IHE 2022 toasts revival

The hospitality industry showed up in strength for the fifth-anniversary edition of the India International Hospitality Expo (IHE). The next show is scheduled for 2–5 August 2023.

The curtains came down on the fifthanniversary edition of the India International Hospitality Expo (IHE 2022) on 6 August, with the announcement of the dates for the next year’s event. IHE 2023 will be held on 2–5 August 2023, at the India Expo Mart & Centre, Greater Noida. About 400 vendors of food service and hospitality products attended the four-day event, which also featured an industry conclave, masterclasses, and competitions. Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Exposition Mart Limited (IEML), said, “IHE 2022 has demonstrated that India can become a sourcing hub for the global industry, offering an array of sustainable products developed by our MSMEs. And the fifth-anniversary show was a celebration of the industry’s revival.”

Speaking at the inauguration on 3 August, BB Swain, Secretary, Ministry of MSME, GoI, announced that on the previous day, India had achieved the milestone of one crore MSME registrations, “out of which 20 per cent belong to hotels or hospitality”. IHE benefited from the support extended to the exhibitors by the MSME Ministry, the One District One Product (ODOP) programme of the UP government, National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), and Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH). Sharad Upadhyay, GM, Crowne Plaza, Greater Noida, said, “Platforms such as IHE create a synergy by bringing together all the hospitality stakeholders. Events like these have the potential to drive innovation.” Ajay Khanna, CEO, Eagle Forgings, said, “B2B shows that are so professionally run like IHE will continue to grow and do well.” Sharing a chef’s point of view, Parvinder Bali, Corporate Chef, Oberoi Centre for Learning & Development, added, “Shows such as IHE keep us in touch with each other and also with the latest global F&B trends.”

Several organisations came forward to partner with IHE 2022, including Spice Board of India,

Clear Water, Maspar, Kohe, Watergen, and many more. The food products brand, Naturin, was the sponsor of the IHE Masterclasses, which saw celebrated chefs, including Harpal Singh Sokhi and Ajay Chopra from Mumbai, share their best-kept secrets. And two reputed academic institutions—International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) and Delhi Skill & Entrepreneur University—were on board as the education partners. Food service students got an opportunity to present their culinary skills at the Young Chefs Challenge organised by the Indian Culinary Forum (ICF). The show’s associate partners included AH International, Food Service India, Haks, Venus Industries, Loom Crafts Furniture India, Multi Seats, Saimex Exim, and Sunny Overseas. The range of products and services that were on display at IHE 2022 were kitchen and catering equipment, kitchenware, crockery and cutlery, F&B products and ingredients, furniture and furnishings, housekeeping and laundry essentials, and varied water technologies.

Nitin Nagarale, Founder, Hospitality Purchasing Managers’ Forum (HPMF), said, “IHE helps you get to know more about what is happening in the industry now and what is expected in the next few years. IHE introduces us to a world that exists beyond our imagination.” Abinash Manghani, CEO, ITC WelcomHeritage, opined, “IHE helps us hoteliers to update our knowledge and upgrade our offerings.” Hari Dadoo, President, IHE, said, “In its fifth anniversary year, IHE continues to be a knowledge fest for professionals engaged in the hospitality and food service sectors.”

One of the high points of the show was the IHE Conclave, which was attended by industry thought leaders, such as Jatin Khanna, CEO, Sarovar Hotels and Resorts; Vikram Aditya Singh, CEO, The Claridges Hotels & Resorts; Sanjoy Bose, EVP and Head-HR, ITC Hotels; Girish Sehgal, SVP & HeadLuxury Operations, DLF Limited; Greesh Bindra, VPOperations, The Suryaa New Delhi; Chef Davinder Kumar, President, ICF; Chef Manjit Gill, President, Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (ICFA); and some of the country’s leading hospitality educators, notably Satvir Singh, NCHMCT; Arun Singh, FHRAIIHM; Abdullah Ahmed, IIHM; Dr. Manohar Sajnani, Amity; and Dr. Rajiv Mishra, Galgotias.