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Pub Operators Gear Up For Casual Dining 2018

Aspire Executive Lounges, Swissport's global airport hospitality brand, has joined the British Institute of Hospitality, the world’s leading and award-winning membership body for hospitality professionals. Aspire Executive Lounges becomes the first business partner from the airport lounge hospitality sector to join the Institute of Hospitality. Aspire Executive Lounges, the fast-growing Swiss brand in the airport hospitality business, has joined the British Institute of Hospitality (IoH), the world’s leading membership body for professionals working and studying in the hospitality leisure and tourism industry. Aspire Executive Lounges is the first business from the airport lounge sector to become a member of IoH. The collaboration will foster an exchange of expertise and insights: IoH will benefit from Aspire's expertise in airport hospitality, while Aspire, by sharing its wealth of experience with IoH members, can extend its professional network to the hotel and catering sectors and hospitality management schools. “Our vision for Aspire Executive Lounges is clear and simple: We want to deliver a guest experience that is similar to what our guests are used to from their preferred hotels, meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of today’s travelers,” says David Collyer, Global Vice President of Executive Lounges at Swissport International AG. “We strive to deliver an unparalleled experience and set a benchmark that transcends our industry, redefining excellence across the hospitality sector. The Institute of Hospitality is a great network to exchange insights and experiences, and to learn from others in the hospitality sector, which will help us bring our vision to life.” Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality: “Our aspiration at the Institute of Hospitality has been to develop and grow our membership, the number of countries we operate in, and the number of hospitality sectors represented within our organization. With that in mind, it is a natural partnership for us to welcome Aspire into our family, and to learn from their teams, who serve travelers with passion and dedication. As two organizations with similar values, we look forward to collaborating in promoting high levels of excellence within our profession.” With over 30 years of experience, Aspire Executive Lounges is Europe’s largest brand in the airport lounges sector. In 2023, Swissport welcomed more than five million customers worldwide at over 69 lounges in 20 countries. The airport hospitality brand recently opened new lounges at Toronto City Airport in Canada, and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in Finland. Aspire Executive Lounges recently created a new lounge concept in partnership with the airline alliance oneworld. The first oneworld branded lounge was launched at Incheon Airport in Seoul, Korea, in December 2023. Aspire Executive Lounges is owned by Swissport International AG, the global leader in aviation services, serving airlines at 286 airports in 44 countries across 6 continents
Written by Amy

 

Already a magnet for top buyers from across the casual dining sector, Casual Dining 2018 is expecting to see a record number of UK pub and bar operators among its attendees later this month, when doors open at the Business Design Centre in London on 21-22 February.

Event organiser Diversified UK says the number of pub and bar buyers at Casual Dining has swelled year on year (it was up 10% in 2017 and a massive 25% in 2016) – reflecting the growing importance of food sales as a crucial revenue stream for many.

Enterprise Inns, Punch Taverns, Mitchells & Butlers, JD Wetherspoon, Admiral Taverns, Marston’s, Greene King, and Stonegate Pub Company are among the big-name operators who have certainly taken advantage of changing consumer tastes and the rise of casual pub dining.  They’ve been attending the show since its launch to source the latest food and drink innovations for their customers.  And they’ll be back again for 2018.

“I’ve always loved the show,” says Yummy Pub Co’s Tim Foster, another repeat visitor (and 2018 speaker).  “Getting up close and personal to existing suppliers for a natter, and finding new ones, is what has always excited me – and Casual Dining is the market leader.”

“I always recommend visiting Casual Dining,” agrees Andrew Jobes, head of food at Punch Taverns.  “It provides a great opportunity to meet new and existing suppliers and catch up with others from across our industry.”

The 2018 pre-registered visitor list, to date, also includes key decision makers from Anglian Country Inns, Be At One, Bermondsey Pub Co, BrewDog Bars, Brewhouse & Kitchen, Cheshire Cat Pubs and Bars, Dirty Martini, ETM Group, Fuller, Smith & Turner, Glendola Leisure Group, Hall and Woodhouse, JW Lees & Co Brewers, Laine Pub Company, Malvern Inns, New World Trading Co, Nicholson’s Pubs, Novus Leisure, Oakman Inns, O’Neill’s, Peach Pubs, Pubs of Distinction, Redcomb Pubs, S.A. Brain & Co, The Deltic Group, Upham Pub Company, Whiting & Hammond, and Young’s Pubs, plus scores of smaller independent pub and bar owners.

Buyers looking to refresh their drinks menus will also have plenty to keep them busy, thanks to a 41% increase in alcohol exhibitors.  Some of the world’s best-selling beer and cider brands are now confirmed, including Heineken UK – Blade, KBE Drinks (Kingfisher Beer Europe), Duvel Moortgat UK, Budweiser Budvar UK, Carlsberg UK, World Beers, and Molson Coors (whose portfolio includes Carling, Coors Light, Staropramen, Cobra, Grolsch, Doom Bar, Worthington’s, Caffrey’s, Singha, Rekorderlig and Aspall).  While the show’s Craft Beer & Cider Pavilion and Artisan Spirits Lounge will feature around 25 speciality breweries and distilleries.

“Whether it’s in pubs, bars or restaurants – our growing appetite for a high quality, good value, food and drink offering has created huge opportunities for casual dining operators.  And they’ll find plenty of inspiration, new ideas and world-class innovations at Casual Dining 2018,” says event manager Eva Ellis.

Pub-focused Keynotes

Casual Dining’s high-profile seminar line-up includes Keynote interviews with Chris Hill, CEO of New World Trading Company, and Paul Merrett, acclaimed chef director and owner at Jolly Fine Pub Group.  Plus an exclusive opening day panel session examining the opportunities, trends and challenges ahead for casual dining pub operators.  Hosted by Kate Nicholls, chief executive of The ALMR, panellists include Tim Foster, owner & head of being awesome at the Yummy Pub Co, Brian Keeley-Whiting, MD of Whiting & Hammond, and Alexander Salussolia, MD of Glendola Leisure Group.

“Casual dining has set the bar for customer expectations of food everywhere, but especially in pubs.  For that reason any pub operator that sells food needs to know where the casual dining market is going,” explains Salussolia.  After his visit last year, he called the show “a unique opportunity to discover products and trends completely relevant to our sector”.

Other speaker highlights – there are 18 sessions to choose from – include Keynotes from Nick Collins, CEO of Loungers, and Susan Chappell, divisional director/executive committee at Mitchells & Butlers (responsible for All Bar One, Browns, Nicholson’s and the Castle pub portfolio).  While Chris Knights, group executive chef at Young’s & Geronimo Pubs, and Antony Bennett, head of food at Loungers, will be discussing multi-site pub menu innovation in a second day panel session; which also features Glenn Evans, head of food development at Las Iguanas, La Tasca and La Vina.

Informative, inspiring, innovative, and collaborative are just some of the words these speakers have used to describe the show.  For them, like the thousands of visitors that regularly attend, it’s where the industry meets to do business.

“Casual Dining gets better every year and it keeps me up to speed with how innovation and trends are coming into the industry.  It’s a must-attend event!” says Nolan Spratt, group head of pub operations at S.A Brain & Co.

Casual Dining returns to the Business Design Centre in London on 21-22 February 2018.  The show’s full exhibitor list – available to view at www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/exhibitor-list – features over 200 leading industry suppliers offering everything from new food and drink products, catering equipment and tech, workwear, tableware, payment solutions and business services.

For more information, and to register for a free trade ticket, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk and quote priority code CD5 (direct link: https://eventdata.uk/Visitor/CasualDining.aspx?TrackingCode=CD5).

About the author

Amy