Celebrating the cream of hospitality, innovation, tourism and supply
9am to 5pm, 3rd & 4th May 2023
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Newcastle
The HITS Expo is a free two-day experience that will highlight excellence within hospitality, innovation, tourism, and supply from across the North of Tyne and beyond.
Held on 3rd and 4th of May at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Newcastle, the event will bring together the best practitioners in food, drink, hospitality, and tourism, highlighting the role these vital sectors play in forging the region’s identity and offer, while encouraging community, collaboration, and collective purpose throughout the industry.
The HITS Expo will provide a recipe of industry insights, career spotlights, trade stands, live demonstrations, networking opportunities and will reveal the winners of the annual inter-college competition (on day one) as well as North East Chef of the Year (on day two).
Day one, Wednesday 3rd May, will include insights sessions on the future of tourism, why markets matter, addressing the skills shortage and what sustainability means in tourism and hospitality. Kate Howell, Communications Director at Borough Market, Michelle Percy, Director of Place at Newcastle City Council and Louise Cairns from the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink are some of the guest speakers we have lined up.
Day two, Thursday 4th May, will look further into sustainability, with insights from successful regional businesses such as Ringtons, Greggs, and Fenwick explaining how they are achieving their sustainability goals; and Children North East, North East Autism Society and Northern Pride telling us about initiatives venues can access to improve the inclusivity of their welcome.
The HITS Expo will also include live ‘Beyond The Kitchen Table’ final pitches, where small and micro businesses will sell-in their products to buyers, retailers and suppliers and showcase their products in the Producers Market.
Everyone is welcome so book your FREE tickets now!
HITS Expo Schedule
DAY ONE: Wednesday 3rd May 2023
Industry Insights (Locomotion Suite)
Neil Carney (Visit Northumberland)
Dr Kate Harland (Northumbria University)
Keith Merrin (NewcastleGateshead Cultural Venues)
Kate Howell (Borough Market)
Martha Jackson (Pink Lane Bakery)
Louise Cairns (NSAF&D)
Kellie Campbell (Sunderland College)
Anna Wadcock (NEHA)
Tom Shanks (Blueline)
James Tyer (Bud Couriers)
Charlotte Skeates (Ringtons)
Shelley Johnson (NGI)
Sarah Thackray (Beaconhouse Events)
Charlie Macdowall (Monstarlab)
Hannah Reid (Trakol)
Eric Guo (Spark Butlet Bot)
Inter-College Skills Competition (Stevenson Suite)
The annual NECTA Inter-College Hospitality Salon is an exciting event where college teams from across the North East can showcase their culinary and front-of-house skills.
Spotlights and Masterclasses (Planet Room)
Demonstrations running throughout the day. Subjects include: Floristry, Chocolatier, Urban Growing Systems and Social Media best practice.
DAY TWO: Thursday 4th May 2023
Industry Insights (Locomotion Suite)
Marcus Carter (Artisan Food Club)
Martijn Gilbert (Lumo)
Hellen Hornby (Groundwork)
Jim Gillon (Gateshead Council)
Reed Ingram Weir (Ingram)
Helen Short (AQCT)
James Miller (Grape Software)
Andrew Stevenson (Erudus)
Phil Murray (Harlands)
Laura Middleton (Canny Social)
Kieran McBride (Fenwick)
David Jones (Life Science Centre)
Ste Dunn (Northern Pride)
Saffia Solomon (Children North East)
North East Chef of the Year (Stevenson Suite)
The annual NECTA competition open to professional chefs that showcases the region’s most outstanding talent and raises aspirations for those in the industry.
Spotlights and Masterclasses (Planet Room)
Demonstrations running throughout the day. Subjects include: The BuySupply platform, Everybody Welcome 360 degree filming, Spark Butler Bot, Ten-Minute Takeaways and Meet the Experts.
Everyone is welcome so book your FREE tickets now!
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