The second edition of the Big Food & Beverage Forum, hosted by Catering News Middle East, will take place on 20 September at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina.
Expected to welcome more than 150 F&B professionals from across the region, the forum will tackle the key topics, trends and challenges impacting the F&B industry in 2016 and beyond.
Attendees, sponsors and speakers at The Big F&B Forum will enjoy a morning of thought-provoking panel debates, expert speaker sessions and interactive workshops, with registration and networking to begin at 8am.
Dubai Tourism’s senior communications manager Aida Al Busaidy, will launch the event with a keynote address on the value of the F&B industry as part of the wider tourism conversation in the emirate.
This will be followed by an on-stage interview with Dr. Basem Abdul Moneim, public health specialist, National Tobacco Control Programme on what the UAE’s impending smoking ban will mean for the F&B industry.
Also confirmed are Damien Rizzi, Colliers MENA senior asset manager – hospitality, who will unveil an exclusive new report on maximising profitability in hotel restaurants; and Ali Sinaei, managing partner, Roundmenu, discussing consumer behavior trends and dining decisions.
Panel sessions include “Creating a more sophisticated F&B landscape”; “A rising talent pool: but at what cost?”; and “The trends shaping the UAE’s F&B landscape”, with a strong line-up of speakers combining a wealth of F&B industry knowledge and experience.
Following the panel discussions, we will welcome legendary British chef, restaurateur and author Gary Rhodes OBE to the stage to discuss his views on the F&B landscape in the Middle East and his plans for the future in the region.
A networking lunch with interactive workshops will follow, allowing attendees the opportunity to meet with peers and learn more about the best new products on the market.
Some of the most prominent, influential catering and hospitality suppliers in the region are sponsoring the event, with Coffee Planet confirmed as Exclusive Coffee Sponsor; Al Rawdah (Emirates Modern Poultry Co.) Official Breakfast Sponsor; and support from African + Eastern; foodservice equipment supplier, TSSC; and tableware and uniforms supplier, A. Ronai LLC.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, please contact Diarmuid O’Malley: dom@bncpublishing.net or Nick Clowes: nick@bncpublishing.net.
For information on speaking opportunities, contact Crystal Chesters: Crystal@bncpublishing.net and to register attendance, contact Mark Anthony Monzon: mark@bncpublishing.net
Access the full agenda and details of confirmed speakers by clicking on this link.