Jubilee edition of hospitality trade show Gastvrij Rotterdam breaks all records again

Gastvrij Rotterdam celebrated its 10th edition over the past three days. This year, the hospitality trade fair covered five sold-out exhibition halls in Rotterdam Ahoy, making this edition the largest yet. Gastvrij Rotterdam welcomed a record number of visitors (18,559) and participants (over 500). From 18 to 20 September, hospitality professionals were able to find out about the most important developments and trends in the hospitality industry. 

Last edition's record stood at 16,757 visitors and 450 participants. Robert Melaard, managing director of Gastvrij Rotterdam: "Ten years ago, at the start of our very first edition together with our Founding Partners, I never dreamed that within a decade we would be such a leading platform within the sector. The fact that so many professionals took the time to attend the trade fair confirms this. Looking around me now, I see an extremely positive atmosphere and extensive range of food and non-food suppliers."

The horeca trade fair featured many well-known but also new culinary competitions and finals: the Bocuse d'Or Dutch Finals, the first final of the Green Chef's Hat, Wine Woman of the Year, preliminary round of the HANOS Golden Chef's Hat and Tastemakers Challenge, the Glazen Kalf, SVH Wine Experts of the Year, Euro-Toques Nederland Cookware Company Restaurant Award, NK Oyster Stitching, Euro-Toques Young Chef Award, Good Fish Dish Award and NK Sabring. 

The fair was officially opened last Monday morning. Visitors were taken through a varied programme focusing on the themes of sustainability and talent development. On stage, they saw, among others: 

Jan Smink, judge at the Bocuse d'Or Dutch Final: "Without Gastvrij Rotterdam no Bocuse, that's what we have seen here. We joined forces and really set the stage well for this competition. Nice to see that the fair is bigger and bigger, renewed and still remains cosy. We stand for hospitality in our profession, and with a platform like this we can raise the profile of the hospitality industry even more. A win win!"

Frank Fol, jury chairman of the Gastronomic Guild's new competition, Green Chef's Hat: "We did the first final here in Rotterdam, so only vegetable products: great to see how creatively young people use vegetables. It's my first time visiting and I'm incredibly surprised! It is a broad fair, with many different top-level products, really worth visiting from Belgium. And you always learn from it!"

The Founding Partners, many of whom have been there since the first edition, also look back on the anniversary edition with great satisfaction. Joost Middendorp of Bidfood: "Like all other years, it was great again. This year I noticed that it was really a lot busier and the quality of the visitors is, as always, very high. You can see that even on the last day it is still super busy."

Chantal Bosch of Cordier: "This edition was really insane again: gastronomy is such a high priority here. As a Founding Partner, we approach it in such a way that we also actively invite customers and we were incredibly busy at the stand."

Joost Snellink of Eijsink: "Gastvrij Rotterdam is a trade fair that matters to the entire industry. Everyone sees the added value of the fair, at this location and at this time of year: decision-makers really do come from far and near and the visitor numbers were fantastic. People are looking with genuine interest at what we have to offer."

Melvin van Doorn of J. van Doorn: "We have participated in the trade fair since its first edition. The atmosphere is good, the quality of the products on offer is high and we meet the right target group of decision-makers here in a targeted way.

René Flohil of Rational: "It is a great and quality fair. We have seen it grow in recent years in exhibitors, quality and visitors. The light, atmosphere and look is also good; you are welcomed hospitably from entry."

Programme partners are also very satisfied with the fair. Sander Verschuren of Green Leisure Group: "A beautiful and high-quality hospitality fair. At the sustainability pavilion, we often host corporate decision-makers, and in recent years we have also grown in exhibitors dealing with circularity and organic products. Great to be here." Barbara Verbeek of the Wine Theatre: "We have located our Wine Theatre here because it is the best hospitality fair. Gastvrij Rotterdam attracts a very good crowd, very varied and chic even. In addition, of course, there is a wonderful range of wine importers and business at the adjacent Wine & Fine Food." 

The 11th edition of Gastvrij Rotterdam will take place from 23 to 25 September 2024 in Rotterdam Ahoy. Gastvrij Rotterdam is for entrepreneurs and managers in the mid- and high-end hospitality sector.

More information can be found at www.gastvrij-rotterdam.nl