Every two years the International Exhibition of Equipment for Catering, Hospitality and Collectivities, Hostelco, is held in Spain, on this occasion, in its fourteenth version, the potential of the hotel industry is exhibited with a wide range of products and services for hospitality, restoration and collectivities. Hostelco 2008 gathers, between 17 and 21 October 2008, a total of 2,300 exhibitors between direct and represented, occupying the entire Montjuïc site and expects to receive about 100,000 visitors. Hostelco, organized by Fira de Barcelona and FELAC - Spanish Federation of Associations of Manufacturers of Machinery for Hospitality, Collectivities and Related Industries, has become one of the most recognized events in the sector in Spain and Europe.
In the 2006 version, more than 2,300 companies attended, which occupied 64,000 m² of the Montjuïc site. 80% of the 2,300 exhibitors came from Spain, and the remaining 20% from 40 countries with Italy at the head, followed by Portugal and France. 10% of the more than 98,000 visitors were foreigners, coming from 104 countries. 79.5% came from the EU, with France in first place, followed by Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany.
This year, the Salon presents attendees with equipment and machinery for the hospitality industry; tableware and table service; management, control, IT and security; textiles and uniforms; furniture and decoration, in addition a special prominence is given to four spaces: Expolimp, dedicated to professional cleaning; Coffee area, with the most complete offer of products and services; Intervending, with the most innovative proposals of automatic distribution and Food Service, food sector for the Horeca channel (Hospitality, Catering and Catering).
In Hostelco 2008 different activities are planned for all attendees and their tastes. The Hall exhibits the new space "Hotel Universe" where you can see the latest in hospitality on five continents through exhibitions and audiovisuals, in addition to teaching the different aspects that make up the concept of hotel: the universality of the hotel, design, technology, sustainability and the human being.
Hostelco 2008 also hosts the second edition of the European Pizza Championship, where almost 40 participants, from all over Europe, develop different tests to achieve the title of Champion. Likewise, there is the final of the National Barista Contest, organized by the Coffee Cultural Forum; and the Window Cleaner Contest, among other innovative and entertaining activities; There is also an extensive program of technical conferences related to each sector.
The different actors of the hospitality industry can know first line the trends of the sector and its advances such as: faster machinery and with a higher level of productivity, optimization of spaces thanks to compact equipment, energy efficiency through energy consumption economizer systems, water and decreased sound levels, among others.
According to a study carried out by FELAC, the 168 companies that make up the federation invoiced 2,190 million euros in 2007, 6.9% more than in 2006. Exports grew by more than 710 million euros and increasing by 12.4% compared to the previous year.
