The 25th Hotelex Show Happens This Week With First Ever World Coffee Events Championships Held in China
Hotelex the mammoth, sprawling trade show for the hospitality industry held annually in the equally mammoth and sprawling city of Shanghai opened its doors this week for its four day run. Once again the show brought thousand of exhibitors and hundreds of thousands of attendees to the Shanghai New International Expo Center.
Once here the attendees explore the miles of aisles filled with everything they might need to make their hotel exceptional, their restaurant four stars, or their café a trendsetter for specialty coffee in this rapidly growing market.
Of course the attendees can also spend some time watching the Chinese Barista Championship, or the Chinese Master Bartender competition, or the pizza making championship, in addition to competitions for baking, hotel room design, and gelato craftsmanship.
But those things happen every year.
This year, to celebrate a quarter century of success, Hotelex upped its game by bringing four of the World Coffee Events championships to China for the first time ever. Hotelex is hosting the world championships for Latte Art, Coffee Roasting, Cup Tasters, and Coffee in Good Spirits.
So in addition to the hundreds of thousands of attendees wandering the show floor, one might also run into some friendly baristas from far and wide here to compete or support competitors. It definitely gives dedicated coffee halls (three of the twenty-one overall plus three temporary buildings) an international flavor.
Additionally, you can attend a cupping with 2015 World Barista Champion Sasa Sestec, a latte art demo with 2015 World Latte Art Champion Caleb Cha, or sample some of Ninety Plus’ finest with 2014 Brewers Cup Champion Stefanos Domatiotis.
So while you’re riding in one of the mini trams, which move people from one section of the compound to the other, plan your time wisely. There’s an awful lot to do and see here this year, and not much time to do it. The show runs through April 1.
