World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) has announced the appointment of a new official expert Ambassador panel for the 2024 exhibition. Designed to help highlight the key themes of the event, the four Ambassadors will focus on elevating three of WTCE’s main topics: health and wellbeing, sustainability and food and drink.
Julianne Ponan MBE, CEO of Creative Nature and passionate allergies campaigner; leading travel dietitian and nutritionist Melissa Adamski; Kelly Stevenson, former global wine and beverage manager at British Airways and current CEO of JetVine and Matt Crane, Co-Founder of the Aviation Sustainability Forum (ASF), will work closely with the organisers to drive awareness of the event’s core themes and increase visitors to Hamburg from 28-30 May 2024.
Ahead of this year’s show, the Ambassadors will contribute to a series of activations, including a thought leadership campaign, video interviews and a social media programme. They will also take centre stage in the popular Taste of Travel theatre, where their sessions will enlighten attendees on the latest trends, innovations, and best practices in their respective fields.
Meet the ambassadors
With diverse backgrounds, the Ambassadors – renowned in their respective fields – carry a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the onboard experience. Kelly Stevenson will share her wisdom on curating unforgettable in-flight beverage experiences. Kelly holds a full Diploma from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, a Certified Sommelier qualification and is a member of the Cicerone beer programme.
Whether it’s creating meaningful wine pairings for onboard snacks, recommending the best wines for altitude, or coming up with non-alcoholic alternatives, her industry knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to the successful execution of the show.
Accredited Practising Dietitian and nutritionist, Melissa Adamski will bring expertise in travel food and diet to the event. As the founder of Nutted Out Nutrition, which supports the travel industry through food and nutrition expertise, she will use her sector knowledge to address critical aspects of health and wellbeing in the air and help operators shape their offerings for the future.
Julianne Ponan, MBE and founder of allergen-free food brand Creative Nature, is a pioneer in the free-from-food world. Living with anaphylaxis and having multiple allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, chickpeas and more, Julianne strives to make food more accessible for people living with the same conditions.
With food allergies currently affecting 220 million people globally, Julianne will help airlines understand how they can increase customer loyalty through more inclusive culinary offerings onboard.
Founder of the Aviation Sustainability Forum (ASF), Matt Crane also forms part of the WTCE 2024 Ambassador panel. Offering extensive knowledge on the issue of cabin waste composition and on sustainable solutions which address the environmental impact of the products and services offered to airline passengers, Matt will provide an insightful perspective on how airlines can identify better ways to manage cabin waste and international catering waste using the circular economy.
Commenting on her role, Melissa Adamski, said: “I am delighted to be representing WTCE as an Ambassador for 2024. Health and wellbeing in the sky is a huge topic, particularly from a nutrition perspective, and I am excited to share my insights and expertise with airlines looking to improve their offering to passengers.”
WTCE Event Director, Polly Magraw, said
“Air and rail operators are constantly looking for new onboard solutions that cater to their passengers’ needs and requirements, particularly in the areas of food and drink, health and wellbeing and sustainability.
The introduction of our high-profile Ambassador programme, made-up of renowned industry experts who truly support our vision for WTCE, will help unearth new trends and innovative products at the event, enabling buyers from the world’s leading airlines and rail companies to meet the requirements of passengers both today and in the future.”
WTCE will be co-located with the industry-renowned Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX). Both shows will be taking place at the Hamburg Messe and will come together to provide passenger experience professionals with the opportunity to network and explore new products, services and solutions.
For more information on the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo 2024 and to register your interest for the event, please visit the website: