CHECK INTO AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST HOSPITALITY SHOW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

13 Jul 2004

Professionals from the food and hospitality industries will converge on the
Melbourne Exhibition Centre from 6 - 9 September 2004 for Hotel Australia – the biggest hospitality event in the country.

Hotel Australia is a showcase for all the new ideas in hospitality and catering. It features hundreds of exhibitors with new products for hotels, motels, restaurants, clubs and institutional caterers.

A huge bonus for visitors is that this event runs alongside Fine Food, the biggest food and drink exhibition in the country. This year also sees the launch of Fine Wine & Spirits – a trade show featuring alcoholic beverages from around the world.

Together these three shows will feature over 800 exhibitors and fill the entire Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

"The nature of the hospitality business with its long hours and demanding work schedules makes it difficult for investors and operators to keep up with the latest innovations and trends" said Timothy Collett Exhibition Director.

“Hotel Australia and the associated events give hospitality operators access to all the suppliers and new products in one place at one time. The can see, try and buy in a professional environment with all the majors on show. They can also network with their industry peers”.

The exhibitor list is huge. Catering equipment suppliers include Angelo Po, B&S, Comcater, Curtin, FSM, Goldstein, Hobart, Irinox, JL Lennard, Moffat, Skope, Watsons and Williams.

Hospitality product suppliers include Australian Fine China, Cedar, Coorey, Concept Amenities, Hospitality Textiles, JayTex, Miele and Zozobra. Technology suppliers include Casio, Epson, Palmteq, Quicken, Sharp and Starsound.

New products include the Tableshox - an automatic, self adjusting hydraulic foot that eliminates table wobbles and Bag Snag - an innovative device aimed at reducing bag theft and getting bags off the floor.

Associated Events

• Melbourne Culinary Challenge
  Once again Hotel Australia will host the Melbourne Culinary Challenge. This is Melbourne’s only official Chef Competition. It is staged by the Australian Culinary Federation with Kraft as major sponsor.
  
  This year’s event will feature three live kitchens, where top restaurants will compete for $10,000 cash prize. There will also be a static display area and an industry seminar theatre.
  
  Other competitions taking place at the show include The Great Aussie Meat Pie Competition, Bakeskills Australia and the Best of the Best Pizza Challenge. Check www.finefoodexpo.com.au for more details
  

• Masters of Australian Food & Wine 2004
  The Masters of Australian Food and wine is a dynamic showcase event with leading culinary professionals from around the world sharing their cuisine and creativity using Australian produce. They will be appearing at the exhibition and in the Crown Restaurants.
  
  Six of the world’s best female chefs will be flying out for the Masters. They are Karin Fransson from Sweden, Angela Hartnett (UK), Lea Linster (Luxembourg), Jin R (Zhang Jan Jie) from People’s Republic of China, Reine Sammut (France) and Sherry Yard from USA.
  

• Fine Wine & Spirits
  This new event will provide visitors from licensed premises with the opportunity to see all the very latest liquor products and services for their business under the one roof. More than 150 producers and importers of wine, beer and spirits will be exhibiting, including group stands from Western Australia and New Zealand.
  
  Major exhibitors include Drink City International, New Zealand Winegrowers, J Boag & Son, Carlton & United Breweries, Premium Beverages, McWilliams Wines, Westwood Wine Agencies, J H L Wine Agencies plus many brands and companies launching into the market.
  
  Fine Wine & Spirits will also stage a series of seminars and forums focusing on key issues facing the trade along with a range of appreciation classes. Speakers include award winning writer Robert Joseph from the United Kingdom and Rob Hicks, presenter of Melbourne’s longest running wine show “Grape Expectations’.
  

• Free Foodservice Seminars
  A series of free seminars on Monday 6 September will be an added bonus. These will be held in a purpose-built theatre on the show floor and are designed to boost the profitability of restaurants, hotels and clubs. Appropriately they will start with a back of house tour of the exhibition centre.
  
  Timothy Collett says “Hotel Australia, Fine Food and Fine Wine are a must-visit for hospitality professionals. With over 800 exhibitors from around the world there is no doubt this is the place for hotels, motels and restaurants to check-in for new ideas”.
  
  Hotel Australia and Fine Food will run at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from 6-9 September 2004. Fine Wine & Spirits runs from 6-8 September only. Open hours are Monday 10–6, Tuesday 12–9, Wednesday 10-5 and Thursday 10-5.
  
  Entry to Hotel Australia is restricted to persons working in the hotel, motel and restaurant sectors. Persons not in these categories including children will not be admitted. Visitors to Fine Wine & Spirits must be over 18 and represent a licensed premise. Proof of business identification may be required.
  

To obtain further details on the exhibitions, events, seminars and to register visit www.hotelexpo.com.au or call 03 9261 4520