BY RAYNALD C RIVERA
DOHA: Hospitality Qatar 2015 is expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors to 111 stands representing 12 countries spread on over 5,000sqm exhibition space, say organisers.
George Ayache, General Manager, IFP (International Fairs and Promotions), organisers of the event, said this year’s edition of the exhibition has witnessed a record number of exhibitors and massive exhibition space.
Ayache was speaking at a press conference yesterday at InterContinental The City.
“The exhibition does reflect the growth the hospitality sector is going through in Qatar,” he said, stressing efforts of the government towards the sector.
Hospitality Qatar 2015, the 360°Hospitality and HORECA (Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes) show, is scheduled from October 13 to 15 at Doha Exhibition Centre (DEC) under the patronage of Minister of Economy and Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani.
The three-day event will feature B2B matchmaking, Salon Culinaire, Mocktail competition and workshops organised by Boecker and Qatar Culinary Professionals (QCP) association.
The Salon Culinaire, co-organised by QCP, will be supervised by World Association of Chefs Societies for Africa and the Middle East (WACS) and judged by 10 regional and international experts. At Mocktail Competition, bartenders will showcase knowledge and ability to create the tastiest mocktail in Doha.
Chef Baran Yucel, Chairman, QCP, said as a platform for chefs and hotelier professionals committed to supporting chefs and promoting Qatari food tradition worldwide, QCP is supporting the event to further show commitment to the expanding hospitality industry in the country.
“Implementation of the Salon Culinaire in the past years has been a great platform for chefs to showcase and grow their skills,” said Imad Askar, Director of Operations, ASKAR, official kitchen sponsor.
Askar said the contest will be a good preparation for chefs for future and larger-scale international competitions.
“We believe chefs are the pillars of the hospitality industry and through the years of opening more high-end hotels and restaurants in the country the calibre and the bar have been raised to meet international standards of excellence,” he said.
Boecker will act as hygiene jury and conduct free training on HACCP and basic food hygiene awareness for food handlers.
“Hospitality Qatar is a large platform for us to increase awareness on food safety among food handlers and we want to elevate the level of food safety in the hospitality sector.
“We will be the official hygiene jury in the live cooking section making sure chefs are following international standards of food safety,” said Carla Ghaleb, Country Manager, Boecker.
The Peninsula
