HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY SHINES IN LAND OF THE RISING SUN
Bringing together the various branches in the hospitality industry, HCJ 2013 attracted some 50,000 individuals involved in the hotel, restaurant and catering scene to experience new products and services. The HCJ is a joint specialised exhibition that combined the 41st HOTERES JAPAN for hotels, ryokans (Japanese inns) and tourist facility industries, the 34th CATEREX JAPAN tailored for the catering, on-the-go and box lunch industries as well as the 13th JAPAN FOOD SERVICE EQUIPMENT SHOW for the field of kitchen equipments. The 3-day exhibition attracted 648 companies occupying 1,775 booths to showcase their products while 5 countries and several regions made up for the overseas exhibitor slots. Visitors were introduced to the latest in food service equipment, hygiene equipment, interior & tableware, guest-room facilities and IT systems that will help improve operations in this digital era.
HCJ 2013 highlighted several key points, zooming in on eco-friendly kitchen equipments that prioratise comfor t and efficiency such as fryers that minimise oil smoke and smell for better ventilation. Also products that stop oil from being poured down into sewers, energy saving lighting and water-saving shower heads. As the gastronomy industry grows, image plays an impor tant role in serving up a great experience, paving the way for high-end tableware companies to exhibit plates, cutleries and items favoured in luxury hotels and classy places. In line with this, the Japan Table Artist Association presented a “Table Coordination to Highlight the Happy Occasion” demonstration to showcase new ideas in creating dining spaces. Taking into account senior citizens who are more active and enjoy going out for meals, furniture makers brought in items that matches style and function such as a wooden-designed wheelchair that exudes warmth as opposed to traditional steel ones. One of the top virtues of a commercial kitchen is hygiene and HCJ this year saw a tremendous leap of 30% in companies promoting hygiene related products and services.
Adding creative streaks to the exhibition was the Restaurant Ser vices Skills Competition 2013, Tea Instructor of the Year 2013, Japan Latte Art Championship 2013, 1st Japan Cof fee In Good Spirits Championship (JCIGSC), The 19th Nikkei Restaurant Menu Grand Prix 2013, Cocktail Event and seminars on Food & Nutrition and Lifestyle of “Active Seniors”.
HCJ 2013 was held at Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Centre) and organised by Japanese Management Association together with other related associations to the hospitality industry. For more information on HCJ 2013 or to find out how to be part of HCJ 2014, kindly visit http://www.jma.or.jp/hcj
