Food & Hotel Oman 2009 opens

Organised by Omanexpo LLC, Food & Hotel Oman 2009 is scheduled until October 28 and will showcase a wide range of food products, branded kitchen and catering equipment, hotel supplies and hospitality technology, food processing equipment, and other related products.

The three-day international exhibition will be open to trade visitors from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm and then from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

"As the biggest event for the sultanate's vibrant food and hospitality industries, Food & Hotel Oman 2009 directly caters to the requirements of the growing number of hotels, restaurants, groceries and hypermarkets in the country," said Nasser Diab, general manager of Omanexpo LLC, the leading organiser of professional trade shows in the sultanate.

Diab revealed that Food & Hotel Oman 2009 has attracted the participation of over 90 companies from more than 15 countries worldwide.

The list of exhibitors is spearheaded by leading local companies, including AKAH Najwani & Partners, Al Bariq Equipment, Al Halabi Kitchen Equipment, ELCO National Tarding Co., . , Naranjee Hirjee & Co., Salman Hotel & Restaurant Equipment, Shah Nagardas Manji & Co., and Sharikah Fanniyah Omaniyah (Muscat).

The foreign countries represented in the international exhibition include Egypt, Germany, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the UAE and the US.

A delegation of Indian companies will also be participating with the support of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). In addition, Food & Hotel Oman 2009 will feature an Italian pavilion through the efforts of PROMEC - Special Agency of the Modena Chamber of Commerce.

"The strong local and international participation in the exhibition ensures that a wide variety of new products and equipment will be on display at the exhibition, making the event truly relevant to all professionals in the sultanate's food and hospitality industries," said Abdullah Beg, project manager of Food & Hotel Oman 2009.

He pointed out that visitors will surely be amazed by the latest kitchen and catering equipment from international brands, which are highly popular to chefs worldwide. He stressed that the exhibition will also give industry professionals the opportunity to check out many other products ranging from cutlery and crockery, dishwashing equipment and housekeeping supplies to refrigeration systems, tableware and accessories, and kitchen appliances.

In addition to the display of products and equipment, a major highlight of Food & Hotel Oman 2009 will be the first-ever Chefs' Competition, which will be held on all days of the event in partnership with the Oman Chefs Guild.

A total of 68 participants representing all major hotel properties in Oman will be competing in the following categories: (a) Three-Tier Wedding Cake on October 26, (b) Five-Course Gourmet Dinner on October 27, and (c) Live Fruit and Vegetable Carving" on October 29.

Food & Hotel Oman 2009 is officially supported by the Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OCCI) as well as by AKAH Najwani & Partners LLC as the major sponsor, Salman Hotel and Restaurant Equipment LLC as the platinum sponsor, and ELCO National Trading Co. LLC as the silver sponsor.

The OER Dossier is the official publication of the exhibition, while the media partners are Al Watan and the Oman Tribune, Al Shabiba and the Times of Oman as well as Hospitality News Middle East and Food & Beverage News.

The Chefs' Competition, on the other hand, is mainly supported by Salman Hotel and Restaurant Equipment LLC, while Barakat Quality Plus and the Oman Tourism College are the co-sponsors.

The organiser, Omanexpo LLC, is the pioneer in the events industry in Oman, with over 20 years of experience in organising trade shows for a wide range of industries. Established in 1986, Omanexpo LLC is a full-fledged member of the Texas-based International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Paris-based UFI-The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.