Italy’s HOST 2017 Sets Early Pace For Growth

There’s another year until HOST 2017 – Fiera Milano, but more than 800 companies have already reserved exhibit space for the October 20-24, 2017 event. When the 40th International Hospitality Exhibition opens its doors, it will occupy 16 pavilions, two more than the previous edition, to cover the entire ground floor of the exhibition center. Forty percent of exhibitors are from outside Italy, representing 38 different countries.

That international participation has fueled show organizers, who are setting up a series of partnerships, alliances and projects. Among them is an agreement with Restaurants Canada—with a membership representing more than 30,000 of that country’s restaurants, bars, catering firms, institutions and supply industries—to create new business opportunities between Canadian exhibitors and buyers at Host.

“HOST is the jewel in the crown in our portfolio of events, and is a strategic asset for at least three reasons,” explains Corrado Peraboni, CEO of Fiera Milano. “The first reason is how representative the International Hospitality Exhibition is on the local landscape where it takes place; it is, in fact, an event par excellence that reflects the tradition and the highest level of professional hospitality in Italy, with these characteristics being made the most of for a global audience.”

In addition, Peraboni added, HOST is positioned as an international event, “where ‘the world meets the world.’

“Finally, HOST is an active player in promoting the culture of hospitality in Italy, able to bring new visibility to key professional figures and products of excellence in the industry, which are deserving—as has already happened for Michelin-starred restaurants—of garnering the support and appreciation from both professionals as well as the opinion of a public that is more aware and informed.”