Hotelympia 2012 promises new initiatives and more visitor interaction

Hotelympia 2012 promises new initiatives and more visitor interaction, according to event organiser Fresh RM.

The five-day hospitality trade show returns to London's ExCel from 26 February to 1 March next year with the Innovation Awards.

The six 2012 finalists in each category - design, equipment, food & drink, and technology - will pitch their products behind closed doors in a Dragon's Den-style arena.

Hotelympia will also launch its Hot Talent Awards scheme, which aims to find future stars of hospitality. Winners will be given the chance to be personally mentored by some of the industry's leading names including Ben Spalding (pictured), head chef at London's Roganic restaurant.

The competition is open to entrants under the age of 30 and full details can be found at www.hotelympia.com.

Channel 5's Hotel Inspector Alex Polizzi and Hotel du Vin's Robert Cook have been announced as two of the judges in another new competition. The Hotelympia Design Award will go to the UK's most luxurious and desirable hotel suite.

The show floor will also feature a new section dedicated to wine, following independent research by Hotelympia that found it to be the drink product most respondents said they would want to see. The new Wine+ section will be a platform for on-trade wine buyers looking for new sales opportunities.

Toby Wand, group exhibition director at Fresh RM, described Hotelympia 2012 as the place to source new product innovations and ideas from some of the most successful and ground-breaking suppliers in the business.

"We recognise that these are still challenging times, yet the wave of optimism and excitement that is rising with the advent of the London Olympics is creating a buzz which we feel we have harnessed with this show," he said.

To find out how to promote your business at Hotelympia visit www.hotelympia.com or contact Andrew Pantelli on 020 7886 3055. Visitors to the website can also register now for a free ticket, saving the £30 entrance fee.

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By Janie Stamford

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