It was inaugurated yesterday in Riva del Garda the 50a edition of Hospitality – Il Salone dell’Accoglienza, the most comprehensive international trade fair in Italy dedicated to HoReCa operators, an event organized by Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, scheduled at the Fairgrounds until Thursday, Feb. 5.
A story that tells the evolution of Italian hospitality, between innovation, passion and ability to interpret changes in the sector, a place for meeting, comparison and growth. This year there are more than 750 exhibitors and top international buyers, numbers made possible thanks to the fair’s scouting activities and incoming programs also carried out in collaboration with ITA Italian Trade Agency.
Also in this edition, special attention will be paid to open-air tourism, a strategic segment that generates about 8.5 billion euros in Italy, in the Outdoor Boom pavilion.
Hospitality 2026
In the 9 halls covering 46,500 square meters, the fair presents the latest trends and a comprehensive proposal for hospitality and catering divided into four thematic areas: Beverage, Contract&Wellness, Food&Equipment and Renovation&Tech .
Four special areas dedicated to mixology, wine and wine tourism, craft beer and, new for 2026, Dimensione Gusto, a space that enhances local food and wine with the excellence of Garda Trentino.
Alongside the exhibition itinerary, the fair also hosts a rich calendar of 150 appointments including events, experiential initiatives, meetings and training, confirming itself as a point of reference for one of the most strategic sectors of the Italian economy, which in 2024 generated a turnover of about 107.1 billion (2025 report edited by The European House – Ambrosetti in collaboration with Italgrob and AFDB).
Roberto Pellegrini, president of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi began by stating, “It is with deep emotion that we inaugurate the 50th edition of Hospitality, a milestone achieved thanks to courageous choices, commitment and relationships built over time. In an ever-changing hospitality market, characterized by new needs and increasingly complex challenges, Hospitality confirms its strategic role, enhancing the human factor and giving back to the territory and the industry community vision, opportunities and growth. This special edition is dedicated to those who have built this history with us, those who live it every day and those who will continue to give it a future. Special thanks therefore go to institutions, associations, exhibitors and all the players in the supply chain “.
To his words, Alessandra Albarelli, General Manager of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi who wished to emphasize, “This edition is the result of a journey built together based on evolution, innovation and growth in hospitality. Today we look to the future with responsibility and full awareness of the challenges ahead: this is the spirit of a fair that continues to develop together with the hospitality community. And this year to interpret the exhibitors’ need to open up to a wider audience, we wanted to bring the fair closer to the territory, with Out&About – The Outside Side of Hospitality., a calendar of widespread events involving the city of Riva del Garda and some of its most iconic locations.”
H Experience: accessibility, design, digitization and tasting
Also noteworthy is the consolidation of the H Experience format, with experiential initiatives dedicated to accessibility, design, digitization and tasting, including the third edition of the DI OGNUNO project, focused this year on open-air receptivity with the installation Orizzonti Possibili, and AI Playground, an interactive area where one can explore the role of artificial intelligence in improving business processes.
Giovanna Voltolini, Exhibition Manager of Hospitality spoke, emphasizing the centrality of people in the hospitality industry: “Hospitality puts people at the center: professionals, companies and partners who each year contribute to making it a place to meet, grow and compare notes. Listening to their needs gives rise to content and experiences capable of generating concrete value for the HoReCa sector, integrating technology, sustainability and the relational dimension “.
The role of institutions
The opening hosted a discussion with leading trade association representatives on the future challenges of tourism, catering and hospitality: Marco Fontanari, National Councilor of FIPE; Alessandro Massimo Nucara, Director General of Federalberghi; Fabio Poletti, Vice President of FAITA Federcamping; and Bartolo D’Amico, President of ADA-Associazione Direttore Alberghi Italia.
Fabrizio Lobasso, Deputy Director General for Growth and Exports of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, stressed the strategic importance of the HoReCa sector for the Italian system, which is worth about 100 billion euros and recorded exports of 4.3 billion in the first six months of 2025. In his speech, he reiterated the importance of events such as Hospitality in supporting the export and internationalization of Italian companies, highlighting how hospitality is an absolute value capable of combining hospitality, innovation, tradition, sustainability, training and inclusiveness (with particular attention to the experience of the DI OGNUNO – Orizzonti Possibili path that he enthusiastically tested at the fair).
The inauguration and ribbon-cutting ceremony was also attended by Alessio Zanoni, Mayor of Riva del Garda; Roberto Failoni, Councillor for Crafts, Commerce, Tourism, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing of the Autonomous Province of Trento; and Silvio Rigatti, President of Garda Trentino.
© Riproduzione Riservata
