A hotel supplies show in Sri Lanka has grown to be the largest in the South Asia amid a slew of new properties being developed in the country after the end of a 30-year is attracting increasing international attention, officials said.

The bi-annual show started in 1998, by alumni association of Ceylon Hotels School Graduates Association was made into an annual event from this year, following strong demand from exhibitors.

“The reason I believe is because there are so many properties – over 200 odd hotels – and some large chains coming in the demand is very high,” Imran Hassan head of Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services, which managing the event said.

Hassen said they usually had a year to sign up exhibitors after announcing the event but this year, after deciding to make it an annual event a 2013 event was announced in February instead of 2014 and stalls were sold out in six weeks.

Additional air conditioned marquees had to be arranged and they now had 250 exhibitors.

“I think this will be the biggest show away,”

Hassan said firms in premises and facilities management (swimming pools, convention facilties), furniture, tablewear, catering equipment and services, food and beverage, health, leisure, entertainment and IT will be exhibiting.

Large corporates from 14 countries including India, Thailand, UAE, Turkey were exhibiting this year.

Sri Lanka tourism development authority chief Bhashwara Senanka Gunarathna said the event had now become the largest in South Asia.

Organizers said with the potential of making it a top international event of its kind they are also making arrangements to attracting buyers from other countries including Maldives.

A culinary competition to choose Sri Lanka’s representative for Bocuse d’Or a top global cooking competition named after a Paul Bocuse, a renowned French chef will also take place during the show.

Last year Sri Lanka had made it into the one of four Asian nations to be included in the finals in France.

Those vying to represent Sri Lanka would be able to attend a workshop conducted by a former winner of Bocuse d’Or.

A bartenders’ completion will also take place and a street food style festival will also take place adding more colour and interest to make the event more attractive to visitors.

Source : http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/news/sri-lanka-hotel-show-attracts-foreign-interest/218108354