Half the British businesses showcasing products at the hospitality and food exhibition are first time participants seeking to explore markets in Asia. Joanne Cook, project manager of HOFEX '97, said 16 newcomers were among the 35 British firms, including technology companies, food manufacturers and carpet makers. British units of technology firms Nexus, Cyntergy and IBM are participating in HOTEX, a new hospitality technology exhibition. All 11 British exhibitors in the food hall are featuring their products at the event for the first time, according to Food from Britain, which is organising the British pavilions. Carpet makers Brintons and Metalens are among nine exhibitors displaying their wares at the European Carpet Association show. Other participants include John Hare, a baker, and 13 hospitality equipment manufacturers who are exhibiting their goods in the equipment hall. Four trade publications are also taking part. IBM's Travel and Transportation Industry Solutions Unit will be demonstrating how its information technology skills help solve problems encountered by those in the hospitality business. Visitors to the IBM stand can also examine the company's multi-function smart card and its Lotus Notes/Domino software for use on the Internet and intranet. The Nexus Group is exhibiting its electronic card locks, safes, verification terminals, elevator control, energy control modules and check-in and check-out terminals. Cyntergy provides a range of support services and training to customers using its computer systems. The company offers its services worldwide and seeks to work in partnership with its clients, through its Teamsourcing programme. In the food hall, three companies have stands in the British pavilion: trade publication Export Courier, health food manufacturer Bee Health and alcoholic fruit drinks maker Beverage Brands. Export Courier is displaying products from 14 food manufacturers and stores, including Tesco, Iceland and Thomas Tunnock. Tesco has a range of 5,000 products under its own label. In the Scottish pavilion, eight food manufacturers, including Paterson Arran, Marine Harvest MacConnell, Broughton Ales, Edinburgh Smoked Salmon, Fresh Catch, Kin Loch Damp, International Multi Brands and the Scottish Fisheries Association, are displaying fish, alcohol and other food products. Fresh Catch recently won the Queen's Award for Industry. At the European Carpet Exhibition, Metalon is promoting its function and fine dining range of furniture constructed from lightweight aluminium. The chair joints are handmade to make them appear as if they are carved from wood. In the equipment hall, a number of British exhibitors are displaying their products with Hong Kong distributors. They include Dudson Group, a manufacturer of crockery and china for hotels, and G.N. Burgess, a maker of banqueting and conference furniture. Among the British equipment makers who are exhibiting together is Inviting Displays which produces a range of restaurant and hotel trolleys.