A Singapore expo sure to whet your appetite

Singapore is one of my favorite countries in Southeast Asia, and this April 22 to 25 there are more reasons to visit, with the largest food and hospitality event in Asia, the FHA 2008 or the Food and Hotel Asia 2008. The venue is the biggest in Asia, consisting of seven hectares with a total of 3,300 international participants from sixty countries and 40 international group pavilions. The target of the FHA 2008 is to give participants access to the latest products, services and technological solutions that specifically cater to their business needs. This “one-stop shop” is an avenue to learn the latest industry trends, issues, and to give participants the opportunity to meet future partners for their businesses.

An example is the Food Asia exhibit, which showcases the latest products in the world, from various meats and seafood, to chilled and frozen foods, and various health products and their benefits just to name a few. One participant representing our country is Juan Alfredo Patag, a Filipino who has partnered with Franklin Baker, and will display desiccated coconut products and its potential uses, raising awareness in the world market and aiding our local coconut industry. At the Wine and Spirits exhibition, guests are treated to the best wines, with interactive wine analysis and appreciation from expert wine connoisseurs from all parts of the world. For baking enthusiast, there is the Bakery and Pastry 2008 where the latest baking equipment such as refrigerators, display and shop-fitting equipment, and huge commercial equipment for mass production will be showcased.

 World-class competitions will be held in various exhibition grounds including the FHA Culinary Challenge, the FHA imperial Challenge or the best Chinese cuisine competition, the inaugural Asia Barista Championship, the Asian Pastry Cup, and The FHA 2008 Wines and Spirit Asia Challenge. There is the Asia Pacific Travel Catering event, which addresses the airline, rail, and ferry catering sectors, tapping in to the latest trends in the travel and food market, making food preparation and service easier, faster and more accessible.

This expo allows guest from the culinary, wine, hospitality, and travel industries to all come together under one roof and discover interactively the latest trends in the business. As Mr. Stephen Tan, chief executive of Singapore Exhibition Services and president of Allworld Exhibition Alliance, explained at a recent press conference, “The show presents an opportunity for international buyers to enter and tap into the booming Asian F&B as well as hospitality markets, and is where they can find the latest industry intelligence, products and services, network with business community and meet the key decision makers in one place.”

The Food and Hotel Asia 2008 takes place at Singapore Expo from April 22 to 24, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and April 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event is open to business and trade visitors only. Free entry is allowed for visitors who are pre-registered visitors with invitation tickets; an admission fee of S$80 (multiple entry) will apply to visitors without an invitation ticket.

For more information, visit www.sesallworld.com or e-mail events@sesallworld.com.  You must pre-register before April 14. To pre-register, visit www.foodnhotelasia.com.