The organisers of World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) have released full details of the show and programme of events, ahead of its return to the Hamburg Messe in Germany on 28-30 May 2024.
Taking place across three days, WTCE will bring together more than 250 exhibitors, ranging from new companies and well-known brands entering the onboard scene, to established industry suppliers offering a variety of products for onboard catering, food and beverage, amenity products and hospitality services. In addition, there are several new features intended to inspire and educate buyers from 175 of the world’s leading airline and rail operators. Sustainability will be a large focus at the show as the sector continues to shift with the needs of today’s eco-conscious passengers, and WTCE will introduce new visitor features for 2024, as well as educational content aimed at the whole passenger experience community.
Exhibitors
Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the latest developments showcased by exhibitors including Linstol, LSG Group, Formia, dnata, En Route, Buzz Products, Cuisine Solutions, Frankenberg, SATS, Catrion, Flying Food Group, and many others.
Others showcasing their latest products and services will include BeanStalk, a plant-based food manufacturer; Intervine, a distribution and food and beverage management company; Hello Straw, a provider of sustainability-focused and biodegradable products beyond paper straws; Ferents and Co, producer of amenity kits for major airline and railway companies; Freshorize, which specialises in air fresheners, hand wash, lotion and sanitiser; and Sotoco, manufacturer of paper cups for hot drinks.
Taste of Travel Theatre
Details have also been released for the Taste of Travel Theatre, produced in association with Onboard Hospitality and sponsored this year by En Route. Visitors can learn about the latest trends and discuss future passenger requirements in a series of sessions held over the three days.
In the session titled ‘Innovative approaches to next generation pre-ordering?’, moderator Joe Harvey, business development manager for Travel at Deli Lites, will be joined by Thorunn Ingjaldsdóttir, chief commercial officer at Icelandair; Salim Hazif, managing director at Food Folk; Brett Hooyerink, director of sales and culinary for McGuire & Associates and co-chairman of the IFSA Innovation Committee; and Paul Bilham, VP of sales at Omnevo. The panel will explore approaches to driving inflight retail and pre-ordering services for the next generation of travellers.
Another session of interest is ‘The Journey Experience’, moderated by Alison Wells, managing director of Plane Talking. Debating the complete end-to-end journey experience from the passenger’s point of view will be Antony McNeil, global food and beverage director – inflight service delivery at Singapore Airlines; Todd Traynor-Corey, MD guest products at Alaska Air; and Vimal Kumar Rai of Commercial Excellence Partners. They will discuss how products and services can enhance a personalised experience on board, and the fast-moving developments in this space.
In addition to the programme of educational sessions, live cooking demonstrations and tasting opportunities will take place at the Taste of Travel Theatre. Visitors will get a flavour of what airline and rail caterers are offering passengers to not only meet the concerns of health and wellbeing-conscious customers, but also demonstrate comforting options to help elevate the passenger experience.
VIP Buyer Programme
For onboard buyers and procurement teams from airlines, rail operators and travel catering companies, WTCE will offer its exclusive VIP Buyer Programme. The programme provides several added benefits before and during the event, including access to the exclusive VIP Lounge and VIP Sample Bags.
Available to VIP badge holders, the VIP Sample Bags – sponsored by Marfo – will contain more than 15 products from exhibitors such as Vithit Drinks, Joe & Sephs, Doves Farm Foods and The Bamboovement. Furthermore, tailored exclusively for VIPs, Digital Gift Bags will feature an array of product offers to choose from and collect on exhibitors’ booths, showcasing selections from exhibitors such as Soothing Solutions, La Fabrique Cookies, and Koppert Cress.
The VIP Buyer Programme also offers a discounted rate for Passenger Experience Conference (PEC), taking place at the Hamburg Messe on 27 May. Here, delegates will have the opportunity to look ahead into the 2030s and beyond, anticipating innovation in aviation and travel experiences. Delving into three key themes, the conference will explore initiatives shaping industry standards and systemic changes, navigate the complexities of multimodal travel solutions, and address resource efficiency for a sustainable future. Featuring experts from Air Canada, Boeing, Airbus, and more, PEC promises insightful sessions and exclusive networking opportunities. The PEC ticket also includes access to the Welcome Party, taking place on the evening of 27 May.
Wellbeing Walk-through
WTCE will also feature the Wellbeing Walk-through, which will focus on health and nutrition, wellbeing and mental health. This dedicated trail will enable specially selected exhibiting companies to highlight product ranges intended to alleviate the side effects associated with travelling long distances, as well as to promote long-term health and well-being.
Visitors interested in food, drink, beauty, and amenity kit products designed to improve passenger wellbeing while travelling – from noise-cancelling headphones and nutritious food, to alcohol-free beverage alternatives – can find out more about companies such as Snackboxtogo, Lily O’Briens, Rivazur Cakes, and Swypes.
Steps to Sustainability
New for 2024, WTCE will introduce the Steps to Sustainability feature, incorporating a dedicated feature area and trail. The area, located in Hall A1, will celebrate a select number of exhibitor products designed for sustainability, from companies including Sustainaholics, Hello Straw, Onyx Plate and Ly Company Italia. Meanwhile, the trail will take attendees on a journey around the show floor to discover more than 20 companies with products ranging from tableware, to food and beverage offerings, to amenity products.
First-time exhibitors
WTCE 2024 will welcome more than 50 first-time exhibitors. These include Tubes, Swypes, Ly Company Group, Zhejiang Shuangjian, IFCS (In Flight Catering Software), Paxia, Soothing Solutions, Serenissima Ristorazione, Signature Cocktail, Koppert Cress and more.
Many first-time exhibitors will be located in WTCE’s New Exhibitor Village, which will host up to 20 companies bringing new products to the market. Exhibitors in this space will include technology solutions company Avsos; cookies, cakes and madeleines manufacturer La Fabrique Cookies; frozen food solutions company Manna From Heaven; along with Ecoffee Cup, Kimirica Hunter, Burren Balsamics, L’Escadrille, and more.
Ambassador programme
Launched this year, WTCE’s Ambassador programme calls on the expertise of Melissa Adamski, a travel dietitian and nutritionist; Kelly Stevenson, former global wine and beverage manager at British Airways and current CEO of JetVine; Matt Crane, co-founder of the Aviation Sustainability Forum (ASF); and Julianne Ponan, CEO of Creative Nature and a passionate allergies campaigner.
The programme reflects the show’s focus on the key themes of health and wellbeing, sustainability, food, and drink, through a thought leadership campaign supported on social media, and contributions to the Taste of Travel programme.
At the Taste of Travel Theatre, the Ambassadors will share their expertise on the latest trends, innovations and best practices in their respective fields. Adamski will deliver a session on ‘Culinary nutrition’; Stevenson will debate ‘The changing drinking habits of passengers. What are the demographics?’; Crane will cover ‘Putting an end to food waste’; and Ponan will explore the latest trends in allergen-free catering in ‘Tackling Health and Wellbeing for the Modern Traveller’.
Visitors and exhibitors will have the opportunity to meet the Ambassadors in the new Ambassador Lounge – a dedicated space on the show floor in Hall A1 where attendees can arrange meetings and network with each Ambassador during the three-day event and discover more about their specialist areas.
WTCE Connect
Launching in April 2024 for attendees, WTCE Connect – the online show-planning tool – will offer visitors personalised supplier recommendations as well as allow them to search for exhibitors that suit their needs with relevant products. They can then book meetings with any exhibitors to either hold on their booth or within the WTCE Connect Lounge.
“With such a diverse range of new and returning show features marking our twelfth edition of WTCE in Hamburg, we will present the industry’s finest and most innovative companies that not only excel in health and wellbeing, sustainability, food, and drink categories, but are dedicated to creating a better passenger experience,” said Polly Magraw, WTCE’s event director. “From elevating taste and quality in food and drink offerings to providing luxurious amenities, our exhibitors epitomise innovation and excellence, shaping the future of travel experiences.”
“We are proud to deliver the inflight catering, onboard services, and passenger comfort industry with a leading global event where there will be exciting at-show activations, such as the Steps to Sustainability feature and the Wellbeing Walkthrough,” Magraw continued. “With the quantity of research available on sustainability, it is a key issue that we must unite on as an industry in order to move in a positive direction. We are excited to see everything in action in Hamburg this May, and we are sure that this year’s WTCE will leave a lasting impression on the industry as it moves forward.”
Once again, WTCE will be co-located with Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX). Both shows will take place at the Hamburg Messe on 28-30 May to provide passenger experience professionals with the opportunity to network and explore new products, services and solutions across the cabin. Registering for one show grants visitors access to both events, free of charge.
For more information or to register for WTCE, click here.
