Side events

In its last shows, Hostelco, which is committed to providing a service to the sectors, has incorporated important initiatives which have contributed to showing the commercial, economic, technological and cultural aspects of the hotel and catering world. Loyal to its tradition and with the aim of celebrating its 25th anniversary, Hostelco will pay special attention to staging different side events which, according to plans, will be held in hall Z6

In this sense and ratifying its role as a cultural platform, the next Hostelco will contribute to a very important pedagogical issue: child nutrition. For this reason, the show is organising the “Forum of the stars”, in which various culinary artists –some of them holders of Michelin stars- with the slogan “Eat well, grow better” will carry out workshops aimed at showing children the patterns of a healthy and balanced diet.

In the “Gastrovisión” space, visitors will be able to see a live demonstration of how different dishes are prepared. The kitchens, separated from the public by a glass partition, will be fully operational and serve the dishes in the restaurant set up in the same area. “Gastrovisión” will have the collaboration of the hotel chain “Paradores de Turismo” which was already backing this activity in 1981.

Another highlight will be the exhibition “Hostelco: 25 years looking towards the future”. Using images, murals and other elements, it will link the evolution of the trade show to the development of the sectors it represents and their future prospects.

The exhibition will include the technological innovations which, over the last quarter of a century, have been milestones in industrial kitchens, from the deep-fat fryer and the gas barbecue in the 70s to the induction cooker in the 90s. Taking into account the major changes in new technologies, the automation of processes and communications, the exhibition will also feature an important section on tourist and hotel establishments of the future through the recreation of possible settings and defining medium and long term objectives.

Simultaneously, the exhibition will present a complete panorama of the different stages of trade exchanges –from bartering to trade fairs- related to gastronomy and the raw materials it depends on. 

The Coffee Area makes its debut at Hostelco

According to data supplied by the “Forum Cultural del Café” (Cultural Coffee Forum), Spain is the fourth largest buyer of coffee in Europe and seventh in the world. Barcelona is considered to be the Spanish coffee capital because of the number of outlets and headquarters of leading franchises of coffee shops and specialised stores, comparable in importance and prestige only to the US city Seattle.

In ratification of the sector boom, the Coffee Area is making its debut at Hostelco. In addition to a full range, this area will feature different activities which will include an interactive space where visitors will be able to attend conferences or participate in tastings of coffees from all over the world. The Coffee Area will also host the 1st National Barista Championship, organised with the collaboration of the “Fórum Cultural del Café” and the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe, SCAE, which is open to specialised baristas from all Spanish Autonomous Communities. The winner, chosen by a panel of judges of the World Barista Championship, WBC, will represent Spain in the World Championship which will be held in Japan in 2007.