H&C EXPO launch attracts guests from all over the UK
The H&C EXPO officially launched Monday 10th July at The Celtic Manor Resort, where more than seventy guests heard about the event, dubbed ‘the first of a kind for the UK hospitality and catering industry taking place in Wales.’
Guests travelled from Scotland to take part and many other parts of the UK, London and the North West of England were particularly well represented.
Margaret Llewellyn OBE, Chair of the Welsh Government’s Tourism Advisory Board, chef Cyrus Todiwala OBE, Arwyn Watkins, President of the Culinary Association of Wales, Matthew Lewis, Operations Director of The Celtic Manor and ICC Wales were among those invited to speak at the launch event, hosted by Hospitality and Catering News Publisher Denis Sheehan and H&C EXPO Exhibition Director Mark Harris.
H&C Expo will take place across three floors of the Celtic Manor Resort’s convention centre in July 2018 for two days where an estimated 4,000 attendees will be able to visit six clear zones:
- Trade Zone – circa 100 exhibitors and ‘the ultimate coffee shop’
- Tasting Zone – food and drink features and tastings
- VIP Hosted Buyer Lounge – where 300 hosted buyers will meet with exhibitors and sponsors
- Learning Zone – hosting 12 round table discussions and masterclasses
- Mentor Zone – giving hospitality professionals the chance to meet industry leaders
- Skills Zone – a dedicated area for skills providers
A charity golf day will also be held to raise funds for the Hospitality and Catering Expo’s official charity partners – The Clink and Foxes Academy.
The golf day at the Celtic Manor is where the 2010 Ryder Cup took place, a true championship course. We are delighted to report that eight teams signed up on launch day to take part, if your company wants to also take part please contact H&C EXPO’s Golf Day Co-ordinator Graham Cook.
In 2019, H&C EXPO will be the inaugural event at the £83.7m International Convention Centre Wales when it opens in the grounds of the resort.
In the Opening in 2019, the ICC Wales is located withgrounds of the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport just two minutes from the M4. The new-build 26,000sqm venue will accommodate 5,000 delegates and includes a 4,000sqm pillar-free main hall, a 1,500 seated auditorium, 12 flexible meeting rooms, a double-height glass atrium and a 2,500sqm outdoor plaza for outside events and teambuilding.
The ICC Wales is a joint venture between the owners of the Celtic Manor Resort and Welsh Government and is managed by Celtic Manor’s expert leadership team responsible for the successful delivery of the 2014 NATO Summit and the 2010 Ryder Cup.
Sheehan said: “H&C EXPO will be an event that brings together the best of British hospitality and catering to showcase the latest products and services at the Celtic Manor in 2018 and as the opening event at ICC Wales in 2019.
“There is no doubt about it, the UK exhibition and media landscape is changing and H&C EXPO and our partners are leading that change. I welcome everyone here today to join us and be part of that change.”
Speaking about why she was supporting the H&C EXPO, Llewellyn said: “Anyone who knows me, knows I am passionate about getting skills developed in our industry. I want to meet people in the street who tell me that their children are going to work in this industry and will have careers in it. We are the second largest business sector in Wales and employ people in every single county of Wales. We should embrace the industry and use this conference to help develop it.”
Todiwala added: “Something like this shows we are an in industry not to be messed around with. Also, Welsh produce is fabulous.” He added: “It’s going to be a must attend event and we’ll get great chefs from around the country to impart some of their knowledge and skills to others.”
Watkins, who led the culinary team hosting the World Chef’s European Conference at the Celtic Manor earlier this year, said: “We’re really proud to be involved at the very early stage of the H&C EXPO. We have got a huge people shortage in this industry and I’m hoping that through this event we can highlight what is really, really good about this industry as well as highlight what is great about Wales and the whole of our industry.”
What others think:
Calum Milne, managing director, Llangoed Hall, said: “I’m looking forward to the focus on skills and was delighted to hear about the sustainability round table. Llangoed Hall is the Conde Nast Sustainable Restaurant of the Year, so it’s an area that is important to us. It’s also an incentive to visit The Celtic Manor – there’s nowhere else like it in Wales.
Michael Bates, executive chef, Celtic Manor Resort: “I’m excited about the forthcoming EXPO and it’s encouraging that a lot of people have come to share the news. We need to embrace the industry and bring more people into it and one of the ways we can do that is by holding events like this.”
Jason Lawrence, general manager, The Clink, Cardiff: “I’m really excited about and proud to be a part of the H&C EXPO. It will open up lots of opportunities for the charity.”
Ben Hardwick, Head of Sales and Marketing, Caffia Coffee Group: “I was impressed with the vision, venue and viability, so now looking forward being part of a very special event for our industry.”
If you are interested in taking part in H&C EXPO 2018 please contact:
Denis Sheehan: 02921 674271
dsheehan@handcnews.com
Hospitality and Catering News, Tec Marina, Terra Nova Way, Penarth, Cardiff UK, CF64 1SA
