Milan, 27 July 2026 – HostMilano, the world’s leading exhibition for hospitality, foodservice and food retailcontinues to strengthen its international presence through strategic partnerships with leading industry organizations. Following the successful debut of Host Arabia in the Gulf region last December, Fiera Milano is now bringing the Host brand to North America through a partnership with NAFEM (North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers), one of the sector's most influential associations.
The collaboration gives rise to Host America, a new platform designed to connect international companies with the world's largest professional hospitality market. The event will take place in Orlando, Florida, from 11 to 13 February 2027, at The NAFEM Show—North America's premier trade events for foodservice equipment. By combining the international reach of the Host brand with NAFEM's deep roots in the U.S. market, the partnership creates new business opportunities and offers exhibitors direct access to a highly qualified audience of buyers and industry professionals.
The United States: The World's Most Dynamic Market
The United States continues to confirm its position as the world's most attractive market for the sector. According to exclusive ExportPlanning analyses conducted for the Host Milano Observatory, U.S. imports across Host's core sectors increased from €22.5 billion in 2019 to €24.8 billion in 2025 and are forecast to approach €27 billion by 2029. Growth is being driven primarily by demand for professional equipment for gelato, coffee and bakery applications.
Within this landscape, Italy occupies a position of outstanding importance. ExportPlanning estimates that Italy is now the United States' seventh-largest global supplier and the largest supplier within the European Union. Italian exports to the U.S. rose from €395 million in 2019 to €689 million in 2025, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7%. Italy's strongest market penetration is in bakery and pastry equipment, where it accounts for 28% of U.S. import demand. Even more remarkable is the performance of gelato equipment and refrigeration technologies: between 2019 and 2025, Italian exports quadrupled from €71 million to €286 million, achieving an average annual growth rate of 26.1%—more than twice the already robust pace of overall market growth.
Host America: Showcasing the Industries Driving Growth
Host America will spotlight the sectors in which Made in Italy represents the highest standards of technological excellence and innovation: Coffee equipment and vending technologies, Gelato equipment and refrigeration, Furniture, tableware and hospitality design, Bakery and pastry equipment. These four product sectors represent key pillars of the professional hospitality industry and are currently benefiting from sustained structural growth in the U.S. market.
With Host Arabia and Host America, Fiera Milano has launched a strategic international expansion of the Host brand into the world's highest-potential markets. Together with Milan, Riyadh and Orlando create a complementary network of international events that leverages the unique opportunities offered by each regional market while further strengthening HostMilano's position as the world's leading trade show for professional hospitality, foodservice and food retail.
Host America will take place in Orlando, Florida, from 11 to 13 February 2027, at The NAFEM Show.
The 44th edition of Host Milano will be held at Fiera Milano from 22 to 26 October 2027.
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