WTCE 2025 reveals exhibitor lineup, new features and returning favourites
A view of the expo floor at WTCE 2024
World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) provides valuable opportunities for operators and buyers all under one roof, dedicated to enhancing the passenger experience in the airline, rail, and cruise industries. Returning to the Hamburg Messe from April 8 to 10, 2025, here is the inside scoop on what is new at the show, what not to miss and who will be attending.
The three-day show will bring together a diverse range of more than 250 exhibitors along with registered visitors from 150+ airlines including Qantas, Etihad, British Airways, KLM and All Nippon Airlines to name a few. From a sold-out show floor, attendees can expect 70+ brand new exhibitors to WTCE, to established industry suppliers returning for the annual exhibition – all there to showcase the latest innovations and trends in catering, onboard services and passenger comfort to an estimated 5,000+ visitors. In addition to this, the event will also welcome back a host of popular features to inspire and educate, including the Taste of Travel Theatre, the VIP Buyer Program, New Exhibitor Village, the Welcome Party and many more.
Meet the exhibitors
This year’s WTCE visitors will have the chance to immerse themselves in the very latest products, innovations and services developed exclusively for the onboard travel sector by some of the industry’s leading players.
Exhibitors include some familiar faces across catering including dnata, En Route International, Frankenberg, SATS Catering, Flying Food Group, Around Noon, Foodcase International, Cuisine Solutions and many more. From gourmet meal solutions like BeanStalk Foods and Poshi to revolutionary technology solutions like Data Clarity Limited and LimeFlight, WTCE is a hub for discovering the next generation of travel catering and onboard services.
In addition to this, the event will also be opening its doors to companies including RMT Global Partners, Linstol, Buzz Products, FORMIA, Kaelis, Kimirica Hunter, Clip and Bayart Innovations – as well as industry leaders in beverages, Diageo Global Travel, Bottega Spa, Castello Monte Vibiano, Inflight Initiatives and Maison Sichel to name a few.
What’s new at WTCE?
This year, WTCE will welcome more than 70 first-time exhibitors to the show floor, bringing a host of exciting new products and brands that have never been seen onboard before. From gourmet snacks and beverages to sustainable solutions, visitors will see how the onboard experience for passengers around the globe is being transformed by companies bringing fresh innovation to the sector.
Visitors can expect to see exhibitors including BioNatur Plastics, who specialize in 100 percent recyclable and landfill biodegradable plastics, The Mallows ApS with its unique onboard food offerings, Østerberg Food Service ApS and Off Piste Wines, plus innovative amenity and tableware suppliers including JALUX, Pick on Us and Tourvest Retail Services.
Many of these exhibitors can be found at the show’s New Exhibitor Village which will host more than 35 exciting companies bringing new products and services to the market. Exhibitors in this space will also include France Macaron, The Mallows and Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn.
Listen and learn at the Taste of Travel Theatre
The Taste of Travel Theatre will welcome industry experts for a series of thought-provoking sessions. This year’s line-up will spotlight several key themes shaping the onboard hospitality sector, from the evolving AI landscape, beverage innovations and culinary creativity, to sustainability, accessibility and retail innovation.
Some of the must-attend sessions include: “Redefining Hospitality” at 2:15 p.m. on the first day of the show. Moderator Lance Hayward from The Hayward Partnership, will be joined by a panel that includes Jodi Spicer from American Airlines, PB Jacobse, CEO - Rhubarb Hospitality Collection, Nadine Heubel, SVP One World Lounges (BA & AA) for Sodexo and Lauren Burrill, Marketing Director from Airport Dimensions. This session will look at the growing demand for pre-orders and debate the role of airport lounges and the concept of eating on demand.
As tech becomes more of a focus when it comes to onboard hospitality, one of the first sessions in the Taste of Travel Theatre (Tuesday, April, 8, 11:15 a.m.) will look at “The Human Touch” as panelists examine the efficiency of tech vs the human element – is AI improving the customer experience or are we losing touch? This is expected to be a lively debate featuring Vimal Kumar Rai, Commercial Excellence Partners, Blue Skies, AI-led Inflight Customer Experience; Anthony Carson, Crew Engagement Manager, Retail inMotion; Paul Bilham, Chief Revenue Office, Data Clarity; Angie Mullen, Head of Inflight Retail Operations, easyJet, and moderated by Joe Harvey, Business Development Manager - Travel Sector, Deli Lites.
In addition to the thrilling lineup, sponsor En Route International will showcase its new passenger solutions at 12:15 p.m. on day one, with a special tasting session for spectators. En Route’s Global Managing Director, Nick Wiley, will also be joining the panel on day two with an interesting hour-long session “Innovation vs Best Price – Can Airlines and Suppliers Find the Balance?” Starting at 11:15 a.m., this exciting session will discuss how airlines and suppliers can work together to create outstanding products that deliver both innovation and value.
VIP Buyer Program
For onboard buyers and procurement teams from airlines, rail, cruise and travel catering companies, WTCE will be offering its exclusive VIP Buyer Program. The program provides several added benefits before and during the event including exclusive VIP Lounge access, VIP Sample Bags and a Digital Gift Bag.
The VIP Lounge will be available to WTCE and AIX VIP attendees as a space where guests will can take advantage of a catered lunch, beverages and light refreshments available throughout the show. Also available to VIP badge holders, the VIP Sample Bags – sponsored by Marfo – contain more than 20 products from exhibitors including Philip’s Biscuits, Farmley, Swypes, Neuhaus NV, Grissitalia, Gut Springenheide and Hello Straw. Bags can be collected from booth 1A107 in the New Exhibitor Village. Furthermore, tailored exclusively for VIPs, the Digital Gift Bag will include offers and free samples from Yummy Karma Foods, Diageo Global Travel, Whittard of Chelsea, Novel Foods, Rhum Damoiseau and Euromilk.
The VIP Buyer Program also offers a discounted rate for The Passenger Experience Conference on Monday, April 7, including access to the evening Welcome Party.
Wellbeing walkthrough
WTCE’s Wellbeing Walk-through will showcase a range of products and services within health and nutrition, wellbeing and comfort. Curated and supported by WTCE Ambassadors Melissa Adamski (Travel Nutrition), Julianne Ponan MBE (Special Diets) and Kelly Stevenson (Beverages), the trail will highlight product ranges that alleviate the side effects associated with long-distance travel, as well as promote long-term health and well-being. A total of 18 carefully selected companies including Nairn’s Oatcakes, Procurall, DELI LITES and Foodfolk will be part of the trail for 2025.
Steps to sustainability
Returning to WTCE for its second year, the Steps to Sustainability feature celebrates the many steps being taken by suppliers and airlines to reach the goal of net zero. Curated by WTCE Sustainability Ambassador, Matt Crane of the ASF, the dedicated trail and Taste of Travel session will highlight accomplishments, trends and innovations that are leading the way in environmentally conscious materials, production, manufacturing and operations.
With products ranging from tableware and amenities to food and drink, companies are selected due to their sustainable company practices or environmentally conscious materials. Attendees can follow the trail across the show floor to discover companies – including Bottega Spa, Buzz Products, Callington, Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, Ecotone, Valrhona and more – that are all making strides within the industry with the latest sustainable products ranging from tableware, food and beverage, amenity products and more.
Introducing the Tech Trail
Brand new for WTCE 2025, the Tech Trail is a dynamic showcase of cutting-edge technologies transforming the passenger experience and operational efficiency for airlines, rail and cruise operators, alongside travel caterers. Attendees can explore innovations in meal planning, stock management and payment solutions – among other innovations – to reduce cost. Spotlighting a selection of exhibitors, the Tech Trail offers a comprehensive glimpse into the future of onboard services and technology-driven improvements.
WTCE Ambassadors return
Following the successful launch of last year’s WTCE’s Ambassador Program, the initiative will return with both familiar and new faces. Designed to help highlight the key pillars of the event – technology, sustainability, nutrition, allergens and special meals and beverages – the team at WTCE said it is delighted to welcome back Melissa Adamski, leading travel dietitian and nutritionist; Kelly Stevenson, former global wine and beverage manager at British Airways and current CEO of JetVine; Matt Crane, Co-Founder of the Aviation Sustainability Forum (ASF); and Julianne Ponan MBE, CEO of Creative Nature and passionate allergies campaigner to drive impactful discussions around the latest trends and innovations across the aviation, rail and cruise industry.
Brand new for this year is Technology Ambassador, Kai Kosicki, Founder at ExpAir and a member of the Hayward Partnership. He will join the panel of industry experts to provide his insight into technology’s role in the onboard catering and services sector. The subject specialists will work closely with the event organizers to raise awareness of the event across the industry, highlight their specialist topics, and provide advice and knowledge throughout the exhibition.
The Ambassadors can be found during the event in the Ambassador Lounge (Stand 1G105) for one-to-one sessions (pre-booking is advised and can be done at the Ambassador Lounge during the show). Or you can catch them at the Taste of Travel Theatre where Kelly will deliver a session on “Premium Pours Without the Alcohol’ and ‘What’s New in the Drinks Trolley.”.
Melissa will look at the progress that needs to be made to improve accessibility to customers on the ground and inflight with the “Inclusive Travel” session. Matt will be moderating “What Goes Up Will Come Down” as the panel discuss the importance of reducing cabin waste. While Julianne will be joining the panel on day two to debate “Improving the Customer Experience and Loyalty from an Allergy and Nutrition Perspective,” Kai will discuss innovative solutions to drive revenue both onboard and at airports while enhancing the customer experience in ‘Mile High Marketplace’.
WTCE Connect
Opening from early February 2025 for all attendees, WTCE Connect will allow visitors to search for relevant companies and products, with the option to easily book meetings with any exhibitors to either hold on their booth or in the WTCE Connect Lounge.
Colleqt QR Codes
For the first time at WTCE, Colleqt QR Codes will be featured on all exhibitor booths and many features will be available when scanned with a smartphone. This is an invaluable tool for visitors to collect information from all the companies they’re interested in without the need to carry around heavy brochures. Visitors will also receive a “Daily Digest” of companies they’ve scanned at the end of each day and the week.
“As we approach WTCE 2025, we are excited to reveal the full programme of events, showcasing the latest innovations and trends that will shape the future of travel catering and onboard services. With 250+ exhibitors, including first-time participants and returning industry leaders, this year’s show promises to deliver invaluable opportunities for networking, inspiration and discovering cutting-edge solutions across the airline, rail and cruise sectors,” said WTCE’s Event Manager, Shona Thomson.
She added: “Seeing the return of at-show activations, proves how valuable these features are for visitors to make navigating the show floor easier and more convenient. Which is why we’re thrilled to be launching the new Tech Trail for 2025 to continue to improve the overall event experience for visitors and exhibitors alike. We can’t wait to return to the Hamburg Messe this April and we’re confident that this will be the best show yet with more on offer than ever before.”
WTCE is co-located with the Aircraft Interiors Exp (AIX), at the Hamburg Messe from April 8 to 10. With some crossover of interests between shows, both provide passenger experience professionals with the opportunity to network and explore new products, services and solutions.
