Hostex took place at the Sandton Convention Centre from June 26 to 28, just a few days after the Covid-19 mask-wearing restrictions were lifted.

Gary Corin, MD of Specialised Exhibitions – a division of Montgomery, long-time organisers of Hostex – describes the exhibition as spectacular.

“From the start on a chilly Sunday morning, the trade show was a vibrant buzz of activity and interaction. Exhibitors, visitors and other industry stakeholders were all eager to reengage, network and, importantly, to both showcase and explore innovations across the board.”

This biennial trade show is the largest pan-African food, drink and hospitality expo, bringing together a multitude of food, drink and hospitality exhibitors all under one roof.

Corin notes that in 2020, following the onset of Covid-19 restrictions, Specialised Exhibitions – a division of Montgomery, was confident that the resilience of the hospitality industry would remain intact during the pandemic.

“At the time we said South Africans are known for their ability to weather storms, and we believed the industry would bounce back, embracing and creating new and different ways of doing things. “If what we experienced at Hostex 2022 is anything to go by, the industry is bouncing back, and we’re proud to be a part of this journey.”

The event had three themes for each day. Comeback Sunday highlighted the readiness of an industry impacted by the pandemic to make a refreshed comeback.

Sustainability Monday showcased the great strides being made in environmentally responsible and sustainable products.

Technology Tuesday emphasised the ever-expanding range of innovative products and services featuring technological advances.

“But I believe that this Hostex will be remembered for the rejuvenation and revitalisation of face-to-face industry engagement – friends meeting friends, and networking happening everywhere.

“The show gave suppliers an opportunity to refocus and connect with their market, and it gave the visitors – the buyers – opportunities to explore with a fresh eye and invest in new ways of doing things. “It was the human interaction that was at the heart of the success of the show,” says hotel chain City Lodge Hotel Group food and beverage GM and Hostex ambassador Trevor Boyd.

He adds that of great interest to him was the high level of local innovation and locally manufactured products and services for the hospitality industry among the exhibitors – from food and drink to large-scale equipment and everything in between.

Memorable Moments

A key attraction at Hostex was the Skillery, hosted by the South African Chefs Association (SA Chefs) which introduced a ‘reimagined’ cheffing landscape to the industry following the pandemic and was a constant hub of culinary activity.

This included the launch of the consumer goods company RCL Foods Young Chef and Young Baker competitions, which will continue in the coming months, as well as mystery basket cooking showdowns, competitions, product demos, tastings, relevant presentations and wall-to-wall networking.

Similarly, the Coffee Market delivered exciting action with young baristas from regions around the country pitching their barista, latte art and cup tasting skills against each other in the Speciality Coffee Association of South Africa (SCASA) semi-final barista championships.

A wealth of other positive responses came in from exhibitors and visitors.

“I loved the ‘refreshed’ theme of Hostex, because it really felt as if we were emerging from the difficulties of the pandemic totally refreshed. “It was wonderful to see old friends we had missed over the past two years coming to network or introduce new products and showcase the wonderful innovations that had taken place,” says City Lodge Hotel Group COO, Tourism Transformation Council chairperson and Hostex ambassador Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo.

The team at Specialised Exhibitions - a division of Montgomery already has plans for an exciting Hostex 2024 at the Sandton Convention Centre from March 3 to 5.

Corin says Hostex 2024 will be “the show that innovates, elevates, demonstrates” with five villages: equipment – suppliers of large and small equipment for the hospitality sector; food and drink – food and drink brands, producers, and suppliers; contract furnishing – furniture, décor, lighting, linen, interior design, amenities, and more; coffee market by SCASA – showcasing hot beverages, equipment, and accessories; and SA Chefs’ the Skillery – culinary competitions, and space to connect, showcase, and engage.

“We’re anticipating an exciting and eventful Hostex 2024 that more than meets the expectations of our exhibitors and visitors, and that adds tremendous value to the innovative and never-say-die hospitality industry.

“Hostex has been part of the hospitality landscape since 1986 and it has a strong and established track record as the continent’s leading hospitality platform. We were delighted with the enthusiasm across the board at Hostex 2022 and encouraged by the number of businesses and individuals who have stated that they will be back at Hostex 2024,” concludes Corin.