A Goan delight

Held in Goa, HospitalityWorld - Going Konkan 2008 to showcase the latest products available to the hospitality industry, thereby facilitating development of not only the Goan industry but the entire Konkan region. By Dinkar Farwaha

In its endeavour to display the latest and the most efficient hospitality products to the industry and provide a pan India platform for the industry, HospitalityWorld - Going Konkan 2008 was held at Kala Academy in Panaji, Goa from February 8-10, 2008.

More than 3,500 visitors from Goa and the entire Konkan region and 80 exhibitors across categories took part in the exhibition.

The three-day hotel and foodservice equipment tradeshow was inaugurated by M Modassir, secretary tourism, Government of Goa, in the presence of Elvis Gomes, managing director of Goa tourism, and Lindon Monteiro, vice chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). "It's a great initiative from Express Hospitality to organise this one of its kind exhibition in Goa," said Modassir, adding, "The hospitality industry in Goa is booming in a big way and therefore the scope for such exhibitions is tremendous. With a 4,000 capacity convention centre coming up in the state in the near future, we are hopeful that even bigger exhibitions will be held in the state which will help in the cause of the industry."

Accompanying the guests to the exhibition area after the inauguration were Sandeep Khosla, vice president and head (Business Publication Division), Indian Express Newspapers, and directors of media promotions for the event, Kedar Dhume and Clive Sequeira. "HospitalityWorld has served the industry over the years by helping the hotels in finding the right products and catching up with the latest trends, products and technology. After consistently serving the bigger cities, we have decided to venture into the smaller cities and provide a platform for a pan-India development of the industry. HospitalityWorld Going Konkan 2008 is one such attempt to help in the growth of the industry in not only Goa but the entire Konkan region," said Khosla.

Exhibitors

The product categories at the event included table and glassware accessories, bar and coffee equipment, foodservice equipment, processed F&B, specialty food importers, commercial catering equipment, industrial bakery and confectionery equipment, refrigeration equipment, banquet furniture, vending and dispending equipment, lighting accessories, in-room technologies, laundry equipment, cleaning equipment and supplies, contract furnishing, guest room amenities, housekeeping supplies and services, hospitality information systems, safety and security systems, waste and water management and energy management and control systems.

Most suppliers were thoroughly satisfied with the response generated by the tradeshow. "Our association with HospitalityWorld goes back to last two to three years. The tradeshow has consistently helped us in showcasing our products to the hotel industry in different metros. HospitalityWorld going Konkan 2008 has further given us an opportunity to exhibit our range of products to the Goa and Konkan region, where the hospitality industry is witnessing a lot of development. We are now hopeful of doing good business in this region," said V Vetrivelan, laison officer, Ajinomoto India.

Buyers

Various hotel and restaurant groups took active participation in the show. Premium properties like Leela Palace Resort Goa, Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa, Goa Marriott Resort, Intercontinental The Grand Resort Goa, Radisson White Sands Resort Goa, Dona Sylvia Beach Resort, Cidade De Goa, Sun N Sand Goa and Majorda Beach Resort were represented. "It's a great initiative by Express Hospitality. I sincerely hope that Goa witnesses HospitalityWorld every year from now on," said P Nitin Rao, assistant manager, Leela Palace Resort, Goa. Besides these premium groups, many mid-market properties like Silken Sands Hotels, Hotel Embassy, Shraddha Hotel, Shalini Palace, La Calypso Hotel Goa, Hotel Poonam, Mandovi Hotels, Hotel Mountain Top, Hotel Everest, Mac Hotel and Hotel La Grande also took part. Moreover, many restaurant chains and standalone properties based in Goa and the Konkan region were also present. The sponsors included department of tourism, Goa as the host state along with State Bank of India.

HospitalityWorld 2008, Bangalore

HospitalityWorld 2008 Bangalore will be held from June 19 to 21, 2008 at Trade Center, KTPO, White Field, Bangalore. It is expected to attract over 7000 trade visitors. Over 300 exhibiting companies, showcasing the latest products and services, technologies, industry trends and the developments from best of national and international exhibitors, will take part in the tradeshow.

Suppliers:	Buyers:
"HospitalityWorld Going Konkan 2008 has proved to be a really good experience for us. We are manufacturers and exporters of banquet chairs. Both MICE and wedding segment are booming in the state and our product caters to these segments really well. We have already received a lot of enquiries across all segments (premium, mid-market and economy) and are hopeful of doing some good business owing to this exhibition." - Arun Nagpal, Owner, AVJ International	"It's a great initiative on part of Express Hospitality to organise HospitalityWorld in Goa. HospitalityWorld is a great place to find all the important products that the industry needs under one roof. Events like these are of immense help to all category hotels and I sincerely hope that Goa witnesses HospitalityWorld every year from now on." - Vinay Alberquerque, General Manager (corporate sales & marketing), Alcon Victor Group
"The exhibition is well-planned and executed. We have received a lot of enquiries from hoteliers and restaurateurs and are thoroughly satisfied with the response generated. The exhibition would have been even more fruitful had it been organised on weekdays instead of weekends." - Ranier Harding, Head (national projects, residential & VDI segment), Schneider	"The exhibition has helped us keep track with what is happening in the industry as far as the products are concerned. We are planning to open another resort in Goa and the exhibition has assisted us in finding the right products that we were looking for our upcoming property. Such professionally-organised exhibitions should be held regularly in Goa." - Jerry Rodrigues, Manager, San Jao Holiday Homes Resort
"The hospitality market in Goa has tremendous potential but it used to lack a platform for suppliers to exhibit the best products to the industry here. HospitalityWorld has however given us a stage to showcase our products to the industry here. We are looking forward to HospitalityWorld Bangalore now." - Partha Basu, product manager (FPD Commercial-West), LG Electronics India	"HospitalityWorld is a great platform for buyers to be updated about the new products that have come into the market. Goa is the in-place today and there are a number of hotels that are coming to the state. The hotel industry here needs more exhibitions like this on an even larger scale." -Clarence Farrell, Heritage Village Club Resort