Hotelex Shanghai 2018 draws record overseas visitors

The 27th Shanghai International Hospitality Equipment & Food Service Expo, also known as Hotelex Shanghai 2018, attracted more than 146,000 visitors in four days, organisers report. Co-hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration and China Tourist Hotel Association, the catering and hospitality trade exhibition that ended on 29 March drew 146,266 trade buyers, of which 5135 came from overseas. Hotelex 2018 spread over 22 halls and 220,000 square meters of exhibition space, hosting 2500 companies from 122 countries and regions. Visitor growth from the United States grew 3.2-fold and attendance from Australia doubled for this year's event. Coffee plays a major role in Hotelex, which this year brought some of the world's best baristas to China to share their skills as part of the World Coffee Events All-Stars Shanghai program. The 2018 China Beverage Report was also released at the event, allowing those in associated sectors to analyse micro and macro industry and future development trends in detail. Other Hotelex 2018 events in China this year are in Beijing from 27 to 29 June, Chengdu from 10 to 12 August and Guangzhou from 17 to 19 December. For more information, visit www.hotelex.cn