be given over to four speciality classes: the Rioja Sous Chefs Bursary, Scotch Lamb Student Chef of the Year, the Kikkoman Masters final, and the TUCO Chefs Challenge.
Another feature well worth a visit is La Parade des Chefs. Sponsored by British Meat and featuring equipment supplied by Palux, Zanussi and Hobart, these four glass-walled working restaurants give the opportunity to watch teams of chefs at work as they create three-course lunches every day. Show visitors who book early can taste the results in the attached restaurant.
And don't forget Field 2000, the competition sponsored by 3663 and PKL in which teams from the Royal Marines, Army and RAF demonstrate their culinary skills under canvas; the Food Demonstration Theatre, hosted by the Master Chefs of Great Britain and the Campaign for Real Food, where celebrity chefs show off healthy-eating ideas for main dishes and desserts; the GS Hospitality Design Awards 2000, on stand G2422, which will showcase the best in design in the hospitality industry; the Opportunities Recruitment Village, where catering students can meet their employers of the future; and Business Breakfasts, a series of sessions run in conjunction with Arena aimed at high-level delegates.
Tickets for Hotelympia 2000 are free in advance by registering at www.hotelympia.com or by calling the ticket hotline on 024 7642 6520. n
