HIP - Horeca Professional Expo will make its Italian debut with an event designed for companies and professionals across the Ho.Re.Ca. sector, combining an exhibition area, industry-focused content and opportunities to discuss the changes reshaping restaurants, foodservice and hospitality. The event will take place from October 19 to 21, 2026 at BolognaFiere.
After ten editions in Madrid, the format is coming to Italy for the first time, bringing together more than 10,000 professionals and over 300 companies from across the Ho.Re.Ca. industry. Alongside the exhibition, the program will feature the Hospitality 4.0 Congress with more than 400 international experts, as well as over 20 summits focused on developments across hospitality and restaurants.
For companies across the food & beverage supply chain, one of the key areas of interest will be the Pizza & Pasta Business Summit, organized in collaboration with 50 Top Pizza. The sessions will explore how two products deeply rooted in Italian culinary tradition can become the foundation for recognizable brands, scalable concepts and businesses with the potential to grow beyond the domestic market.
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Pizza and pasta: from craftsmanship to international business
The Pizza & Pasta Business Summit will examine growth strategies built around two iconic products of Italian cuisine. The program will highlight entrepreneurial experiences showing how artisanal tradition, brand building and organization can work together as a business expands its presence and reaches new markets and consumer audiences.
Among the case studies will be L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele, which has expanded from its historic Forcella location to five continents. Alessandro Condurro, CEO of L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele in the World, will discuss how the company has taken a tradition deeply rooted in Neapolitan culture into different markets while preserving the distinctive identity and standards of its model.
The Summit will also feature Luigi and Vincenzo Capuano, founders of Capuano's, who will discuss the transition from a family tradition to a brand capable of connecting with new generations and broader audiences. Errico Porzio will present the development of a network that has grown to 16 locations in Italy, offering an example of how a pizza business can expand through an organized structure and a recognizable brand.
The international growth of Italian pizza
The Summit will also explore the international expansion of Italian restaurant businesses through the experiences of Ciro Cristiano, CEO of Baldoria Group, Michele Pascarella, founder of Napoli on The Road in London, and Peppe Cutraro, founder of Gruppo Peppe, all of whom have developed projects in European markets.
The discussion will examine what it takes to develop an Italian business abroad. Product quality must be supported by knowledge of the local market, an understanding of different audiences and the ability to adapt the business concept while retaining a clearly recognizable Italian proposition.
The pasta sector faces a similar challenge: turning a highly recognizable culinary tradition into an offering that can connect with different cultures, consumption habits and markets.
From pizzeria to dining concept
The Pizza & Pasta Business Summit will also explore how the concept of the pizzeria is expanding. Case studies will include Confine in Milan, a project by co-founders Mario Ventura and Francesco Capece where pizza is paired with a wine offering and a broader dining experience. Roberto D'Avanzo will present the story of Bob Alchimia in Montepaone, which started in a small town in Calabria and has become a destination for an international clientele while maintaining strong ties to its local area.
Another case will feature Pier Daniele Seu and Valeria Zuppardo, who have been involved in developing pizza corners inside Bulgari hotels. Their experience will provide insight into the expectations of an international clientele, as well as the training and operational requirements involved in managing a foodservice concept across different countries.
For food producers and suppliers of equipment and technologies to the foodservice industry, this diversification also broadens the range of settings in which pizza can be offered, from independent pizzerias to hotel restaurants, each with different requirements in terms of products, service and organization.
Hospitality 4.0 Congress and other HIP Italia events
The Hospitality 4.0 Congress will address some of the issues having the greatest impact on hospitality and restaurants, ranging from artificial intelligence and robotics to management and revenue strategies, food & beverage, design, supply chains, workforce organization and professional equipment.
The program will include Hotel Trends, Management & Revenue, IA Horeca, F&B Summit, Design & Experience, Smart Kitchens & Equipment and Global CEOs Summit. Speakers will include professionals from different areas of the industry, including Mariangela Colasanti of BWH Hotels Italy & South-East Europe, Kike Sarasola of Room Mate Hotels, Lydia Barbini of Starhotels and Annibale Linguanti of UNA Hotels ONE, along with representatives from the restaurant industry and business associations such as Davide Oldani and Roberto Calugi, General Manager of FIPE-Confcommercio.
Networking and innovation awards for the Ho.Re.Ca. sector
Alongside the congress program, HIP Italia will provide networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, managers and decision makers. These will include the Leadership Summit, aimed at senior executives from companies, hotel and restaurant chains, associations and organizations, as well as the HOTEL Trends Annual Meeting, focused on developments in the hotel sector, business models and investment.
The Horeca New Business Models Awards will also be presented during the trade show, recognizing projects, companies and professionals introducing innovation across hospitality and restaurants. The categories cover technology, products and services, design and experience, sustainability, business development and new concepts.
Information, tickets, program and updates
The trade show will take place from October 19 to 21, 2026 at BolognaFiere. For updates and further information on HIP Italia 2026, visit the event website.
