Professional operators in hospitality fields came from 171 countries with notable delegations from the United States, Latin America, and the Middle East to explore 2,249 booths filled with prototypes and innovation. There were many who traveled from as far as Fiji Islands and Nicaragua to visit the exhibition in Milan, Italy.

The 41st edition of Host Milano featured new inventions like sustainable dishwashers using the generated steam to heat water; food waste digesters that allow onsite processing and composting; and especially multifunction ovens enabled with software to manage complex functions like HACCP data and provide analysis for restaurant chains to optimize resources. The exhibitions also featured wood furnishings that are revitalized due to patented technology on 3D printing. Host Milano recognized numerous products with awards as listed here.

(video of Host Milano 2019 by LLK, a supplier of pizza and catering equipment)  

Host Milano also hosted numerous seminars like the Design Talk which focused on topics like challenges of hotel design. The Food & Technology Lounge, organized by ANIMA-Assofoodtec and EFCEM Italia, discussed hot topics like new regulations’ impact on cutting-edge technology. Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) also hosted a showcase on recent innovations around the ever-popular drink. Professionals from FIPE, Mixer, and Planet One, provided complete training on mixology and bartending with new aromas and opportunities offered by new equipment.

The attendance levels matched those of star-studded events and audience participation reached stadium-level for competitions, demonstrations, and show-cooking with famous names like Michele Biassoni, Alessandro Borghese, Antonino Cannavucciuolo, Gianluca Fusto, Davide Oldani, and Bruno Vanzan.  The new event Pasticceria di Lusso nel Mondo was successful as 20 of the biggest Italian and international names graced the stage: Davide Comaschi, Gino Fabbri, Pascal Lac, Pierre Marcolini, Lucien Moutarlier, and Norihiko Terai, all personally selected by Maestro Iginio Massari.

Eight national and international competitions were also held at Host Milano.  The Panettone World Championship declared Alessandro Slama’s panettone as the best artisan dish in the world. Bolognese native Stefano Cevenini beat out competitors from the United Kingdom, Japan, and Tawain in Espresso Italiano Championship, and Gran Premio della Cafetteria Italiana crowned Paolo Rossi. At the Cake Designer World Championship, Poland won first place with Italy coming in second and Peru in third. In the increasingly popular field of Latte Art, the Milano Latte Art Challenge recognized Um Paul of South Korea while Manuela Fensore won the World Latte Art Battle Championship.  Japan won the World Trophy of Pastry, Ice-cream and Chocolate, closely followed by China and Italy.  True to its heritage, Italy scored two victories at the European Pizza Championship where pizzeria Al Posto Giusto took home two prizes.

The attendees were impressed with this international hospitality exhibition. A spokesperson for Oppenheimer, based in Australia, said, “Our company operates mainly in the world of gelato so we are always very attentive to new trends from Italy. This is our second time at Host Milano and we will definitely be back again, because here we find lots of interesting new proposals to expand our product ranges and, above all, we find everything we need in a single event.”