New Sharjah Show promises region's hospitality & catering sector its first single-point sourcing platform

Sharjah, 15th September 2013: The hospitality and catering industry is set to get the perfect recipe to boost growth— a kitchen equipment exhibition that is a first in the region!

Promising all the right ingredients to whet the appetite of the industry, the inaugural Kitchen Equipment & Technology Exhibition will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah along with the second OIC Halal Middle East Exhibition & Congress from December 16 to 18, 2013.

“It is a known fact that about half of the hospitality sector's revenues in the region come from the food and beverage service segment. The Kitchen Equipment & Technology Exhibition will provide the sector a great opportunity to source cutting-edge, innovative kitchen technology to dish out delicacies to a multi-ethnic population and millions of tourists who arrive in the country,” said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

The hotel and hospitality market in the UAE is forecast to grow at double-digit rates a year for the next four years, dramatically outpacing growth in the overall economy, pointing to a rise in demand for specialized requirements for food storage, preparation and handling technologies and products.

“With the recent announcement of new projects and the completion of many others, every developer will be looking at the perfect layout, design, equipment and products & accessories for their kitchens and catering units. Keeping their requirements in mind, the show will feature consultants, equipment suppliers, manufacturers and distributors,” added Mr Midfa.

The show is banking on underlying macro fundamentals like high oil prices, government spending, multi-ethnic population, galloping tourism sector, positive consumer sentiment, high disposable income, a younger workforce and eating out that is seen more as a form of entertainment.

According to latest reports, the Middle East and Africa region's hotel development pipeline comprises 491 hotels totalling 120,795 rooms, while in the GCC, the hospitality market is anticipated to grow at an annual rate of 8.1 per cent to US$28.3 billion by 2016 compared to US$19.2 billion in 2011. The UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia account for a major chunk of the Middle East's US$6 billion worth of hotel projects that are due for completion in 2013.

The show will also feature the Chefs' Corner, a live-demo & activity area that will inform and educate chefs & kitchen equipment buyers on the latest technology and must-haves in Kitchen Equipment.

Besides, being held alongside the Halal Middle East, the Kitchen Equipment & Technology Exhibition Middle East 2013 will virtually serve as an extension of the halal exhibition and congress, attracting most of its visitors, which stood at 1,800 for its previous edition.

Halal ME 2013 will be a one-stop shop for facilitating the sourcing and trade of a multitude of halal products and bringing together international halal scholars and experts at a single platform.

About the show: The Kitchen Equipment & Technology Exhibition Middle East 2013 will be organized by Expo Centre Sharjah in association with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The launch edition of the show to be organized from December 16 to 18 will be held alongside the high-profile second OIC Halal Middle East Exhibition and Congress.