The Hotel Show is more than just a hospitality event; it’s where the industry’s best gather to push boundaries.
This year, the Dubai World Trade Centre buzzed with innovation as the Middle East and North Africa’s leading hospitality event wrapped up.
Co-located with INDEX, HITEC, and WORKSPACE, the show spanned 11 halls and featured over 900 exhibitors.
But, the true highlights were the intense, live competitions that showcased top talent.
The Chefs’ Table: A Test of Teamwork and Culinary Skill
The seventh annual Chefs’ Table brought palpable excitement to the final afternoon.
Organised by the Emirates Culinary Guild, this culinary competition pitted nine hotel teams against each other in a challenge that tested both kitchen and front-of-house skills.
Teams set tables and served judges two mocktails, a coffee creation, canapés, a four-course lunch, and petit fours.
The goal? To win the ‘Champions of Chefs’ Table 2025′ title.
Polina Patyrina, Event Director for INDEX, The Hotel Show, and WORKSPACE at dmg events, highlighted the event’s importance: “The Hotel Show is the largest and longest-running trade exhibition for hospitality and food service in the Middle East. It is a vital platform for international suppliers and local distributors to present their latest product ranges and solutions.
“Chefs’ Table is one of the prominent features of The Hotel Show, where nine teams from the region’s top hotels compete to deliver a remarkable five-course dining experience. The competition celebrates culinary excellence and fosters creativity and collaboration.”
The judging, handled by WorldChefs-approved experts, was rigorous. Uwe Micheel, Past President of The Emirates Culinary Guild, explained the unique team dynamic: “This is the only competition in the country where we have the full hotels or restaurant teams. In the team, we have three cooks including one pastry chef, two waiters, a barman, and a kitchen steward. So the real way is the way we work in a restaurant.”
Micheel detailed the assessment, from “mise en place, hygiene, and waste, to timing, preparation in the kitchen, presentation, innovation, and, critically, taste. Fifty percent of the marks are for taste because if we go in the restaurant and we have amazing-looking Instagram food, but it doesn’t taste good, we will not go back.” He also spoke about the learning aspect for young chefs: “Of course, it’s great if you come and win a medal or trophy. But the key for me, I always said, number one, I will ask you, did you learn something out of it? Number two, did you enjoy and have fun? And number three, did you make some new friends? If these three are done, mission achieved.”
After a display of culinary artistry and service, Zero Gravity was crowned the ‘Champions of Chefs’ Table 2025′.
The Housekeepers’ League of Champions: The Art of Hotel Cleanliness
After a two-year break, the Housekeepers’ League of Champions returned with a new approach. For the first time, the competition took place in three full-sized mock-up hotel rooms, each designed around earth, fire, or air. These rooms also included wellness features, reflecting modern guest expectations.
This competition served as a platform for growth, collaboration, and recognition for leading housekeeping teams from across the MENA region. It also gave brands visibility by showcasing their products directly to key decision-makers.
Over three days, 31 teams competed. On the final day, Atlantis Dubai won the ‘Housekeepers League of Champions’ title, demonstrating exceptional precision and attention to detail.
