World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) has announced the lineup of its Ambassador panel for the 2025 exhibition in Hamburg. The Ambassadors are tasked with helping to ensure that the WTCE event remains aligned with key industry trends, benefits attendees, and supports the catering & onboard services industry in developing sustainable, profitable strategies that enhance passenger satisfaction.
These subject specialists also work closely with the WTCE organisers to raise awareness of the event, highlight their specialist topics, and provide advice and knowledge throughout the exhibition.
Four of the Ambassadors served at WTCE 2024 – Julianne Ponan, Melissa Adamski, Kelly Stevenson and Matt Crane – while a fifth, the Technology Ambassador, has been added for the 2025 event. In this role Kai Kosicki, founder of ExpAir, an inflight consulting company, will provide his expertise relating to technology’s role in the onboard catering and services sector.
WTCE has added the new Technology Ambassador role to the 2025 event to reflect advances in technology that can increase revenue, enhance efficiency, and improve personalisation and the overall passenger experience. Kosicki’s consultancy work focuses on optimising the onboard experience to meet these rising expectations without driving up costs.
Speaking about his new role as an Ambassador, Kai Kosicki, CEO of ExpAir, said: “Technology is essential for meeting passenger expectations while reducing waste and enhancing efficiency. By accurately predicting customer demand, we can help to minimise waste and create a tailored in-flight experience. I’m excited to join WTCE as an ambassador, as this is the ultimate industry event that leads the future of airline catering. My goal is to bring a focus on tech-driven solutions that not only streamline catering but also open new retail opportunities, making the in-flight experience more engaging and valuable for passengers.”
Meet the 2024 WTCE Ambassadors:
Technology Ambassador: Kai Kosicki
Kai Kosicki is the CEO of ExpAir, a consulting company with a focus on customers’ onboard experiences. The company’s main target is to optimise the onboard experience at the lowest possible cost. Kosicki has 25+ years of experience in the industry, having worked as a division manager at Lufthansa and Sky Airline before moving into consulting.
Beverage Ambassador: Kelly Stevenson
Kelly Stevenson is a Certified Sommelier, holds a Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET), and is a member of the Cicerone beer programme. Her wealth of expertise will help her provide WTCE visitors with tools to create exceptional inflight beverage experiences. From building complementary wine lists and non-alcoholic alternatives, to understanding how altitude affects flavour, Stevenson’s knowledge will be invaluable for exhibitors and visitors alike.
Nutrition Ambassador: Melissa Adamski
Melissa Adamski is an accredited dietitian and nutritionist and will be supporting the show with her expertise in travel food and nutrition. As the founder of Nutted Out Nutrition, which supports the travel sector through food, nutrition and dietary guidance, Adamski will highlight essential aspects of health and wellbeing in-flight, helping operators refine their future offerings to support passenger wellness.
Allergens Ambassador: Julianne Ponan
Julianne Ponan MBE is founder of allergen-free brand Creative Nature, and brings first-hand experiences and insight from the ‘free-from’ food space. Living with severe anaphylaxis and multiple food allergies herself, Ponan is dedicated to making food accessible for those with similar conditions and will advise WTCE’s visitors on how to offer safer onboard experiences for those 220 million people worldwide who suffer with allergies.
Sustainability Ambassador: Matt Crane
Travellers are more focused than ever on sustainability, and Matt Crane, founder of the Aviation Sustainability Forum (ASF), brings expertise on cabin waste management and sustainable practices to his role as Sustainability Ambassador. He will educate WTCE visitors of the impact of onboard products and services, and offer insights into effective solutions that airlines can adopt to reduce cabin waste and improve sustainability.
The Ambassadors and other key industry spokespeople will be hosting talks and networking sessions at the Taste of Travel Theatre at WTCE 2025, a dedicated auditorium space where visitors can receive insights and advice. For more information or to register your interest for the 2025 event, visit: https://www.worldtravelcateringexpo.com/en-gb.html
