Asia’s 5 Star Hospitality Event

IFHS/Food & Hotel Thailand 2007 was hailed the most successful and prestigious event in its illustrious 18 year
history in Bangkok. Part of the global “Apple” series of events that include HOFEX and FHA, Food & Hotel Thailand
2007 welcomed 19,369 trade visitors from 56 countries for its inaugural event at the Royal Paragon Halls*.
The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Dr. Suvit Yordmani, who presided over the opening of the eventdescribed IFHS
as “one of the most prestigious and important international events in Thailand”. The 2007 event attracted 782
participants from all over the world including groups and independent companies from the USA, the United
Kingdom, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, France, China, Singapore, Australia and Switzerland and was proactively
supported by 14 industry organisations and a network of 18 industry magazines.
Located in Thailand’s most luxurious venue, the Royal Paragon Halls, IFHS/Food & Hotel Thailand 2007 enjoyed the
strategic convenience and prominence that was befitting of its 5 star status. Situated in the heart of Bangkok’s
downtown district the event occupied the entire 12,000 m² of this state-of-the-art venue, neatly intertwining the
exhibition, competition and conference elements of the show. APTC delegate, Jon Westerby, Sales Director of
deSter, described the conference as “a highly professional event staged in the most impressive facilities in Asia”.
Industry leading global brands at IFHS/Food & Hotel Thailand included Nestlé, Electrolux, Dunlopillo, US Beef, HIS
Softbrands, Californian Wine, Chubb, Twinings, Royal Porcelain, Hafele, Micros Fidelio, Sony, Tohkaiya, Wincor
Nixdorf, Thai Airways Catering, LSG, Ecolab, Johnson Diversey, NEC, Kimberley Clark and Victorinox as well as
leading local companies such as Italasia, Gallothai, American European, Peerapat, KHT, Wise Promotion, J&P Jasco
and Retailink. Ms. Ladda Boonsong of Nestlé (Thai) Ltd. said “the event has been a success, we have met many
different buyers at the show from restaurant owners, to hotel managers, retailers and food service caterers. We will
definitely come back in 2008”.
Additional to the extensive exhibits was the wide reaching programme of conferences and seminars. Highlights this
year included the “sold-out” Thai Hotel Association conference titled the “360º Hotel Trend in Thailand”, also
featuring was the Thai Restaurants Association’s seminar on “How to make a Restaurant Successful”. New for 2007
was the Thai Brown Rice conference and exhibition by the Thai Rice Foundation under His Majesty’s Patronage, this
was jointly organised with the Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT), this event also
incorporated the brown rice cooking competition won by Chef Rosham Haji Rusli of Malaysia.