Hotel show to propel Lankan hospitality to world stage
Saturday, 22 March 2014 00:00
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From 13 to 15 June Sri Lanka’s hospitality and partner industries will converge at Hotel Show 2014, the largest trade exhibition of its kind in South Asia. This year the Hotel Show Committee sets a more interactive tone to the event with the introduction of a barista and pizza making competition. An International Hoteliers Conference is also added to the agenda for the first time and will be held at a separate venue.
Since 1998, the exhibition has a history of drawing in crowds to the BMICH where it will continue to be held this year for the ninth time.
Owing to its immense popularity the Hotel Show was advanced from a biennial to an annual event in 2012. Over 300 exhibitors will showcase portfolios covering the latest technology in room technology, laundry, air conditioning, hygiene and catering, architecture, gardening, landscaping, outdoor furniture, swimming pools, waste management, software systems and modern security systems and a wide array of hotel supplies. Over 90% of the country’s hotels visit the show from as far as northern and eastern perimeters of the country. The street food carnival is a much looked forward to aspect of the show attracting hospitality professionals and the public alike.
“The overriding purpose of the show is to cultivate healthy relationships between hospitality providers, suppliers and the community,” explained Hotel Show Committee Co-chairman Niroshan de Silva. “The only way to achieve our growth potential is through harmonious relationships. Hotel Show is a platform for counterparts to speak to each other. It is a one stop shop for anyone in the hospitality field or potential entrants.
“Having studied market developments, we decided to introduce two new competitions that will give contestants the opportunity to display personality, showmanship, technique and presentation skills. The Fastest Pizza Maker competition recognises the pressure of the Quick Service Restaurant industry,” he elaborated.
The Hotel Show Committee Chairman Trevine Gomez related the committee’s thoughts behind the Sri Lanka Barista Championship. “We recognised the growing coffee culture in Sri Lanka and understood the value we could add by connecting the players as well as paving the way for innovation. The competition will recognise contestants’ skills in preparing coffee and tea specifically looking at art, taste, foam and froth of milk. Our criterion is based on international standards and eventually we hope to select winners to represent Sri Lanka on the international stage.”
The two competitions will be preceded by training sessions by the Ceylon Hotel School Graduates’ Association (CHSGA) Vice President Niroshan de Silva. “This year we will introduce an International Hoteliers’ Conference in conjunction with the Hotel Show. It is a forum for General Managers and owners of properties to exchange insight on topics such as trends in business management with a focus on boutique hotels, villas and resort management and explore how to best attract tourists,” he said in relation to another first by the Hotel Show.
A student counter managed by the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) will be dedicated to provide career guidance at the event. With alumni of the institute accounting for 95% of Sri Lanka’s hotel managers, the SLITHM is a well-recognised body. “As the largest professional body in the country, we have a responsibility to spread a sense of professionalism,” remarked CHSGA President Eksath Wijeratne. “We have seen an unprecedented boom in the leisure sector. It has attracted the interest of many entrepreneurs as well as international chains. The Hotel Show will place suppliers from every area at one location allowing visitors to make easy comparisons. Often international companies fly in principles for the show that bring with them a wealth of expertise.”
The Hotel Show is organised by the CHSGA together with Lanka Exhibition & Conference Services, a Presidential Award winning exhibition organiser. It is endorsed by the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and the Sri Lanka Association of Professional Conference, Exhibition & Event Organisers. While Abans PLC is supporting this prestigious event as the Diamond Sponsor, Lanka Loha continues its support as the Platinum Sponsor, Promo Lanka Marketing/Euro Kitchens Trading and Contracting, and Abdul Rahims HORECA joining as Gold Sponsors along with Pragmatic International coming on board for the first time as Silver Sponsor.
