The last two or three years have changed the world, and hospitality is no exception. There is a desire for lightness, but also for commitment - especially to nature - and, above all, for living every experience to the fullest. Versatility and customisation, the figures of hospitality in these new twenties, are expressed not only in interior design, but also in accessories and tableware. The host calls and the companies respond: with research, innovation and creativity.

Maurizio Montanari, Head of International Sales Hotel & Restaurant - Sambonet Paderno Industrie, Arcturus Group, explains: "One of the new parameters today is the pleasure of the experience, more relaxed, casual and authentic, where luxury is revealed in the quality and freedom of choice. This is where the real difference can be perceived. Spaces become flexible and accommodate gastronomic experiences in the dining room as well as in the hotel room. Groups like ours - with as many as ten brands and a tableware offer with different styles and positioning - are supporting our partners precisely in this direction”.

Fabio Lupi, Sales and Marketing Director of Cristalleria RCR, adds that “The mixology theme is continuing to grow. A theme that has been developed for several years now, and RCR has joined in by developing different products. Mixologists are very demanding, and it is important for us to develop products that perform well in terms of strength, design and gloss. With regard to sustainability, we focused on optimising space, for example with innovatively shaped glasses that can be stacked more easily”.

It is no coincidence that it is precisely in this supply chain that craftsmanship increasingly encounters technology. "With the new glass goblet series, Zwiesel Glas is combining the best of both worlds: while the soft and particularly refined feel of the wafer-thin stem was created by human hands, the impressive stability of the elegant goblet in this series comes from machines,” explains Birgit Dubberke, Head of Marketing & Communications at Germany’s Zwiesel Glas.

And also in the tableware sector with related sectors sustainability is, in fact, at the centre of things. "For us, the material aspect is very important: we look for products that respect the environment both in terms of production and materials,” comments Davide Bevilacqua, Marketing Manager at Tognana. "We started on a path of carbon neutrality and optimised energy sources with 1 giga byte solar panels. We also obtained the 14001 environmental certification, which not many companies in our industry have”.

The future of tableware is at Host 2023, at fieramilano in Rho from 13 to 17 October.