With passenger numbers growing around the world, airline, rail and cruise operators need to strategise how to cater for the rising demand while still offering a comfortable and healthy travel experience. And it is worth doing, as the organisers of World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) estimate the inflight catering market will reach a value of US$35.75 billion by 2032.
WTCE, which is sister event to Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), brings together air, rail, and cruise industry operators and buyers under one roof, all with the goal of enhancing the passenger experience. The 2025 event takes place on 8-10 April at Hamburg Messe. Before then, take a look at what’s new at the show, what will be on show, and who will be attending the show.
The three-day show will bring together more than 250 exhibitors along with registered visitors from over 150 airlines, including Qantas, Etihad, British Airways, KLM and All Nippon Airlines (ANA), to name but a few – and an estimated 5,000+ visitors.
WTCE says that exhibitor space on the show floor was sold out this year. The space has been taken by many returning names, and more than 70 exhibitors that are new to the show, all attending to showcase the latest innovations and trends in catering, onboard services and passenger comfort.
The event will also offer a host of features to inspire and educate visitors, including the Taste of Travel Theatre, VIP Buyer Programme, New Exhibitor Village, Welcome Party and more.
WTCE 2025 exhibitors
Exhibitors at this year’s WTCE will include familiar names across the catering sector, including Dnata, En Route International, Frankenberg, SATS Catering, Flying Food Group, Around Noon, Foodcase International, Cuisine Solutions and many more.
From gourmet meal solutions like BeanStalk Foods and Poshi, to technology solutions like Data Clarity Limited and LimeFlight, WTCE visitors can see the next generation of travel catering and onboard services.
The event will also host amenity and tableware companies including Linstol, Buzz Products, Formia, Kaelis, Kimirica Hunter, Clip, and Bayart Innovations – as well as industry leaders in beverages, such as Diageo Global Travel, Bottega Spa, Castello Monte Vibiano, Inflight Initiatives, and Maison Sichel.
Who’s new at WTCE?
This year will see more than 70 companies exhibit at WTCE for the first time, bringing a wide range of new products and brands that have never been seen onboard before, from gourmet snacks and beverages, to sustainable service products.
New exhibitors will include BioNatur Plastics, which specialises in 100% recyclable and landfill-biodegradable plastics; The Mallows with its unique onboard food offerings; Østerberg Food Service; and Off-Piste Wines. There will also be inflight amenity and tableware suppliers including Jalux, Pick on Us, and Tourvest Retail Services.
Many of these exhibitors will be found at the show’s New Exhibitor Village area, which will host over 35 companies bringing new products and services to the market. Exhibitors in this space will also include France Macaron, and Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn.
The Taste of Travel Theatre
The Taste of Travel Theatre will welcome industry experts for a series of thought-provoking sessions. This year’s line-up will spotlight several key themes shaping the onboard hospitality sector, from the evolving AI landscape, beverage innovations and culinary creativity, to sustainability, accessibility and retail innovation.
For example, the ‘Redefining Hospitality’ sessions at 14:15pm on the first day of the show will see moderator Lance Hayward from The Hayward Partnership joined by a panel that includes Jodi Spicer from American Airlines; PB Jacobse, CEO of Rhubarb Hospitality Collection; Nadine Heubel, SVP of One World Lounges (BA & AA) for Sodexo; and Lauren Burrill, marketing director from Airport Dimensions. This session will look at the growing demand for pre-orders and debate the role of airport lounges and the concept of eating on demand.
As tech becomes more of a focus when it comes to onboard hospitality, one of the first sessions in the Taste of Travel Theatre (Tuesday 8th April, 11:15am) will look at ‘The Human Touch’ as panellists examine the efficiency of tech vs the human element. Is AI improving the customer experience or are we losing touch? This is expected to be a lively debate with the panel featuring figures from Commercial Excellence Partners, Retail inMotion, Data Clarity and easyJet.
VIP Buyer Programme
For onboard buyers and procurement teams from airlines, rail, cruise and travel catering companies, WTCE offers an exclusive VIP Buyer Programme. The programme provides several added benefits before and during the event, including exclusive VIP Lounge access, VIP sample bags, and a digital gift bag.
A VIP Lounge, available to WTCE and AIX VIP attendees, is a space where guests can able to take advantage of a catered lunch, beverages and light refreshments throughout the show.
The VIP sample bags, sponsored by Marfo, contain over 20 products from exhibitors including Philip’s Biscuits, Farmley, Swypes, Neuhaus NV, Grissitalia, Gut Springenheide and Hello Straw. Bags can be collected from booth 1A107 in the New Exhibitor Village. Meanwhile the digital gift bag will include offers and free samples from Yummy Karma Foods, Diageo Global Travel, Whittard of Chelsea, Novel Foods, Rhum Damoiseau, and Euromilk.
The VIP Buyer Programme also offers a discounted rate for The Passenger Experience Conference on Monday 7th April, including access to the evening Welcome Party.
Wellbeing Walkthrough
Mental and physical wellbeing are important to passengers, and WTCE’s Wellbeing Walk-through will showcase a range of products and services within health and nutrition, wellbeing and comfort. Curated and supported by specialist WTCE Ambassadors Melissa Adamski (travel nutrition), Julianne Ponan (special diets) and Kelly Stevenson (beverages), the trail will highlight product ranges that alleviate the side effects associated with long-distance travel, as well as promote long-term health and well-being. 18 carefully selected companies including Nairn’s Oatcakes, Procurall, Deli Lites and Foodfolk will be part of the trail.
Steps to Sustainability
The aviation industry is on a journey towards a more sustainable future across all elements of the passenger experience. Returning to WTCE for its second year, the Steps to Sustainability feature celebrates the many steps being taken by suppliers and airlines to reach their net-zero goals. Curated by WTCE Sustainability Ambassador, Matt Crane of the ASF, the dedicated trail and Taste of Travel session will highlight accomplishments, trends and innovations that are leading the way in environmentally conscious materials, production, manufacturing and operations.
With products ranging from tableware and amenities to food and drink, companies are selected for the Steps to Sustainability trail due to their sustainable company practices or environmentally conscious materials. Attendees can follow the trail across the show floor to discover sustainable achievements in tableware, food and beverage, amenity products and more, by companies including Bottega Spa, Buzz Products, Callington, Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, Ecotone, and Valrhona.
New for 2025: the Tech Trail
Brand new for WTCE 2025, the Tech Trail is a showcase of technologies deigned to transform the passenger experience and operational efficiency for airlines, rail and cruise operators, alongside travel caterers. Attendees can explore innovations in areas such as meal planning, stock management and payment solutions. Spotlighting a selection of exhibitors, the Tech Trail offers a glimpse into the future of onboard services and technology-driven improvements.
WTCE Ambassadors make a return
On the back of the successful launch of last year’s WTCE’s Ambassador Programme, the initiative will return with both familiar and new faces. Designed to help highlight the key pillars of the event – technology, sustainability, nutrition, allergens and special meals and beverages – the team of five Ambassadors includes Melissa Adamski, a travel dietitian and nutritionist; Kelly Stevenson, former global wine and beverage manager at British Airways and current CEO of JetVine; Matt Crane, co-founder of the Aviation Sustainability Forum (ASF); and Julianne Ponan, CEO of Creative Nature and allergies campaigner.
They are also joined by a new Ambassador this year: Technology Ambassador, Kai Kosicki, founder at ExpAir and a member of the Hayward Partnership. He will provide insight into technology’s role in the onboard catering and services sector.
The subject specialist Ambassadors work closely with the WTCE event organisers to raise awareness of the event across the industry, highlight their specialist topics, and provide advice and knowledge throughout the exhibition.
The Ambassadors can be found during the event in the Ambassador Lounge (stand 1G105), where they are available for one-to-one sessions (pre-booking is advised and can be done at the Ambassador Lounge during the show). Or you can catch them at the Taste of Travel Theatre, where Kelly Stevenson will deliver a session on ‘Premium Pours Without the Alcohol’ and ‘What’s New in the Drinks Trolley’.
Melissa Adamski will look at the progress that needs to be made to improve accessibility to customers on the ground and inflight with the ‘Inclusive Travel’ session. Matt Crane will be moderating ‘What Goes Up Will Come Down’ as the panel discuss the importance of reducing cabin waste. Meanwhile Julianne Ponan will join the panel on day two to debate ‘Improving the Customer Experience and Loyalty from an Allergy and Nutrition Perspective’, and Kai Kosicki will discuss innovative solutions to drive revenue both onboard and at airports while enhancing the customer experience in ‘Mile High Marketplace’.
WTCE Connect
Opening from early February 2025 for all attendees, the WTCE Connect tool will allow visitors to search for relevant companies and products, with the option to easily book meetings with any exhibitors, whether at a booth or in the WTCE Connect Lounge.
Colleqt QR Codes
For the first time at WTCE, Colleqt QR Codes will be featured on all exhibitor booths, and many features will be available when the codes are scanned with a smartphone. Visitors can collect information from all the companies they’re interested in without the need to carry around heavy brochures. Visitors will also receive a ‘Daily Digest’ of companies they have scanned, both at the end of each day and the end of the week.
WTCE is co-located with Aircraft Interiors Exp (AIX), taking place at Hamburg Messe from 8-10 April. With some crossover of interests between the shows, both events provide passenger experience professionals with the opportunity to network and explore new products, services and solutions.
When visiting WTCE, don’t forget to drop by AIX’s CabinSpace Live Seminar, with its programme of sessions exploring the cabin of tomorrow and beyond. Registering for one show grants visitors access to both events, free of charge.
For more information or to register for World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo, visit https://www.worldtravelcateringexpo.com/reg
