With just over a month to go until the hospitality industry's most prestigious UK show, the excitement is starting to build.  Visitors can also take in co-located shows including Careers in Hospitality and Hostec-Europe.  To register for free entry please visit www.hotelympia.com and save yourself £30.  But, before you do, read on and discover what's in store when you arrive.

Alive with Culinary Competition!
Hotelympia has always been linked with top class culinary competitions and 2008 will be no different.  With over 28 culinary competitions and 400 competitors within the Live Theatre, 10 teams participating in the 100 seater La Parade restaurant, as well as over 50 categories within Salon Display, Salon Culinaire, sponsored by Delice de France and Compass Group will witness the very best in competition.  In addition, the Nestle Toque d'Or competition, now celebrating its 20th year, and back at Hotelympia for the first time in four shows, will bring the very best up-and-coming student chefs to the La Parade restaurant every afternoon.

New competitions within Live Theatre include the World Skills UK "Search for a Star", where UK Skills and People 1st will be talent spotting for future international competitions, whilst the Marstons Al Fresco Challenge will give competitors just 30 minutes to prepare, cook and present two plated portions of a dish which must be suitable for Al Fresco dining.  The British Culinary Federation Chef Team Challenge, sponsored by the BCF and Heinz Foodservice will be open to teams of two chefs who will have just 75 minutes to prepare, cook and present an Amuse Bouche and two-course menu for two covers, suitable for a Chef's Luncheon Club.

The ultimate challenge for catering students, the renowned Nestlé Toque d'Or competition will see sixteen teams of six students bring the La Parade des Chefs kitchens alive each afternoon, combining culinary skill, imagination, creativity and teamwork to capture the essence of the competition and impress the critical eye of a selection of experienced industry judges.

Alive with Food and Drink!
What do Nestle Foodservices, Heinz Foodservice, Mars Foodservice, Baxters Foodservice, Delice de France and McCain Foods all have in common?  Apart from being some of the biggest brands in foodservice they are all at Hotelympia 2008.  But it does not stop there.  With over 150 exhibitors within the Food & Drink section, there will be a mouth-watering selection of companies on which to feast your senses.  In addition, there will be over 20 companies within the Speciality and Regional Food Pavilion with a selection of regional and specialty products guaranteed to spice up a menu or add a point of difference.  Likewise, the brand new Sandwich & Tea Pavilion, in association with the British Sandwich Association and sponsored by Typhoo, will feature demonstrations and companies highlighting the latest innovations and best practice.

Alive with New Products!
Hotelympia is a haven for new products and the latest innovations within the industry.  Information from exhibitors has highlighted that there are likely to be around 200 new products on show, many of these will be shown for the first time outside of internal showrooms.  In order to be one of the first to see these new products prior to coming to the show, make sure you register now at www.hotelympia.com and not only will you save on the £30 entry fee, but you will also be one of the first to receive the 'New @ Hotleympia' guide which will be sent out to all pre-registered visitors at the end of January.

Research has shown that visitors come to shows in order to discover new products and not only can they see them, they can touch them, smell them, taste them and interact with them.  Hotelympia will provide the best opportunity in 2008 to do just that!

Alive with Demonstrations!
It is not only Salon Culinaire that will bring the aroma of culinary cuisine to ExCeL. The Skillery, in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs, will have a host of respected and well-known chefs on hand to demonstrate a raft of culinary techniques and skills. 

The brand new World of Coffee, in association with the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) will play host to the semi-finals and final of the UK Barista Championships.  This high profile event brings the very best Baristas in the country to ExCeL as they battle it out to represent the UK at the World Championship later in the year.

Cost Sector Catering Live will be a brand new live cooking demonstration and seminar theatre.  With a focus on the contract catering side of the industry the theatre will have specific days for each of the following organisations - TUCO, MOD, LACA, and the Prison Service. 

And if that is not enough there are many exhibitor stands that will have their very own demonstrations.  From Enodis and Aga within Catering Equipment through to Major International and Nestle Foodservice within Food, there will be ample opportunity to see, hear, taste, touch and smell your way around a multitude of stands.

Alive with Education!



For those wanting an educational experience, eight seminar theatres will be available where visitors can simply sit and listen to a variety of topics, or for those a little braver, get involved in the lively debate.  Each of the theatres within the exhibition will have a specific focus.

The Sustainable Futures Theatre in association with the Institute of Hospitality and sponsored by Enodis UK Food Service and Bunzl Lockhart will be a haven for all those with an interest in the environmental and ecological aspects of the industry.  With a range of topics covering everything from 'Reduced Energy Costs' through to 'Sustainable Food Solutions' this is sure to be an area that will generate much interest and discussion.

The Design Link seminar theatre, in association with GS Magazine, is a must visit feature for all those with a passion for interior and exterior design.  With a range of high profile names discussing the important factors it is sure to draw the crowds.

The British Sandwich Association Tea and Sandwich Pavilion, will be of particular interest to those with a passion for Britain's favourite beverage and our love affair with the great British sandwich.  Featuring a full programme of activity across the five days, the seminars will be packed full of practical and informative sessions featuring guest chef, Tom Bridge, as well as talks from key sponsor Typhoo.

The Careers & Hospitality seminar programme, in association with the Institute of Hospitality, Springboard and Caterersearch.com, will run across the two days of the show (18th/19th February) offering advice on a variety of employee issues from 'How to get Promoted' and 'Get the Salary that you Deserve', through to how to 'Create the Perfect CV' and 'Improving your Interview Skills'. 

The Hostec-Europe (global sponsor Micros Fidelio) programme will cover key issues from Internet Marketing, Fraud Prevention and Mobile Payment Solutions through to Reservation Management and Loyalty Programmes.  These free of charge seminars will be open to all visitors.

Alive with Competition
All of the above will once again be started by the Hotelympia 10K run, which will open the show in style and bring the industry together to have fun, get fit and raise funds for Springboard.  Headline sponsors of the event include AGA, Bunzl, Coca-Cola, Heinz Foodservice, Solo Cup and The Craft Guild of Chefs.  Register now at www.hotelympia10k.com.