Hotelex 2026: Focus on trends and opportunities for gastronomy!

Hotelex 2026: Focus on trends and opportunities for gastronomy!

The International Hospital and Gastronomy Message Hotelex 2026 is just around the corner and promises to present the trends and developments in the industry. From March 30 to April 2, 2026, the National Exhibition & Convention Center in Shanghai will become the stage for one of the most important events in the catering trade. With an imposing area of 400,000 m², the fair covers all aspects of the supply chain for restaurants, hotels and similar facilities.  yahoo finance reports that, among other things, catering equipment, dishes and innovative solutions for sustainable hotel concepts are presented become.

The motto of the fair is "combine global resources, discover industry knowledge" and thus reflects the current challenges and opportunities in the industry. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Euromonitor International, the global hotel and restaurant industry is faced with a record level, while the Global Foodservice Outlook 2025 is based on market growth of around 6.2 % compared to the previous year. The hotel income should also increase by more than 5 %, which shows a positive trend for the recovery of tourism and the return of business travel traffic.

growth and urge to innovate

There are many exciting developments in the industry that above all emphasize the focus on sustainability and digital transformation. Intelligent upgrades and localized guest experiences are very popular, while hotels set new standards with environmentally friendly designs and energy -efficient concepts. It is clear that innovative solutions are in demand in the post-pandemic world to assert themselves in competition.

Especially the Asian-Pacific space is a hot spot for expansion and growth. Hotelex acts here as a central platform for companies that want to take part in these developments. Every year the fair not only attracts numerous exhibitors, but also up -and -coming talents and renowned industry experts who share their knowledge and experience.

events and competitions

This year there are also a number of exciting competitions that show what the industry has to offer. The "Shanghai International Trendy Beverage Creative Production Competition" will be held for the twelfth time and is introducing an international division for the first time this year, which also includes top mixologists from Thailand and Malaysia. Other highlights include the China International Bartending Masters Competition and the World Coffee Roasting Championship, both of which are highly regarded and attract international participants.

The 2025 Shanghai International Pizza Masters has mobilized over 600 pizza brands, while the World Latte Art Championship and the World Siphonist Championship celebrate the creative side of the gastronomy. In addition, the "2025 Hotelex Food & Beverage Premium MatchMaking Conference" aims to network the industry and build up partnership relationships. At the same time, the Shanghai International Frozen-to-Fresh Selection Conference takes place, which should set new impulses for the catering trade.

With these events and the upcoming trade fair date, there are numerous opportunities for industry players to make valuable contacts, exchange know-how and to present their innovations to a broad audience. The time to prepare seems scarce, but with a good hand for the selection of partners and products, the industry can result in this trade fair. The future looks promising in this dynamic environment, and it remains exciting to see how the trends will develop in the coming years.