Industry experts warm up for Hospitality Show

PHUKET: The region’s hospitality industry is heating up for the first International Hospitality Show, to be held at the RPM International Exhibition & Conference Center in Phuket from September 24 to 26.

The three-day event will include a trade exhibition featuring: suppliers from all areas of hospitality; a demonstration forum, the Phuket Culinary Fair; and various industry-specific seminars.

Exhibits will be under the following categories: Food & Drink; Hotel, Bakery; Restaurant & Food Service Equipment; Supplies & Services.

With just under a week left until the exhibition, the organizers are urging interested exhibitors to make their reservations before space runs out.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE:

Thursday, Sept 24

1pm. Spa-Focused Seminar – Purification in the 21st Century with Deborah Williamson from Puriti Programs for Life.

Endorsed by the Thai Spa Association, this is a comprehensive look at the cause and effect of toxins and chemical agents on health and wellbeing, following the global mind shift towards raw living foods and natural body purification methods, informative ways to improve health through plant based nutrition.

3pm. Organic-Focused Seminar – Organic foods and products: The challenges and constraints for the hospitality industry with Vitoon Panyakul, Executive Director of Green Net.

Endorsed by the Thai Organic Trade Association, this seminar looks at the challenges of the next mainstreaming phase of organic foods and eco-products moving into the hospitality industries.

7pm. Inaugural four-course dinner (1,500 baht net) by Mom Tri’s Boathouse Regatta with a key-note presentation on Customer Expectation Management by Eric Liebman, Managing Director, IQ Asia.

Mr Liebman will delve into the issue of customer/staff interaction and how to implement programs that improve customer loyalty, brand development and revenue generation.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Mom Tri’s Jazz Trio.

Friday, Sept 25

1pm. Environmental-Focused Seminar – Responsible Business Practices

Siwapon Laolada, Environmental Officer for Evason Six Senses Resort & Spa, will discuss responsible business practices by redefining experiences of a luxury resort, such as improving operational costs, average room rate and getting a good return on investment through long-term business strategies.

She will also elaborate on the Six Senses SLOW LIFE concept (Sustainable-Local-Organic-Wholesome Learning-Inspiring-Fun-Experience).

3pm. Sales & Marketing-Focused Seminar – Cultivating Brand Equity for Competitive Advantage – Lessons for Hospitality Firms

Gerard Gonzales from the Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management Research will emphasize the importance of building strong brands and offer practical strategies on how hospitality firms can gain competitive advantages by cultivating brand equity, avoiding branding pitfalls and stretching the brand.

Saturday, Sept 26

1pm. Technology-Focused Seminar – The Future of IP Services in Hospitality: Converged Networks

Endorsed by the Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals Association – Asia Chapter.

This presentation will look at how the demands and needs of guests and hotel management have changed and offer a new range of solutions based on a shared IP based backbone.

3pm. Tourism-Focused Seminar – 2009 Phuket Tourism and Market Intelligence Update – Mid-Year Edition.

Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks and ThePhuketInsider.com, will review this year’s figures for Phuket tourism and hospitality industries and forecast market recovery prospects. He will also talk about market trends, risk and recovery dynamics on tourism, hotel operating trends and the new supply pipeline.

5.30pm. Wine Phuket (300 baht per person) will give visitors opportunities to meet and discuss wines in detail with expert sommeliers, suppliers and wine makers. Wine trends will be on the table for discussion, including organic and biodynamic wines with Monika Bielka Vescovi, Sommelier and Beverage Manager at the Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa.

There will also be instructional wine tasting with Wine Director and F&B Manager for Mom Tri’s Boathouse Regatta Georges Ciret.

Over the three days, there will also be daily demonstrations and presentations at exhibitors’ booths.

At the Six Senses booth, visitors can get head and shoulder massages, learn about the power of wheat grass juice and water purification with gemstones, and observe SLOW LIFE cocktail demonstrations.

At the Acqua Restaurant booth, owner and executive chef Alessandro Frau will be giving demonstrations on molecular gastronomy, spherification and presentation of dishes, and step by step instructions on making mozzarella cheese.

For more information or to make reservations for any of the events, contact Project Manager Jennifer Drew. Tel: 076-360 808, 080-146 2673.

— Gazette Reporters