FHA2016 boasts new attractions

IF YOU’RE a regular to Food&HospitalityAsia2016 (FHA2016), then you know the length and breadth of this exhibition. But every time, this event cooks up something new, and when it opens from 12-15 April at Singapore Expo next year, attendees can expect more exhibitors, products, and activities.

“For the 2016 event, we are seeing many new local and international companies joining us for the very first time. This is a firm reflection of the importance the industry places in the event, and solidifies its position as the event of choice for food and hospitality players, mega and small, from across the region and beyond,” says Ms. Ting Siew Mui, Project Director of Lifestyle Events at Singapore Exhibition Services, FHA organizer.

FHA2016 will feature six specialized exhibitions, namely FoodAsia, HotelAsia, SpecialityCoffee&Tea, Bakery&Pastry, HospitalityStyleAsia and HospitalityTechnology, each with their own unique themes and areas of focus.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s new:

• Meet new exhibitors including many of Singapore’s conglomerates such as Boon Tong Kee, Fraser & Neave, Lam Soon, Owl International and Yeo Hiap Seng. They join an expected 3,000 returning exhibitors at the 2016 edition. Also joining the line-up of new exhibitors are Arla, Blue Diamond Growers, Scelta Mushrooms, SodaStream Professional, and many more.
• Algeria, Hungary, Poland, The Netherlands will be setting up their own pavilions for the first time in FHA
• There will be more FoodAsia exhibitors located at the outdoor extension, a sign of a really growing trade event.
• At FHA, ProWine Asia is a new venue for wine and spirits producers that wish to tap the Southeast Asian market. This satellite event, co-located with FHA2016, is made possible by Messe Düsseldorf Asia and Singapore Exhibition Services. It is patterned after the ProWein trade fair in Düsseldorf.
• Part of the FHA Culinary Challenge, the Sweet High Tea Challenge is open to teams from hotels, restaurants, confectionaries, airlines, culinary training institutes and catering establishments. Teams of two will compete to impress judges with a high tea set for six.
• First Hotels & Resorts Management conference track: This track will explore topics on suitable business models for hospitality owners, the use of smart technology for operational efficiency, sustainable hotel design and new design trends for hotels and resorts, as well as an update on new hospitality projects in the Asian region
• Talk track on F & B Productivity: Covering sustainable kitchen concepts and design, the new segment at the Food and Beverage Design, Technology & Operations conference track features case studies on effective designs to maximise productivity, trends in menu engineering and successful outsourcing of culinary preparations.

FHA2016 International Conference: Exploring opportunities in APAC

FHA Asia addresses major issues relevant to food and hospitality companies looking to expand in the Asia-Pacific market. The changing face of APAC, from its demographics to its policies, has boosted retail and international travel.

The growing middle class, affordable air travel and accommodation, as well as the ASEAN Open Skies Policy^[1], which allows ASEAN airlines to fly freely throughout the region, are creating enormous potential for local and international brands.

These open opportunities for hoteliers and retailers to improve productivity by adopting the latest technologies, as well as to offer guests with more personalized services.

The FHA2016 International Conference will discuss key issues affecting the food and hospitality industry, looking at commercial opportunities for hotels, green hotel design, big data analytics for smart operations, and food traceability, to name a few. Joint plenary sessions featuring CEO Insights, Stakeholders Panel Discussions and think tanks will see experts from around the world sharing their perspectives and views on the latest trends in the food and hospitality sectors.

“I am very heartened that our 20^th installment is off to a great start and I am very excited to see the event come to fruition. The food and hospitality industry is evolving rapidly with changing consumer needs and behaviors. Consumers today not only expect good service from hospitality and foodservice establishments, they are also increasingly drawn to products derived from ethical, clean and safe manufacturing. We will be covering these trends at FHA2016, and we look forward to having meaningful discussions with participants,” said Ms. Ting.

Culinary Challenge at FHA2014

Finally, FHA2016 won’t be the same without the FHA Culinary Challenge 2016, the FHA Barista Challenge 2016, the FHA Latte Art Challenge 2016 and Asian Pastry Cup 2016.

[1] ASEAN Briefing, ASEAN Open Skies Policy to be Implemented in 2015 (Jan 2 2015)

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Turnout crowd at FHA 2014