Bangkok--20 Mar--PNV 32 Mileage Food& HotelAsia2008 (FHA2008), Asia’s largest international food and hospitality trade show, is ready to play a major role in boosting Asia’s growing food and hospitality industry. Returning for its 16th year, FHA2008 will be held from 22 - 25 April 2008 at the Singapore Expo in Singapore. With an exhibition area of 72, 000 square meters across 7 halls, FHA2008 will host a network of 3, 300 companies from 60 countries and 33 international group pavilions. FHA2008 expects to attract over 38,500 international buyers from 80 countries. The 7 huge FHA2008 exhibition halls will be dedicated to special areas of interest: FoodAsia, Wine& SpiritsAsia, Bakery&Pastry, HotelAsia, HospitalityStyleAsia, HospitalityTechnology and Asia Pacific Travel Catering. These exhibit areas have been specially chosen to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of Asia’s food and hospitality industries. Held in conjunction with FHA2008 are a host of interactive conferences, seminars and workshops offering valuable market insights and in-depth discussions with trade and business professionals. Forums and seminars include: the Food Safety Forum, the Asian Club Managers’ Conference, the Asian Hospitality Finance and Technology Conference, and the Halal Trade Forum, a highlight that will especially benefit halal food manufacturers from Thailand who look to increase their share of the world’s lucrative US$590 billion halal and kosher markets. Adding buzz to this biennial mega trade event are world-class competitions, including: the FHA Culinary Challenge, the FHA Imperial Challenge, Asian Pastry Cup, Wine&SpiritsAsia Challenge and a newcomer, the Asia Barista Championship. FHA2008 expects to draw skillful chefs from around the region as competitors in the different challenges. As a formal competitor on the culinary challenge, Mr. Dietmar Spitzer, the executive chef from the Conrad Bangkok said, “I’ve competed in the FHA Culinary Challenge in the past. As a chef who has been working in the hospitality industry close to 20 years, I have been visiting FHA since 2000. I consider Singapore’s FHA to be an excellent ‘meeting place’ and to learn more about the latest technology from suppliers who provide products and services for the hotel industry. This year I am visiting FHA2008 as a buyer. My aim is to see new kitchen equipments, as well as the latest trends in restaurant decorations for our new restaurant at the hotel. And of course, I would not miss the culinary challenges, which I am sure they are going to be even more excited and colorful than previous years”, Mr. Spitzer concluded. “Judging from the success of the event in past years and buoyed by positive market sentiment, FHA2008 is returning bigger and stronger, to meet the sourcing needs of Asia’s fast growing food and hospitality industries. The event will serve as a gateway for international buyers who can enter and tap into the booming Asian F&B and hospitality markets, seek latest industry intelligence, learn about products and services, network with the business community, and meet key decision makers in one place”, said Ms. Susan Tan, Director of Marketing Services at Singapore Exhibition Services, the organiser of FHA2008. “We believe that FHA2008 will be a sourcing ground for international buyers to acquire direct access to Thai manufacturers’ latest industry trends and issues, as well as the latest technological solutions. FHA2008 will not only increase the export opportunities for each participating company, but will also unquestionably stimulate the Thai economy as a whole”, Ms. Tan concluded. For more information please contact: Vichai Lertritchai PNV 32 Mileage (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Tel: (662) 251 9987 Fax: (662) 251 7879 Email: [email protected]