There is a good reason why HostMilano is referred to as the International Hospitality Exhibition: its international nature is indeed one of its distinctive features. Over the years it has built up a solid base of exhibitors and visitors coming from abroad, with foreign arrivals now accounting for 40% of the total. So let us find out more about those parts of the world most attracted to HostMilano, with the help of the partnerships that have been set up – also for the forthcoming edition – with the most important sector associations.

Our journey begins in Spain, a country that invests relatively little in R&D, training and innovation (1.2% of GDP as against Italy’s 1.4%). There are 263 researchers for every 100,000 inhabitants and 6.4 patents (as compared with 197 and 14.2 in Italy). The level and quality of institutions is medium to high. In 2019 Spain recorded a per capita GDP of 29,993 USD; its S&P rating is A.

In 2019, Spain had 70,743 foodservice companies and 181,230 bars, pubs, cafés and other locales – the highest number in Europe, despite the fact that between 2010 and 2019, the number of establishments for the sale and consumption of drinks in Spain fell by over 21,000.

The 132 companies involved in Spain’s food preparation machinery industry that were part of Felac-Afehc, recorded a total turnover of 1,895.54 million euros (+4%) in 2019, the seventh consecutive year of growth. The domestic market did well, exceeding 986,66 million euros, and that was 3% up on 2018. Exports rose slightly to 908,88 million euros (5%), and accounted for 48% of the total market. There was a slight increase in the workforce employed in the sector: over 9,900. For 2020, the president of Felac, Rafel Olmos, forecasts an average drop of 40% in turnover. “For manufacturers whose products are directed exclusively at the hospitality sector, the fall could be even higher, but the fact that many companies in the sector have diversified into other segments like health and the retail of household goods should mitigate the effects of an even greater fall-off,” Olmos said.