The magnificent 17: the HostAmbassadors for 2023 put out feelers around the world and report back on developments that are of interest to HostMilano. Over the years, the event has established itself not only as the leading leader trade fair for the Ho.Re.Ca and retail sectors, but has also become a trendsetter in the world of hospitality, picking up on and promoting trends, among other things through its dense network of international partners. Here are the first ten names you will be hearing a lot from in the coming months.

First of all, on the other side of the world, meet freelance writer, content creator and photographer Monique Ceccato. Born and raised in Western Australia, she lives mainly in Perth and has published her work in 9Travel, Australian Hotelier, AWOL, Broadsheet, Delicious, Escape, FOUND, Get Lost, Karryon, NZ Herald, SBS Food, So Perth, So Where Next and The Upsider.

Rosa Moraes, who writes for Vogue Brazil, headed the development of the first culinary arts degree course in Brazil at the Universidade Anhembi Morumbi in Saõ Paulo in 1999. A firm supporter of the non-profit organisation Gastromotiva, which promotes social change through gastronomy in Brazil and around the world, she is actively involved in its innovation and technology workshop.

From Canada, Nancy D'Souza is one of the voices behind the blog She Said, She Said, which has been nominated for several awards since its launch in 2014. She was born and grew up in the United Arab Emirates and has espoused a globalisation-based approach, having lived in that multicultural hub as well as in other cities around the world.

Another country of particular interest is India, and from there we hear from food writer and journalist Vernika Awal, who writes for various national dailies and has a blog entitled ‘Delectable Reveries’. For several years now she has been working on the concept of #DelectablePunjab, through which she aims to document the culture and cuisine of her home State of Punjab, in India.

From Europe (the “old world” but rich in new ideas) is Spain’s Lourdes Lopez, a digital journalist who writes on culture, gastronomy and travel for Repsol Guide, National Geographic, VIA Empresa and Nació Digital.

Culinary freelance journalist and author Julie Gerbet, reports from the very cradle of gastronomy: France. She writes for Grazia, Elle à Table, L'Express and MILK Décoration, and has been editor of Le Fooding for 11 years), she is also a podcaster (she created the podcast À Poêle) and has just launched her food business agency around the young generation: La Relève.

Alexandra Gorsche reports from Austria, where she is managing partner and publisher of the trade magazine Falstaff Profi and (together with her partner) owner of the food blog Genusspunkt. In 2015 she launched the Falstaff Young Talents Cup, a competition for the promotion of young talent in the hotel and gastronomy business.

Sally Prosser is a food and travel writer and a food & lifestyle photographer who lives in the south-west of the UK. Through her award-winning blog My Custard Pie she shares her passion for home cooking, locally grown produce, and for travel where the focus is on good food.

From Italy, finally, HostMilano has enlisted the services of social media manager Lucrezia Worthington, a keen traveller and co-founder of the digital magazine The Italy Insider, and of Virginia Simoni, who after various experiences in the world of art and fashion is now focusing on her passion for cooking in her blog, Ragoût Food.