After carefully consideration and close consultation with Thai Hotels Association, Thai Restaurant Association, Thailand Chefs Association and many related government sectors, Informa Markets – organizer of Food & Hotel Thailand – agree that the current situation of COVID-19 has affected the overall food and hotel industry in the country and still no visitors from foreign countries are allowed to enter Thailand. The organizer decided to postpone the event. In order to help prepare Thai manufacturers adjust and be ready for the upcoming year, webinars and online business matching are organized.
Sanchai Noombunnam, Deputy Managing Director at Informa Markets – Thailand, said that after a discussion with stakeholders, Thai Hotels Association, Thai Restaurant Association, Thailand Chefs Association and the exhibitors, the decision was final. The Food & Hotel Thailand 2020 will be postponed due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19. The pandemic has a strong effect on Thai food and hotel businesses. The Food & Hotel Thailand is an international platform for people in food industry from around the world. Each year many buyers, technology owners, and hotel owners come to the exhibition. In 2019, the event welcomed more than 30,000 visitors, 542 exhibitors from 40 different countries and had 11 international pavilions. This global pandemic slows business growth and results in countries lockdown which means no visitors from foreign countries are allowed. In order to support the continuity of food and hotel business, the organizer decides to set up two additional activities.
The first activity is business matching which is a collaboration between the Industrial Promotion Center Region 9 from the Department of Industrial Promotion and the Federation of Thai Industries to bring a group selected food manufacturers and service providers from both Thai and foreigners who agree to join a business matching activity in the previous year. This is a combination of offline and online business matching to make it possible for people outside the country. The activity will be organized during 9-10 September 2020. For hospitality business, roadshows will be organized in many provinces around Thailand.
Webinars is also another activity that Informa Markets organizes regularly with partners from both private and government sectors in various topics rotating from one industry to another. Prepare people in food and hospitality business for their coming back to business after the pandemic.
Supawan Tanomkieatipume, President, Thai Hotels Association (THA) mentioned that COVID-19 has a direct effect to Thai hospitality industry. The decision to postpone the Food & Hotel Thailand 2020 is the right choice to prevent all the possibility of spreding the virus. THA together with patners in the industry have organized business matching acitivities, roadshows and serveral webinars with the help of Food & Hotel Thailand to help business owners fighting in this hard time of business. The association is more than happy to come back and be a part of Food & Hotel Thailand 2021.
Thaniwan Koonmongkon, President, Thai Restaurant Association (TRA) said that the spreading of COVID-19 definitely affects food business. Even though we experience rapid growth of food delivery, business still cannot compare to the business in the normal situation which is the reason why the association agree to the decision of postponing the Food & Hotel Thailand this year until the situation gets better. All the activities that the event organizes truly help manufacturers adapt themselves to the situation. The Thai Restaurant Association will definitely participate in the Food & Hotel Thailand 2021.
Somsak Rarongkam, President, Thailand Chefs Association (TCA) also mentioned that it is unfortunate that the Thailand’s 27th International Culinary Cup (TICC) which has been always a part of Food & Hotel Thailand will not be happening this year. The association is still aiming to help support chefs everywhere in Thailand to adjust and adapt to the situation by organizing a roadshow to many important provinces througout Thailand with the help of Informa Markets. At the same time we confirm to all that Thailand’s 27th International Culinary Cup will come back next year with Food & Hotel Thailand 2021.
Even though the Food & Hotel Thailand will be postponed this year but associations and partners in food and hospitality industry believe that the situation will soon be better and everything will come back to normal very soon and the Food & Hotel Thailand will com back in 2021. Bigger, better and once again an international platform for people in food and hotel business from around the world.
The Food & Hotel Thailand 2021 will be organized at the International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) during 8-11 September 2021 from 10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. For more information please visit www.foodhotelthailand.com and www.facebook.com/Food & Hotel Thailand
