49 things you didn't know about Hotelympia

This year's Hotelympia show at London's ExCel (17-21 February) is bigger than ever. Here are 49 facts about the biennial show aimed at the food service and hospitality industry to whet your appetite

1 massive showfor everyone in the hospitality industry.

2 restaurants in the ever-popular La Parade, where 10 of the top culinary teams in the world will go head-to-head for the coveted Salon Gold Medal.

3 shows in one venue- Hotelympia, Hostec-Europe and Careers in Hospitality.

4 new sections of the show - Tabletop, Decor & Design, Bathroom & Spa and Premises and Facilities Management will give Hotelympia 2008 an even greater range of exhibitors.

5 daysgive visitors plenty of time to plan their visit.

6 sections of the show mean you can plan your visit beforehand to take in those most relevant.

7 minutes from London City Airport to the ExCel centre, home of Hotelympia 2008.

8 educational opportunities across the show - Sustainable Futures Seminars, Careers in Hospitality, Hostec-Europe, World of Coffee, Sandwich & Tea Pavilion, Design Link, Cost Sector Catering Live and The Skillery.

9 per cent of all visitors to the show are international. If this applies to you, make sure you have registered for the free overview of the UK food service market on the Sunday morning, given by Peter Backman, managing director of Horizon Foodservice - see www.hotelympia.com/overview.

10 kilometres to be conquered by the runners in the Hotelympia 10km. To enter, visit www.hotelympia10km.com.

11 unique features make up Hotelympia. From the culinary competitions and demonstrations of Live Theatre, The Skillery and La Parade through to the interior concepts and ideas within Design Link and the BCFA Pavilion.

12 companies have kindly donated products to give one lucky visitor the chance to win a £60,000 kitchen - enter now at www.caterersearch.com/60k-kitchen.

13 entry points can be found to the halls to help visitors get around.

14 aisles of catering equipment with more than 250 exhibitors mean that whatever your next purchase, Hotelympia is the place to test it, see it, try it or feel it.

15 minutes is the time it takes to get to Hotelympia from Canary Wharf.

16 and unders will not be admitted. Students may attend via prior appointment only. Please contact Springboard on 020 7497 8654.

17 February is when all the fun begins.

18 February is when you can find out just where the Best Places to Work in Hospitality are. The Caterer and Hotelkeeper awards, sponsored by Corecruitment and supported by Careers in Hospitality, recognise companies that treat their staff the best.

19 per cent of visitors to Hotelympia 2006 were chefs.

20 years of the UK's most prestigious student competition, Toque d'Or, which will return to Hotelympia after a six-show break. Make sure you catch the best of the UK's young talent in La Parade during the afternoon.

21 February is your last chance to get a piece of the action.

22 February - it's all over and you've missed the boat!

23 demonstrations over the five days in The Skillery run in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs.

24 baristas will compete in the semi-final of the UK Barista Championships on the Wednesday within the World of Coffee, with six going through to Thursday's final.

25 minutes is how long it will take you to get to Hotelympia from Waterloo station via the Victoria Line and DLR.

26 companies will be showing the very latest products in the new Bathroom & Spa area.

27 competitions make up the schedule for Live Theatre, including the UK Skills Search for a star and the Major International Culinary Football Challenge.

28 demonstrations within the British Sandwich Association-sponsored Tea & Sandwich Pavilion will give a great insight into what caterers from the contract catering and take-away sectors could be offering.

29 countries are represented at Hotelympia, including Italy, Spain, China, France and Germany.

30 pounds can be saved if you register beforethe show at www.hotelympia.com.

31 minutes past 12 on Tuesday 19 February and the London heat of the British Sandwich Designer of the Year will take place in the Tea & Sandwich Pavilion. If you're looking for creative ideas or want to offer something a little bit different then this is not to be missed.

32 restaurants, bars, cafés and pubs are on site or within a five-minute walk of ExCel.

33 of the biggest operators will be looking to network with high-quality candidates at Careers in Hospitality, the only event dedicated to bringing together employees and employers with an interest in the industry.

34 pounds per head will get you the chance to dine in the exclusive La Parade restaurant at the heart of the show floor, including a £2 donation to Hospitality Action. To book your place, visit www.hotelympia.com/laparade.

35 Hotelympias have now been and gone, and the 36th in 2008 is all set to be the biggest and best yet.

36 students from Westminster Kingsway College and Waltham Forest College will provide front-of-house cover in La Parade.

37 exhibitors in the Speciality & Regional Food Pavilion will showcase the best new products from the UK and around the world.

38 hours is the entire time the show will be open.

39 chefs will offer tips in The Skillery, organised by the Craft Guild of Chefs.!

40 seats is the capacity in many of the seminar theatres, so make sure you get there early.

41 pounds in the pocket will give you £1 change after you've booked into one of the World of Coffee Seminar Workshops which should be booked in advance and cost just £40. Visit www.hotelympia.com/worldofcoffee for more information.

42 seconds is the time it takes to register online at www.hotelympia.com.

43 minutes from Queen Elizabeth II pier outside the 02 to Waterloo main-line station by Thames Clippers. To book, visit www.thamesclippers.com.

44 minutes is the estimated time that Raymond Blanc will be on the Design Link stage on the Thursday, offering tips on what really works for both interior and exterior ideas.

45 minutes is half the time the teams of three chefs competing in the Master Chefs Grand Prix, sponsored by Rational, will have to plan, prepare, cook and present a four-course meal for two people from a basket of ingredients.

46 thousand, 240 people took time out of their busy schedules to visit the show in 2006.

47 completed aisles and you'll be able to tell everyone that you walked the entire show.

48 amuse-bouches and pre-desserts will be prepared for the exclusive Chef's Tables in La Parade over the five days.

49 categories in Salon Display, where the results of hours of meticulous work will be there for all to see.