A Premium Space for Time-Poor Operators
Walking the expo floor solves your immediate procurement needs, but the Industry Hub powered by Bidfood is where you refine your entire business model.
At the centre of the 72-Hour Visitor Playbook, this free-to-attend seminar theatre at the Sandton Convention Centre is the undisputed brain trust of Hostex 2026. The organisers have scrapped long, theoretical lectures.
Instead, they have built a premium, curated space limited to 30 or 40 seats, prioritising quality engagement over sheer volume.
The Premier Feature: SA Food Stories Launch
The absolute primary highlight this year is something completely new: the SA Food Stories launch programme. Taking over the Hub every afternoon at 13:30, this is a massive celebration proudly sponsored by partners FNB, Bidfood, and SA Chefs. The main event is the daily SA Food Stories watch party at 13:50, followed by golden ticket winner announcements. You will also get the chance for book signings and photo opportunities with culinary heavyweights Naqiyah Mayat on Sunday , Kenneth Tebogo Middleton on Monday , and Zanele van Zyl on Tuesday.
The 30-Minute Power Hit Format
The 72-Hour Visitor Playbook respects one reality: general managers, executive chefs, and venue operators do not have time to waste. The 2026 programme delivers bite-sized content through focused 30-minute power hits. The stage is reserved for actionable panel discussions and peer-to-peer conversations. Every session answers one operator-driven question: what should I do differently next week to improve my business?
Actionable Thought Leadership & Speaker Highlights
This is not a space for sales pitches. The experts sharing the stage deliver practical blueprints on how to make money, save time, and reduce operational risk. Dive into these crucial daily highlights and speaker lineups:
- The Sunday Headline: AI Without The Hype Taking place at 12:25, Hospitality Marketplace’s Chantelle Balsdon hosts a AI session. Thi session eliminates tech buzzwords to focus on practical AI use. Joined by an expert in AI, this conversation removes complex theory to show how artificial intelligence can handle heavy administrative lifting, protect margins, and function as your most efficient employee.
- Your Monday Morning Blueprint Monday tackles massive operational shifts to build your blueprint for the year ahead. Join Boota Pitso, Happy Ngidi, Wayne Buckley-Koch, and Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela at 10:30 to discuss using beverage as a growth engine. Later, Larry Hodes, Jabulani Debedu, and Trevor Boyd will decode what hospitality should be paying attention to in a noisy future at 11:10. To build stronger, more resilient teams, Stephen Hickmore, Gustav Pieterse, and Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo will unpack “people, not positions” at 12:20.
- Tuesday’s Scale-Ready Strategies Learn the real cost of food waste with Yonela Motloung, Jane Russill, and Chef Coo Pillay at 10:30. Followed closely at 11:00 by Omelele Mmbo, Cordelia Masher, and Chef Zana Alvarado unpacking exactly how food and hospitality businesses get “scale-ready”. Plus, do not miss Iain Evans and Sinjon Wicks diving into specialty coffee that drives loyalty at 11:40.
The Bottom Line
The targeted knowledge delivered through the 72-Hour Visitor Playbook at the Industry Hub. It delivers financial value that far outweighs the cost of time away from your property.
Plan your time ahead
The official 72-hour programme is now locked in. View the complete schedule online at https://www.hostex.co.za/industry-hub to block your calendar early and secure your seats before capacity fills.
