With exhibition space up by 40% over the previous year, stronger international and regional participation and an expanded programme of events and competitions…
With exhibition space up by 40% over the previous year, stronger international and regional participation and an expanded programme of events and competitions, the 5th International Hospitality Forum, which will take place from 20 to 22 September 2005 at the Amman International Exhibition hall in Marj al Hamam, promises to be a great event for all industry professionals and a must-visit show that should not be missed by local and regional visitors from the food and beverage, hotel, technology, catering, foodservice, supermarket, health and fitness, equipment and restaurant sectors.
The business-to-business trade show will encompass every possible aspect of the industry, from food and beverage, food processing machinery; hotel, refrigeration and food service equipment; baking products and equipment to hotel supplies, furniture, decorative items, uniforms, gym and spa equipment, education, maintenance and hygiene and hospitality information systems.
The popular Culinary Art Show will bring together more than 80 of the most promising chefs from Jordan to compete in 11 categories, including chocolate showpieces, cake decoration, pastry and sugar pieces, gastronomic creations, vegetarian dishes and others. The three-day culinary extravaganza will be judged by a panel of renowned jury members.
Organisers have added a new contest this year to affirm the important role that interior decorators and designers have in this fast growing industry. Jordanian creativity will be put to the test at the first ever Window Fashions Contest to be held in the Arab world. Working with a number of sponsors, including In Design and National Paints, designers will choose their wall coverings, paint, furniture and decorative items to create a sample dressed-up window for a cafe or a restaurant in an upscale area of Amman. A Jury of prominent architects, designers and restaurant owners will judge the entries.
Hotels and event planners will, once again, compete to present outstanding dinner settings for 8 persons which is running under a “Sea Breeze” theme.
Concurrent with Jordan`s fast developing information and communication technologies sector, IHF has teamed up with Batelco Jordan to provide state-of-the art communication services through a wireless network, thus providing exhibitors and visitors with high speed internet connectivity from anywhere inside the exhibition hall.
Visitors to the International Hospitality Forum will be able to watch Jordan’s 2nd Bartenders’ Competition taking place. More than 20 Jordanian bartenders from hotels, restaurants and bars will compete to create exquisite cocktail drinks where taste, presentation, flaring techniques, cleanliness and other factors will be closely examined by a group of experts.
Due to the remarkable investment in tourism, hospitality and leisure projects that is underway at, particularly, the Dead Sea and Aqaba, many former international exhibitors have expanded their exhibition space and a lot more have joined the show for the first time. The US and Italy have expanded their national pavilions by more than 6 times, the South Africans have doubled in size, and Australia came into the show for the first time. Other regional pavilions include a large participation from the Lebanon representing a wide range of products.
The Italian Trade Commission in Amman is grouping more than 20 Italian companies in its pavilion who will be displaying various products including food service equipment, coffee machines, furniture, lighting fixtures, mattresses, kitchens, laundry machines and others. In addition, countries participating in the International Hospitality Forum include a large presence by Jordanian companies, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Lebanon & others.
IHF 2005 will attract many Iraqi businessmen to visit the 3-day event through a hosted buyers programme that aims to bring hundreds of Iraqi businessmen from the three regions in Iraq: north, central and the southern regions. As Jordan is acting as the regional hub for business activities for Iraq, many Iraqi visitors are expected to visit the show. According to recent surveys, more than 300,000 Iraqis reside in Jordan. Many Iraqi companies have opened offices in Jordan and most American and international companies who have secured contracts, or are pursuing business in Iraq have also opened offices in Jordan, in addition to, the UN agencies and international bilateral and multilateral organisations who are conducting their Iraq operations from Amman.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
