‘National Barista Championship 2018’ to meet growing demand of hospitality industry for specialty co

The finals of the National Barista Championship, organised by the Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association (CHSGA) with professional event partner, CDC Events, will be held on 21 and 22 July during the Hotel Show Colombo 2018 at the BMICH. 

Hands-on training and awareness programs were held for the contestants prior to the regional competitions for final selections. They were conducted in several regions of the country by respected professionals in the industry and judged by internationally renowned judges. 

These programs help the baristas set standards in their respective areas of expertise, in addition to setting a benchmark for the hospitality industry. The programs were designed to give contestants a complete understanding of what is expected of them at the grand finale.  

The training and regional competitions were held in Colombo, Negombo, Sigiriya Cultural Triangle, Kandy – Central & Hill country, Kalutara South, Galle & Deep South. The contestants were given the toughest of challenges, from making show-stopping creations that would shape the future of these sectors in the industry. Baristas from hotels island-wide were introduced to the world of coffee, the demands of a café, and the art of a barista. In addition, they were taught the history of coffee and theory, safety and sanitation, customer service excellence and achieving a consistent quality in drink preparation. 

The Hotel Show Colombo organising committee Chairman Trevine Gomez stated: “Our mission through these training programs is to promote, train, educate, inform and create value in pursuance of raising the bar in these hospitality services. Ably assisted by renowned professionals in the field who conducted the sessions enabled the contestants to reach higher levels of national competition.” 

 “Another key objective of these competitions at the Hotel Show Colombo is to ensure and uphold consistency in hospitality service and quality standards, as well as promote greater international standards in our industry,” he added.

CHSGA President Samantha Gunarathna said: “The Hotel Show success story has earned its reputation as Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry showcase. In fact, the hotel catering and tourism sectors as a whole play a pivotal part in Sri Lanka’s economy. But more than that, the Hotel Show is a world-class food and hospitality fair, and its history as the industry’s culinary and trade platform helped make this event an international marketplace, a magnet for buyers and sellers in the industry, and for public culinary education.”