ITCA, the International Travel Catering Association, is delighted to announce that it is partnering with SIAL Middle East to bring a specialist trade show, conference and networking forum to Abu Dhabi on 26th- 28th November 2012. The event is to be [...]]]> ITCA Abu Dhabi – ‘Gateway to the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific’.

ITCA, the International Travel Catering Association, is delighted to announce that it is partnering with SIAL Middle East to bring a specialist trade show, conference and networking forum to Abu Dhabi on 26^th- 28th November 2012. The event is to be sponsored by Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates.

ITCA President Stephen White comments: ”We are very excited to be joining forces with such industry giants as SIAL Group, the world’s largest network of professional food events, and of course Etihad Airways whose standards of inflight service are legendary. Taking the event to Abu Dhabi is a unique and unmissable opportunity. Acclaimed for its experience as an elite organiser of business events, our exhibitors and visitors will benefit from the highest levels of support from SIAL Group, including a dedicated hosted buyer programme which will guarantee attendance from the airline industry’s leading food and beverage buyers. Etihad Airways will also be offering special exclusive discounts for exhibitors and attendees travelling with them for the event.

The Middle East is one of the world’s leading growth markets for both air traffic and cruise passengers.

According to a recent report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), regional airlines recorded a 14.5 per cent year-on-year increase in RPK (revenue passenger kilometres) in January 2012, the highest growth of any region. And further growth is expected with Airbus predicting that Middle East airlines will be buying 1,000 new aircraft worth US$124 billion between now and 2023.

Driven by economic growth, expatriate workers and a young and wealthy population, these well positioned hubs are enabling Middle East carriers to continue to improve their share of long-haul markets.

“The rise in passenger traffic in the Middle East provides a great opportunity for the catering and foodservice industry. The region’s airlines continue to raise industry standards with their innovative in-flight services.” White added

ITCA exhibited at the World Travel Catering Expo in Hamburg 27^th- 29th March, the first event of its kind since the ITCA European event was incorporated into the Aircraft Interiors show in Hamburg. On its stand full details of the new Abu Dhabi event were available including updates on all the ITCA networking opportunities on which the association built its 31-year history. Also to be included in the Abu Dhabi ITCA Middle East event is the world-renowned Mercury Awards, presented in the Middle East for the first time.

Please see www.itcaabudhabi.com for further information.

Click here to view the Presidents Press Release in full

ITCA had a stand at this inaugural event and saw many of the usual exhibitors and visitors. Stephen White, ITCA President said “It was gratifying to see such a large exhibition in this the [...]]]> The First World Travel Catering and On Board Services Expo incorporating ITCA was held in Hamburg 27 – 29 March 2012.

ITCA had a stand at this inaugural event and saw many of the usual exhibitors and visitors. Stephen White, ITCA President said “It was gratifying to see such a large exhibition in this the first of the new trade shows organised by Reed Exhibitions and attached to Aircraft Interiors. The very size of the event showed that the industry supported the move we made last year and we look forward to next year’s event, which is moving to April in 2013”.

ITCA is now concentrating on the new ITCA Abu Dhabi which is being partnered with Sial Middle East and sponsored by Etihad Airways.

Now in its 30th year some 135 International Exhibiting Companies were kept busy right from the opening of the show by over 1,500 Professionals directly linked [...]]]> 144 Operator Companies (Airline, Train and Shipping) were represented at the ITCA event in Nice 2011 – this figure shows a 23% increase on ITCA 2009 in Barcelona.

Now in its 30^th year some 135 International Exhibiting Companies were kept busy right from the opening of the show by over 1,500 Professionals directly linked to the On Board Service Industry from food and wine, to earphones and headrests and catering companies and logistics companies  all of which are served by ITCA.

The new format of the event – removing any event that distracted from the Trade Show (such as the Conference and Boarding Party) was well received by visitor and exhibitor alike and the longer trade show hours not to mention the free lunches, refreshments and cocktail parties and the pouring rain outside all contributed to a buzzing hall on days one and two with the final day being highlighted by the new format Mercury Awards Ceremony.

The Workshops were of great interest with the Wine workshop teaching all who attended some new and interesting things about wine and our senses of taste and smell. These were further challenged with the Provencal Products show where a ‘hands on’ approach was given to making your own tapenade and the perfume session, so relevant with the world famous perfume centre of Grasse being only a few miles from Nice, adding a lighter note to proceedings.

Attendees once again travelled from as far afield as Chile, Brazil and Outer Mongolia and New Zealand.

Also exhibiting for all of the 30 years, W K Thomas’s sales Director Des Thurgood said “It was a good show in many ways, and not just because we won a Mercury. I’m sure you’ve had positive feedback from others and I’m very happy to say we were pleasantly surprised by the whole atmosphere and the quality of visitors.

Exhibitor, Leonard Hamersfield from Buzz said “The overall feel at ITCA was great. There were good airlines and the people from the airlines were the right level staff that make decisions. Perfect!”

On the Cuisine Solutions stand chef Jay Hemmer said “Airlines are once again starting to compete with the food they put on board, and as a result we are seeing a massive surge in demand”

First time exhibitor Dr Oetker found their Pizza line going down well during the show and their product helped to add to the enjoyment of all at the Cocktail Parties in the evening.

Thanks go to the main sponsors – PAUL SAPIN for their wine at lunch and at the Cocktail parties and Nestlé waters for their Vittel and Perrier water.

See Mercury Winners for for full details.

Once again we are delighted to bring you a gallery of photos to record the event. High resolution copies for printing are available to ITCA Members and visit the gallery now where you will find a download link below each picture.

There are many new features which will be implemented over the coming months – even more reason to keep revisiting the site on a regular basis.

If we missed anything please let [...]]]> Welcome to the new appearance for the ITCA website and as such may be incomplete as we are developing it day by day.

There are many new features which will be implemented over the coming months – even more reason to keep revisiting the site on a regular basis.

If we missed anything please let us know!