Today in Trento, the 44th edition of the leading Italian trade fair for hospitality and catering professionals was presented: record numbers and plenty of news. Starting from the new name and image, which is more contemporary and in-keeping with an event that boasts a long history but looks towards the future.
In the presence of Roberto Failoni, Assessor for craftsmanship, commerce, promotion, sport and tourism for the Autonomous Province of Trento, the 44th edition of Hospitality – the hospitality exhibition, the leading Italian trade fair for the hospitality and catering sectors, was presented. The event is scheduled to run from 2nd to 5th February in the Riva del Garda Exhibition Centre and will host 561 exhibiting companies.
During opening talks, the Chairman of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, Roberto Pellegrini, recalled the new corporate structure of the Riva del Garda Exhibition-Congress Centre and the characteristics of the venue: thirteen inter-linked exhibition halls in addition to an efficient congress centre, situated in a strategic position on the shores of Lake Garda, and established over the years as a vital hub for the development of the local area and a trend centre. ‘Hospitality’ is one of the key events for the area and, according to Chairman Pellegrini, “is a perfect representation of our natural vocation for tourism and hospitality. In order to be able to accommodate the numerous and increasing requests to participate, from new exhibitors too, we are already working on expanding the exhibition area with plans that will enable us to offer an increasingly high level of service and an avant-garde centre, both from a technological point of view and also regarding the infrastructures.”
Carla Costa,Manager of the Riva del Garda Fierecongressi Exhibitions Department, illustrated all the new aspects of Hospitality 2020, starting from the new name and the new image, more contemporary and more in-keeping with an event that boasts a long tradition but looks to the future, and that pays particular attention to the demands of the sector’s professionals and companies.
Hospitality 2020 is indeed packed full of content and product innovation, with a unique, complete, exhibition circuit, covering everything from the raw product to equipment and furnishings for hotels and restaurants, right up to beer-production plants and management systems for handling accommodation. Above all, there will be 561 companies exhibiting this year, (an increase on the 525 at the previous edition), and once again, Trentino-Alto Adige is well-represented, with 155 companies. The Veneto too (with 157 exhibitors), Lombardy (92) and Emilia Romagna (33) have shown their faith in the event. So much so that, as the numbers show, they provide a significant presence.
Over and above the opportunity to do business, training has proved to be a strategic element of the exhibition – both before, during and after the event, thanks to the training and information platform Hospitality Academy, a particularly useful tool for professionals in the industry.
For this, the 44th edition of the event, Riva del Garda Fierecongressi has updated and perfected a format that has proved to be a success over the years, boosting the offer with new elements and introducing new branding for all the areas and special events within the exhibition. Starting out with the exhibition space, which is divided into 4 themed areas - Contract & Wellness, Beverage, Food & Equipment, Renovation & Tech – to which two special areas for the beverage sector have been added, Solobirra and RPM – Riva Planet Mixology, dedicated respectively to craft beers and cocktails.
Amongst the new elements is the expansion of the Food area –1,500 extra square meters compared to last year, which will be home to new product categories too this year, in addition to the focus on areas dedicated to new eating habits and culinary traditions, such as Gluten & Lactose Free, Bio, Vegan, Halal and Kosher, thanks to the products displayed by exhibitors from these sectors.
Focus too on sustainability, the driver behind the development of hospitality businesses, as well as a careful eye on the well-being of clients and the design of hotel accommodation, with a number of contract ideas, good-living, outdoor and wellness branded ‘Made in Italy’, guaranteeing quality and craftsmanship, together with unmistakable style. Worthy of special note are the ideas for sustainable mobility, along with management solutions, implemented thanks to artificial intelligence, to make life easier for hoteliers and restaurant owners, and benefitting the end customer, plus brand new ways of recycling and re-use.
“Thanks to the loyalty of our existing exhibitors and the presence of new brands, we are proud to host all the very best from the whole of the Ho.Re.Ca. chain. It is, in fact, a supply chain that is fundamental to the economic development of our country, as it covers both the knowhow that sets ‘Made in Italy’ apart, and also tourism, one of Italy’s driving businesses - continued Carla Costa. – Let’s not forget that the growing interest from both exhibitors and visitors has transformed the exhibition over the years, and it has now become ‘the place to be’ for the Ho.Re.Ca. segment: last year we recorded a turnout of 28,178 visitors, 40% of whom were business owners and therefore decision-makers within this sector.”
The fact that the event has become an important reference point for the hospitality segment was further confirmed by the numerous partnerships with the main trade associations and increasing interest from the various institutions. Indeed, during the press conference, a visit by the State Under-Secretary for cultural assets and activities and tourism, Lorenza Bonaccorsi, was confirmed, expected to take place on Tuesday 4th February.
During the presentation, attention was also drawn to the social aspect of Hospitality, not least through the ‘Food for Good’ project, which combats the wastage of food leftover from the exhibition. And indeed, this year, the event has been chosen by F.I.C. - the Federation of Italian Cooks – as the venue for their first ever national ‘cooking in an emergency’ competition, entitled Emergency Food Contest. It is a project that emerges from the Department of Solidarity in Emergencies of the F.I.C. together with the Italian Civil Protection organisation and the Civil Protection Department of the Autonomous Province of Trento.
At the end of the talks, Roberto Failoni, Assessor for craftsmanship, commerce, promotion, sport and tourism for the Autonomous Province of Trento, emphasised: “Hospitality is an event of great importance for Italian tourism and for Trentino, in particular. We know that in a market as competitive as tourism, the winners are those who strive for quality. And this exhibition, aimed at the hospitality and catering sectors, makes a significant contribution towards raising quality standards. Our efforts also focus on this, in a crucial sector for the Trentino economy, considering the links with the other important sectors of our economic system. We are working to raise the professionalism of those employed in the hospitality sector and to improve the level of facilities.”
Hospitality – the hospitality exhibition, with the patronage of Federalberghi and Federturismo Confindustria, is sponsored by the Autonomous Province of Trento, the Department for Craftsmanship, Commerce, Promotion, Sport and Tourism; Casse Rurali Trentine and Cassa Rurale Alto Garda. Furthermore, the event is brought together in conjunction with local partners, including ‘Confcommercio’ Businesses for Italy – Trentino, The Hoteliers’ Union (UNAT), The Association of Hoteliers and Tourist Businesses of the Trento Province (ASAT) and the Association of Trentino Cooks. Other national organisations are also involved, including the Italian Cooks’ Federation (FIC) with the Coghi Provincial Association of Trentino, the Department for Solidarity and Emergencies of the Italian Cooks’ Federation together with Italian Civil Protection organisation and the Civil Protection Department of the Autonomous Province of Trento and the ‘Beer Ladies’ association.
Information about Hospitality – the Hospitality Exhibition
Organised by Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, Hospitality, (previously Expo Riva Hotel), boasts an exhibition area of over 40,000 square meters. At the 2019 edition, the exhibition recorded record numbers: 525 exhibitors, 21,135 professional operators and more than 28,000 visitors.
www.hosp-itality.it @HospitalityRiva
Contact:
The Hospitality Press Office
Image Building
Tel. 02 89011300
Mailto: hospitality@imagebuilding.it
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