The Maldives’ largest annual food and hospitality event ‘Hotel Asia Exhibition and International Culinary Challenge 2015’ will be held at Dharubaaruge Exhibition Hall, Male Maldives from August 23rd to 26, 2015.

This year’s event is supported and endorsed by the Maldives Tourism Ministry along with the Sri Lanka – Maldives Bilateral Business Council and the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka, who will host two major pavilions.

This year’s event is held during a significant time when the Maldives celebrate its 50 years of independence. Hotel Asia Exhibition has been included as part of this mega celebration, which commences in July and would be held until the end of the year.

The event has sold out its 15000 square feet of exhibition space across three halls of the Dharubaaruge Exhibition Centre emphasizing and highlighting the strength of international interest and investment in one of South Asia’s most lucrative food, beverage and hospitality markets.

According to the CEO of Lanka Exhibitions, the holding company of Maldives Exhibition and Conference Services, Aasim Mukthar, Hotel Asia offers the most comprehensive and contemporary products, services and insights for the food, beverage and hospitality industry. He said the Exhibition and the Culinary Challenge is more than a regional event, it is an international showcase and a global business arena.

“The event is a trading platform, a knowledge sharing experience, a networking opportunity and industry driver under one roof.” Over 200 international suppliers and about 5000 industry professionals will attend the four-day event

The Hotel Asia International Culinary Challenge is the regions premier culinary competition with the participation of over 500 chefs. The highlight of the Culinary Challenge is displaying the talents of these young chefs. It will be presented by judges representing the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS). The competition segment is worked out through a large number of categories which include classics such as pastas, hot cooking – meat, poultry and seafood and iced mocktails. One facet that makes the competition distinct from similar events worked out around the world is the novel categories such as Honeymoon Cakes and Aussie BBQ.

“Hotel Asia offers the most comprehensive and contemporary products, services and insights for the food, beverage and hospitality industry, not just across the South Asian region but across the world,” said Husnie Rauf, General Manager, Maldives Exhibition and Conference Services, the organiser of the exhibition. “The event is a trading platform, a knowledge sharing experience, a networking opportunity and an industry driver under one roof.

The star-studded panel of judges is another key factor that contributes greatly to the credibility of the competition. Alan Palmer, Chief Judge and Project Director and Veteran chefs in the likes of Otto Weibel, Thomas Gugler, Rudolf Muller, Michael Strautmanis, Kenny Kong, Tarek Ibrahim, Rohan Fernandopulle, Alvin Goh, James Antolin, Norbert Girnth, Penk Ching, Terence Chew, Yen Koh and many others are distinguished members of the panel who provide their expertise in judging the entries for the competition.