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21/08/2006
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Hostelco is celebrating its 25th anniversary with excellent occupancy prospects and the unanimous support of the sector
An intensive programme of parallel activities will be taking place between 21 and 25 October.
The thirteenth edition of Hostelco, the International Restaurant, Hotel and Community Equipment Exhibition, which will be taking place between 21 and 25 October 2006, is once again enjoying the unanimous support of the sector which is reflected in its excellent occupancy prospects.
Held every two years, this year Hostelco is celebrating its 25th anniversary with positive contracting figures and the objective of reaching 1,000 direct exhibitors in the sectors that service the world of hotels, restaurants and communities.
As of this date, more than 90% of requests for exhibition space have already been received, a figure that is well above the numbers recorded by this time in 2004. For the third consecutive time, the exhibition will be achieving full occupancy of the Montjuïc venue with an exhibition area of more than 60,000 m2, presenting the product ranges of almost all the leading companies in this sector.
In line with the figures at the previous edition, 80% of exhibitors are Spanish and the other 20% are foreign, most of them from the European Union, predominated by Italy, France and Portugal. In 2004, the exhibition showed an increase of 9% in foreign visitor numbers, who came from 109 different countries, with a high percentage of EU member states. One of the objectives of the forthcoming event is to increase the numbers of these visitors to give a boost to the continued internationalisation of Hostelco.
Hostelco originated 25 years ago with its own unique personality and the mission of becoming a key factor in the development of the industries it represents, which has been reflected at all times in the changes made to respond to the sector’s needs. This considerable experience has made it the leading event in Spain and the second most important in Europe for the hotel, restaurant and community sector.
The president of the exhibition’s Organising Committee, Jesús Mora, points out that “one of Hostelco’s main assets is that it has the unanimous backing of the entire hotel, restaurant and community sector. The exhibition has managed to adapt to the demands of a highly dynamic sector in the throes of expansion and today is a commercial platform of the first order which represents new trends and technologies in every segment of the sector”.
Likewise, the director of Hostelco, Isabel Piñol, believes that “the evolution of Hostelco over 25 years and 12 events has been constant, and directly proportional to the growth of the sectors represented at the Exhibition.” In her opinion, “the hotel, restaurant and community market is extremely dynamic and has developed tremendously all over Spain, supported by the increase in tourism and new consumer habits that have had a huge impact on the sector represented by Hostelco. Thanks to the support of the hotel and restaurant industry and the exhibition’s own vocation for service, this year we will be celebrating 25 years of successes which, far from being representing an end in itself, offers us the opportunity to prepare for a future full of new challenges”.
There is no doubt that the hotel and restaurant sector is one of the most important activities to the Spanish economy, as demonstrated by the fact that it generates 8.5% of the Spanish GDP. This is a sector with enormous potential that is strongly rooted in this country. According to a study by Market AAD, the sector has gone from a turnover of 10,631 million euros in 1982 to more than 80,000 million euros today, relating to the following market sub-sectors:
Bars and Cafés
Restaurants
Communities and Catering
Tourism is the big driving force behind this sector which, along with new eating habits in Spain, is responsible for the main source of revenue.
In this respect, it is worth highlighting the fact that following the downturn after the events of 11 September 2001 in New York, the tourism sector achieved record numbers of visitors in 2004, reaching a historic incoming tourism figure of 54 million arrivals, which represented 11% of the Spanish GDP. In 2005, this figure increased by another 6.2% (source: INE). In 2006, records indicate the same trend is continuing. Spain is now the second most-visited country in the world in terms of international tourism which is reflected in the hotel and restaurant industry.
Biennial frequency
Right at the outset, Hostelco was established with a biennial frequency to present the most innovative products and services in the sectors of equipment and machinery for the hotel and restaurant sector; cookware and tableware; management, control, computer and security systems; textiles and uniforms; furniture and decoration, and food and drink for the hotel, restaurant and community sector; EXPOLIMP: equipment and products for dry cleaning, laundry, hygiene and cleaning; vending and service companies.
The Exhibition finalised its twelfth edition with an exhibition area of more than 60,000 net m2 and the participation of over 2,000 leading companies in the sectors that service the world of hotels, restaurants and communities. Furthermore, the exhibition provided an important platform for debate, hosting more than 70 technical seminars and other activities.
Hostelco is organised by the Fira de Barcelona, the leading organiser of trade fairs and professional events in Spain and one of the top four in Europe in terms of the number of events, and by FELAC, the Spanish Federation of Hospitality and Catering Equipment Manufacturers.
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(Informationsquelle: Fira Barcelona)
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