Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/491371
14 STiR tea & coffee industry international NEWS Coffee and tea play such an important role in the hotel, resort, and restaurant segment that HOTELEX Shanghai created EXPO Coffee & Tea will occupy six halls to accommodate exhibitors from all over the world. Lavazza, Illy, and Coffein Compagnies are already signed up along with tea brands that include Ronnefeldt, TWG, Mighty Leaf, Firsdtea, and Dilmah tea with equipment from BUNN and Hario, Bialetti Moka, Magnet coffee cabinets, Selecto, Ancap, and KeepCup reusable cups. The 24th HOTELEX Shanghai runs March 30 - April 2 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. Organizers said that interest in cafés and coffee has increased among the total 81,569 attendees surveyed following the successful 2014 exhibition which covered 1.5 million square feet (140,000 m 2 ). This year's HOTELEX Fine Food and Expo Coffee & Tea is expected to feature 2,000 exhibitors on 200,000 m 2 in 10 halls. "The Coffee &Tea section is always one of the hottest zones," said Alex Ni, one of the show organizers. He said the hall attracts professional buyers from café, hotel, catering, bakery store, bar, tea shops, water bars, and other consumer retail industry. "The event not only introduces new consumer products, but also advocates new brand life-styles and delivers new concepts," said Ni. Leading brands in key industries joined together to provide a record-breaking show last year that is "an annual must-attend" for industry professionals, said Ni. EXPO Coffee & Tea 2015 HOTELEX 2015 brings back three professional competi- tions, which attract large crowds, media coverage, and contrib- uted to excitement on the show floor. The China Cup Taster Championship attracted 64 participants and last year's China Latte Art Championship attracted 76 players, said Ni. "This competition filled in the arena and their enthusiasm lasted throughout the four-day competition. The WBA-sanctioned China Barista Championship featured competitors on stage displaying their exquisite coffee making skill and innovative mind crowd-pleasing creative drinks that even surprised the judges," he said. In the tea brewing section, competitors making HK style milk tea, a local specialty in Hong Kong, introduced the specialty beverage, inspiring others around the world to give it a try. In addition to coffee and tea, the HOTELEX Shanghai also showcases: catering equipment and supply, bakery and ice cream, tableware, textile, appliance and amenities, IT and security, fitness and leisure, food and beverage and wine and spirits, hotel building, hotel engineering, hotel design. HOTELEX is exclusively offered by Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co., Ltd. Learn more: www.hotelex.cn or email: Alex.Ni@ubmsinoexpo.com The 2014 Barista Championship Finals at Hotelex Expo Coffee & Tea features exhibitors from around the world. Exhibits cover 2 million sq. ft. October Multimedia Co. is the global sales representative for international coffee & tea exhibitors for EXPO Coffee & Tea 2015 at HOTELEX Shanghai, March 30 - Apr 2. To exhibit contact: Eastern Hemisphere Glenn Anthony John, +66 818 299 409 Email: gaj@octobermultimedia.com Western Hemisphere Emerson Leonard, tel +1 917 680-1050 Email: edl@octobermultimedia.com