The World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) is set to return to Hamburg on 14-16 April 2015 with its biggest-ever program, including the launch of a new ‘Travel Retail Zone’ and the return of the ‘Taste of Travel Theatre’.
The Travel Retail Zone, which is dedicated to suppliers of onboard retail items and services, reflects the huge growth this sector has experienced in recent years. In this area buyers can meet with suppliers of sale-on-board items such as wines and spirits, cosmetics, perfume and toys, and discuss how they can boost their offering to appeal to the modern traveler. A company trail will also lead attendees to other exhibitors at the show with a travel retail offering, making it easy for delegates to target their visit and come away with plenty of inspiration.
Showcasing their retail offerings within the zone include returning exhibitors InflightDrinks, provider of pre-filled glasses of wine from all over the world and a wide variety of juices, and Milk Jnr’s & Kidworks, an international provider of children’s activity packs. Joining them will also be a host of new exhibitors including OneSimCard – an international mobile service for savvy travellers to greatly reduce the cost of using a mobile phone or other device while traveling abroad – and Chateau D’Estoublon, which is an olive oil and wine producer from the Vallée des Baux-de-Provence.
Following its great success in 2014, the Taste of Travel theatre will also return, with live demonstrations, interactive presentations and sampling and tastings. Visitors can stay up to date with evolutions in onboard services and travel catering and gain insights into key topics.
The program will see top chefs including Gerald Bertholon, Michel Quissac and Giordana Kebedom take to the stage to share knowledge and expertise on onboard cuisine and to entertain audiences with their cooking talent.
The theater will open with a panel discussion held on the challenges of getting a new product or concept onboard, giving visitors the opportunity to better understand how they need to tailor their offerings. A selection of ‘success story’ companies will share their experiences of how they impressed airline buyers to get their product onboard.
The second day’s program will include a session on ‘Building the profile of regional cuisine’ with popular kitchen show chef and author, Giordana Kebedom cooking up a treat. Further sessions include ‘how trends are impacting the future onboard experience’ and ‘natural foods – from trend to a way of life’.
Day three’s program will include a session entitled ‘Fit for travel’ hosted by ex-Saracen rugby player and now food and fitness fanatic, Spencer Davey. He’ll be discussing food for healthy travel and advising on what consumers are looking for in terms of food offerings. The program will culminate with a session on ‘the tea revolution’ led by tea ambassador and tea specialist, Lucy Chappell of Twinings. Lucy will be providing insights on tea, from plant to cup to inspire a new generation of tea lovers.
A series of business development opportunities have also been scheduled throughout the three-day event, enabling attendees to maximize networking opportunities in a less formal environment and strengthen new or pre-existing business relationships. These include a daily free-to-attend networking lunch from 12:00-13:30 and a Drinks Reception hosted by WTCE, held on Tuesday 14th April from 17:00, both on the Taste of Travel Theatre.
WTCE is co-located with Aircraft Interiors Expo, the world’s largest event dedicated to sourcing the latest innovations, technologies and products for the cabin interiors, inflight entertainment and passenger comfort industries.
