HostMilano – whose next edition will run from 13 to 17 October at fieramilano, Rho – engages with all those involved in the production chain, to promote product and process innovations in a system-oriented approach.

In HostMilano’s ongoing dialogue with exhibitors interested in the Contract sector, the need to meet architecture studios and architects specialising in the hospitality sector, but also the owners of accommodation properties is particularly evident, in the build-up to the event.

In recent years, in fact, the Contract sector has come to play an ever more central role at the trade fair, not least of all because it is emerging as one of the most “all-inclusive” market segments, in the general sense of covering everything from furnishings to table cutlery. And including coffee machines. Here, the main challenge concerns creating an ever more customised product, as Carimali’s marketing manager Roberto Gregis says: “Coffee is no longer just a beverage enjoyed on its own, but an ingredient in more complex drinks that have been created as a result of increasingly personalised consumer demands.” So the new machines need to be able to rise to this challenge, at the same time satisfying the growing demand for sustainability, a value that is being found more and more in not just products but also processes: “We are moving in different directions to create a sustainable firm, seeking solutions that reduce energy consumption,” Gregis goes on.

The same dual trend is being observed also in outdoor furnishings, as we learn from Stefania Danieli of the marketing department at Emu: “We are seeing a growing trend towards reuse and personalisation, that is to say towards choosing modular furnishings and components that can be changed or added to suit new tastes and requirements. We also use 100% recyclable materials like steel and aluminium, and 100% FSC certified teak from responsibly managed forests.” HostMilano is an event that gives visibility to firms, encouraging meetings with leading figures in the sector.

The CEO of Slide Marco Colonna Romano has noticed a similar need among clients, including B2B ones: “We have seen a growing desire to personalise outdoor spaces, be they residential gardens and terraces or contract project spaces. It is becoming increasingly important for people to be able to furnish their own spaces with, say, colourful pop products that create a highly personal effect to furnishings thanks to complete collections that are comfortable and low-maintenance.” Romano also points to a strong demand for recyclable materials, a factor in which Slide was a precursor: “We have always made our products out of 100% recyclable polyethylene.”

All three firms are focused in particular on Asian markets, which have always been well represented at HostMilano. This year’s e 2023 edition will be held at fieramilano in Rho from 13 to 17 October.