Organisers of the 2010 Hotel and Catering Show cooked up a fantastic event
The 2010 Hotel and Catering Show has been declared a triumphant success by the catering and hospitality industry. Despite the tough trading conditions that continue to face the industry, hoteliers, restaurateurs, contract caterers and chefs all flocked to the Bournemouth International Centre on 16 and 17 March for a busy two days of networking and to source new products and ideas as well as meet a host of leading and celebrity chefs.
The Show’s programme of culinary demonstrations, provided by top chefs including Brian Turner CBE, Cyrus Todiwala OBE and Mitch Tonks, as well as product launches and world-class competitions for chefs and restaurant service professionals, attracted more than 2,800 buyers through the Show’s doors, ensuring delight from the 200exhibiting companies.
Bryan Ford from Notar (UK) Ltd, who unveiled the world’s first smokeless cigarette at the Show, said: “We chose the show to launch Similar because the product lends itself very well to the hospitality industry, helping to alleviate any pressures the smoking ban may have caused some licensees, restaurateurs and hoteliers. The show was fantastic for us. We received a great positive response, gaining great leads and sales.”
Nick Rowe from Qtos Catering Equipment was also thrilled with the show’s outcome and commented: “Great show. We generated 40% more leads compared to 2009, and our sales team will be extremely busy over the next few weeks. The show allowed us to speak directly to potential customers and present our products in a professional, business environment. We will definitely be back next year.”
Key features of this year’s Show were the UK’s largest culinary competition, the Wessex Salon Culinaire, and the prestigious WorldSkills Cooking, Confectioner/Pastry Chef and Restaurant Services competitions which attracted more than 1,000 ambitious chefs and restaurant service professionals. The Wessex Salon Culinaire, in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs and WorldSkills UK and sponsored by Nestlé Professional® CHEF® and Coastline Produce, provided chefs with the opportunity to participate in a range of hot, cold and static classes using a variety of skills and creative recipes. Some of the winners included:
- Dan Millingtonfrom Bournemouth and Poole College - Caterer & Licensee Student Chef of the Year
- Luke Bryan from The Victoria Hotel, Gosport - Chefs Forum Chef of the Year, sponsored by Coastline Produce and Bournemouth and Poole College
- Andrew Harvey from Chichester Cathedral and Thomas Biddle from Marriott Forest of Arden - Nestlé Professional’s ‘CHEF® at Salon’
The following competitors were crowned champions of the WorldSkills UK Cooking, Confectioner/Pastry Chef and Restaurant Services competitions:
- Cooking:
Advanced: Gold winner – Matthew Wain from Highbury College
Intermediate: Gold winner - George Moore from Oxford & Cherwell Valley College
- Confectioner/Pastry Chef:
Advanced: Gold winner - Nathan Drage from Thames Valley University
Intermediate: Gold winner - Julie Ingram from Motherwell College
- Restaurant Services:
Advanced: Gold winner – Channon Morris from Llandrillo Coleg
Intermediate: Gold winner – Jeremy Whitworth from Brokenhurst College
The winners from these three competitions may be selected to join a long list of competitors that may be selected to join the team that represent the UK at WorldSkills London 2011, the largest skills Competition in the world, which will be held at ExCeL, London from 5th – 8th October.
The Show also hosted the Show Dinner Party on Tuesday 16 March which took place at the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel. With the menu prepared and cooked by BBC Masterchef, Steve Groves, Clyde Hollett of the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott and Lionel Sene of Branksome Beach, more than 160 guests attended and £5,000 was raised for the charity Hospitality Action.
Leading chef and TV star, Brian Turner CBE, said: “The Show was extremely busy - there were lots of great exhibitors and products on display as well as hundreds of people visiting. Overall, a great place to network and find out about new products and services.”
Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL added: “Shows like the Hotel and Catering Show are key to the industry. This show has evolved over the years and is now known as a premier show for hosting junior competitions. Most other trade shows are predominately focused on the professional but the great thing about this Show is that it also has a student focus, encouraging new talent into the industry.”
Anna Wallis, Show Director, commented: “The face to face environment of a trade show provides a fantastic opportunity to gain new business during difficult economic times and it is encouraging to hear from exhibitors that the Show has succeeded in its goal to help generate contacts and positive sales leads. We listened to feedback and comments from exhibitors and visitors to ensure we were able to create a bustling, exciting atmosphere, with a Show which successfully delivered not only what people wanted but also against our key success criteria of attendance, ambience and industry showcase.”
The Hotel and Catering Show will return to the Bournemouth International Centre on 14and 15 March 2011.For more information please visit www.hotel-expo.co.uk or call 01425 485040.
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Press enquiries to:
Carol Middleton at Liz Lean PR Ltd
Notes to Editors
About WorldSkills UK – www.worldskillsuk.org
· WorldSkills UK, managed by UK Skills, is the name for the UK’s premier set of skills competitions. These competitions are open to all ages
- WorldSkills UK competitions continue to play a key part in lifting standards of training and performance while promoting world class skills
· Competitions run every year in around 70 skills within these five main sectors:
Built Environment
Cultural and Creative Arts
Engineering
Information Technology and Business Administration
Professional, Social, Public and Hospitality Services
· Outstanding WorldSkills UK national finalists may be considered for inclusion in the Squad and Team UK that compete at the international skills competition WorldSkills and a large proportion of the International competitors that represent the UK at WorldSkills come through the WorldSkills UK competition framework
· For most competitions, this is the last opportunity to enter to be in with a chance of competing at WorldSkills London 2011. For a comprehensive list of relevant competitions please visit www.worldskillsuk.org
· City & Guilds, the UK’s leading provider of work-related qualifications, sponsors WorldSkills UK Competitions
Press enquiries to:
Carol Middleton or Nicole Fenner
Liz Lean PR Ltd
Tel: 01202 701828
Fax: 01202 708101
E-mail: carol@lizleanpr.co.uk or nicole@lizleanpr.co.uk