450 Companies from 12 Countries and Regions to Exhibit! Solutions for Hospitality and Food Service Industries Gather in Kansai at '18th Hotel & Restaurant Show & FOODEX JAPAN in Kansai 2026'

The Japan Management Association (JMA, President: Masami Nakamura) will host the '18th Hotel & Restaurant Show & FOODEX JAPAN in Kansai 2026,' the largest specialized exhibition for the hospitality, food service, and service industries in the Kansai region, from Wednesday, July 22 to Friday, July 24, 2026, at Intex Osaka.

The exhibition will feature approximately 450 companies from 12 countries and regions, with an expected 15,000 visitors (as of June 10, 2026). The latest solutions, products, and services addressing challenges faced by the hospitality and food service industries—such as AI and digital transformation (DX), labor shortage countermeasures, inbound tourism support, regional ingredient utilization, and pet tourism—will be showcased under one roof.

While increasing numbers of inbound tourists and the upcoming opening of the Osaka-Kansai Integrated Resort (IR) are expected to drive demand, the hospitality and food service industries continue to face serious challenges, including severe labor shortages, productivity improvements, and adapting to increasingly diverse food cultures.

Centered on the theme of the future of 'food' and 'hospitality,' the exhibition will serve as a platform for solving industry challenges and creating new business opportunities.

※As of June 10, 2026

Last year's exhibition venue image ① Last year's exhibition venue image ②

Highlights of the Exhibition

Debut of the 'Kansai Food Pavilion': Promoting Kansai's Culinary Appeal Domestically and Internationally

Amid growing inbound demand and rising interest in local production for local consumption, the 'Kansai Food Pavilion' will be launched for the first time this year as a new initiative to promote Kansai's food culture globally.

Approximately 30 food manufacturers and producers from the two urban prefectures and four counties of Kansai—centered on Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, and Shiga—will introduce locally rooted, attractive ingredients and food products such as Ohmi beef, Tamba black beans, organic vegetables, craft beer, sweets, and seasonings. The pavilion will create business negotiation opportunities with hotels, inns, restaurants, and retailers, supporting regional economic revitalization and market expansion.

Kansai Food Pavilion Concept Image

AI and Robotics to Address Labor Shortages: Productivity-Enhancing Solutions Gather

While various government initiatives toward building a tourism-oriented nation are yielding results, the service and food business industries—including hospitality and dining—face mounting challenges such as severe labor shortages, low productivity, high employee turnover, and thin profit margins. The exhibition will propose essential solutions and services to ensure the service industry does not miss out on the tailwind of inbound tourism and to realize a stronger tourism-driven nation.

The exhibition will feature labor-saving solutions such as cleaning robots, delivery robots, and automated cooking devices, as well as products related to labor shortages and inbound tourism, including hybrid multilingual interpretation services combining AI and human operators.

Last year's booth image ① Last year's booth image ②

Menu Proposals for Dietary Diversity and High-Value Cocktails Targeting Affluent Inbound Visitors

[FOODEX Demonstration Stage]

With the increasing number of inbound tourists, dishes that accommodate dietary diversity have become a trend. Among these, vegan cuisine—prepared without animal products—is in particularly high demand. At the 'FOODEX Demonstration Stage,' chefs from The Westin Osaka, The Ritz-Carlton Osaka, and Hotel Nikko Osaka will take the stage. They will conduct live cooking demonstrations centered on vegan cuisine, using ingredients provided by exhibitors.

Furthermore, in anticipation of the opening of the Osaka IR, leading Kansai bartenders will collaborate with local Kansai ingredients. Under the theme 'JACKPOT (Big Win),' they will develop and present high-value cocktails designed for casino VIPs and luxury hotels. The event will propose profitable menu options sought by hotels and high-end restaurants, while also suggesting new ways to utilize Kansai-produced ingredients and their export potential.

The Era of Traveling with Pets: The Evolved 'Pet Tourism'

As the pet market expands and pets increasingly become family members, travel styles are undergoing significant changes. The 'Pet Tourism' zone, newly introduced last year, returns this year with enhanced offerings. A model room for 'accommodations where you can stay with your pet,' supervised by Mr. Koichi Morimura, former Representative Director, President, and General Manager of Hotel Forest Hills Nasu, will be exhibited. Visitors can experience realistic implementation scenarios, and seminars on successful case studies and guided tours will also be held, offering insights for capturing new accommodation demand.

Pet Tourism Zone: Last year's image ① Pet Tourism Zone: Last year's image ②

Event Overview

Name: 18th Hotel & Restaurant Show & FOODEX JAPAN in Kansai 2026

Dates: Wednesday, July 22 – Friday, July 24, 2026, 10:00–17:00 (until 16:30 on the final day)

Venue: Halls 4 & 5, Intex Osaka (1-5-102 Minato-kitamachi, Suminoe-ku, Osaka City, 559-0034)

Official Website: https://www.jma.or.jp/hoteres-osaka/

Organizers: Japan Management Association, Japan Hotel Association, Japan Ryokan Association, International Tourism Japan Restaurant Association, Japan Association of International Tourism Facilities

Exhibition Scale: 450 companies / 500 booths from 12 countries and regions (as of June 10, 2026) (Previous edition: 363 companies / 453 booths)

Target Visitors: Import/export trading companies, wholesalers, hotels, inns, leisure facilities, retailers, manufacturers, logistics companies, restaurants (casual dining, prepared meals, catering), producers, local governments, and public agencies

Visitor Registration: Advance registration is required via https://www.ult-thunder.jp/kansai-exhibition-2026/visitor/fill-1

Admission Fee: ¥5,000 (tax included) (Free for those who register in advance)

※As this is a professional trade event for industry professionals, general public and those under 16 are not permitted to enter.

【Inquiries about the Exhibition】

Japan Management Association (3-1-22 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

Industrial Promotion Center, Contact: Abe

TEL: 03-3434-3453 (9:00–17:00, except weekends and holidays) E-mail: khr@jma.or.jp

【Inquiries for General Public and Visitors】

Japan Management Association Visitor Help Desk

TEL: 03-6809-2707 (9:30–18:00, except weekends and holidays) E-mail: helpdesk@k3c.co.jp