Hospitality trade show introduces hosted programme 

Event Wine & Gourmet Asia 2009
Venue CotaiExpo, Venetian Macau
Organiser Koelnmesse
Delegates 7,163
Date October 22-24, 2009

The brief
Wine & Gourmet Asia (WGA) was established in 2007 as an international trade fair for South China’s expanding hospitality industry. The expo included a range of supporting events and was held in conjunction with the 14th Macau International Trade and Investment Fair.

The event is also a showcase for Macau’s local hospitality industry.

Challenges
Event organiser Koelnmesse introduced a hosted buyers’ programme this year to strengthen the event’s standing as a regional business platform.

DOC DMC Macau organised a group of 40 hosted buyers from mainland China. “The programme arranged for buyers to meet sellers through pre-scheduled on-site appointments,” says Bruno Simões, CEO of DOC DMC. “This was a first for WGA and it boosted productivity for both buyers and sellers.”

The group stayed at the Grand Waldo hotel where a dedicated help desk was set up in the foyer.

In addition to the opening reception, the buyers enjoyed a dinner in the wine-tasting room at the Macau Wine Museum the following night.

Execution
During the three-day event more than 100 exhibitors from Asia and Europe presented their products to a mix of buyers, chefs, restaurateurs, hotel managers and other industry professionals.

The opening reception is always a highlight and this year was no exception, with champagne and wine from participating suppliers, as well as 37 creations from the chefs at City of Dreams, Sands Macau, The Venetian and Wynn Macau.

Comment
“The organisers have done well to improve the trade fair over the years, especially with the new buyers’ programme,” says Carlos Batalha, distributor of J. Portugal Ramos wines.

Paul Iec, managing director of Seapower Trading Co, says: “Wine & Gourmet Asia is a good platform for us to meet everybody in one place at one time. The supporting events help boost the hospitality service standard in Macau and make the entire scene more vibrant.”