Ramada Plaza set to welcome Hospitality Exchange 2016

 October 18 and 19 will see the annual Hospitality Exchange trade event open its doors at the Ramada Plaza hotel in Belfast.

More than 1000 industry visitors are expected to attend the two-day event, where they’ll enjoy a programme of seminars, workshops, practical demonstrations and social get-togethers, as well as a bustling trade show.

The full programme for this year’s HE event has yet to be released, but organiser – the NI Hotel Federation – has just announced that two-starred Michelin chef, Daniel Clifford, proprietor of the fabulous Midsummer House restaurant in Cambridge – will take centre stage at this year’s event as we continue to celebrate the NI Year of Food and Drink.

Regarded as one of the most inventive chefs in the UK, Daniel Clifford has an exceptional pedigree, having trained at some of the best restaurants in the UK and France. In addition to his time with Jean Bardet – whom Clifford cites as his biggest influence – he also spent time with Simon Gueller at Rascasse and Marco Pierre White at The Box Tree.

His story in Midsummer House began in 1998 and he was awarded his first Michelin star in 2002, followed by a second in 2005. The restaurant continues to win acclaim holding five AA Rosettes and a TripAdvisor Travellers Choice award. It is also noted as one of the best restaurants in the UK by the Waitrose Good Food Guide.

His extensive and wide-ranging experience has contributed to his internationally acclaimed cuisine, hailed as modern British cooking underpinned by an unmistakably French style.

His panache in the kitchen saw him win the Great British Menu in 2012 and 2013, latterly progressing to the role of judge. His stature in the industry was acknowledged in 2015 when he was named the AA Chef’s Chef of the year and he continues to make regular appearances on Masterchef: The Professionals; Saturday Kitchen and Burger Bar to Gourmet Star.

In 2016, a member of his talented team at Midsummer House will represent Northern Ireland in the 2016 Great British Menu competition.

“I am delighted to be taking part in Hospitality Exchange 2016 and visiting Northern Ireland,” Daniel said recently. “I look forward to be introduced to some great local produce and celebrating the Year of Food and Drink.”

INDUSTRY GROWTH UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT AT HE 2016

Janice Gault from the NI Hotels Federation, which organises Hospitality Exchange, has revealed that this year’s event at the Ramada Plaza will be focusing very much on an industry which is expansion mode.

Speaking to LCN this month, she said that she felt there was “a great buzz” around the local hotel sector at present and that hotels themselves should be considered as “game changers”:

“In addition to our celebrity chef at this year’s event, we have also brought on board Derek Bulmer, a former editor of the Michelin Guide for GB and Ireland,” she added. “He now runs Martini Consultancy, a specialist advisor to hotels and restaurants that can help people with service standards, pricing and how they can ensure that their business is fit for purpose.

“We recognise that expansion for the industry means that we need to focus outwards into the world. This will require us to be better at what we do and it’s not just about things like Michelin Stars, it’s about ensuring that our high standards are as widely recognised as possible.”

Also on the bill is Professor Robert Kwortnik from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, who will be delivering a marketing masterclass during Hospitality Exchange. Professor Kwortnik will produce a blended marketing approach that will capitalise on the unique features of Northern Ireland as well as being cost-effective and taking on board trends such as social media.

“As usual, we will also be considering the economic benefits of tourism and the potential that it offers,” added Janice. “This will be covered by the Economic Policy Centre at the Ulster University, who have been commissioned to look at the potential of the industry and the benefits that expansion could yield, as well as the opportunities and challenges presented by Brexit.”

The Hospitality Exchange Business Breakfast will offer industry insight and financial guidance in the areas of performance and asset realisation.

STAGE SET FOR TOP TRADE SHOW

As has become customary, attendance at Hospitality Exchange 2016 will grant delegates admission to the trade show.

And as this magazine went to press, stands at the 2016 trade event were all but sold out:

“This is the perfect platform for those people with a service or a product that they want to showcase to a hospitality audience,” said organiser, Janice Gault recently. “The trade show is always well supported, it’s a busy event, ideal for networking and for keeping you abreast of the very latest developments in the industry. There will also be some attractive discounts available for delegates at Hospitality Exchange.”

Around 50 exhibitors – including Licensed & Catering News – are expected to set-up shop at this year’s HE event, representing some of the most successful suppliers and agencies working in hospitality today across Ireland and GB.

Already booked to attend this year are Henderson Foodservice; Bunzl McLaughlin; Calor Gas; Lynas Foodservice; Stephens Catering; Winterhalter; Linencare; Dillon Bass and many more.

“This is traditionally one of the busiest and most popular elements of the Hospitality Exchange event,” confirmed Janice Gault. “It’s the perfect environment for networking and a great way to find out about products and services that can only help your business do better. Whatever you come to Hospitality Exchange to see, make sure that you don’t miss our trade show.”

And speaking more generally about HE 2016, Janice added:

“This hospitality and tourism event is seen as a great platform for the industry where it can come together to discuss all those issues that concern us and consider the year ahead. This is a vibrant and exciting industry with opportunities for new business to come on board, particularly hotels, and for tourism generally to capitalise on our reinvigorated society.

“Opportunity certainly lies ahead, I believe, and attendance at Hospitality Exchange is something that will help any operator get a clearer picture of where their business needs to be positioned and what it needs to do to make the best of the times ahead.”

SHOWCASE FORUM WILL BE BIG DRAW

The popular morning debate and discussion event that takes place at HE on the second morning always attracts a strong audience of hospitality professionals keen to gain some fresh insight into the likely shape of the industry’s future here in Northern Ireland.

Full details are not yet available on just who will be taking part in this year’s session, which will be chaired by the BBC’s Mark Simpson, but topical issues and the challenges currently faced by the sector will certainly be on the agenda.

Last year’s Tourism Forum event was a major element of the HE programme. Chaired, on that occasion, by Wendy Austin, the panel comprised Tracey Rodgers, managing director of Unilever Food Services; Ufi Ibrahim, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association; Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland and Kathryn Thomson, former chief operating officer with Tourism Northern Ireland.

Licensed & Catering News, which is one of the sponsors of this event, has 25 tickets for this event to give away to readers this month. To be in with a chance of collecting one, just send your name, company and contact number details – clearly marked – to russell.campbell@pentonpublications.co.uk

A big part of Hospitality Exchange’s role involves keeping the industry informed about issues and development and this forum event sits at the heart of that mission.

It will be followed by a special lunch at which a keynote political address is set to be delivered. It’s expected that the topics touched on will include economic strategy and the Programme for Government.

“Opportunity certainly lies ahead for the industry and attendance at Hospitality Exchange is something that will help any operator get a clearer picture of where their business needs to be positioned and what it needs to do to make the best of the times ahead,” said organiser, Janice Gault.