The IFSA Global Leadership Conference - Asia Pacific held September 20-22 was truly a success and a Conference that will not be forgotten any time soon.

Two hundred delegates were in attendance
representing 20 countries
and 79 companies!

The Asia Pacific Conference Planning Committee combined talent and expertise to develop and execute the most dynamic conference the region has seen:

• Hideo Miyabe, TFK Corporation (Chair)
• Doug Bressler, Continental Airlines
• Joseph Chew
• Eiichi Ishii, Japan Flight Catering Association
• H.W. Jo, Asiana Airlines
• Josephine Kim, Korean Air
• Ki Hyun Kwak, Korean Air
• David Lau, Do Food Co.
• Dilip Nijhawan, Sri Lankan Catering (Private), Ltd.
• Kriengsakdi Phatharacharukul, Thai Airways International
• Chinkyung Rhee, Korean Air
• Ken Samara, AMI Inflight, Inc. (Board Liaison)
• Bob Sun, Flying Food Group
• Jaime Arturo Viola, Philippine Airlines (Board Liaison)
• Tim Zandbergen, TFK Corporation

Conference Highlights

Boeing Chief Engineer, Mr. Alan J. Anderson, provided attendees an overview of the features of the new widebody equipment. The aircraft boasts a number of interior innovations, including larger windows that give every passenger a view of the horizon, a system that raises humidity for more comfort, an LED lighting that can set the mood in the aircraft. Mr. Anderson also hinted at future developments, among them a stretched version of the 747.

Mrs. Isabelle Devatine-Lacaze, Ground Operations Senior Engineer, Airbus updated attendees on the status of the A380 and provided participants the chance to view “the First Catering Experience of A380,” a simulation of what providing in-flight services would look like on the largest aircraft to soon carry passengers in the skies.

At the Chef’s Competition, the three finalists put their talents to work and competed for the winning position. Chef Masaru Morita, TFK Corporation (Japan), took first place with his recipe for vacuum cooked chicken with white miso sauce accompanied with two varieties of oriental sesame style vegetable gratin. A panel of six judges tasted and critiqued all three prepared dishes.

Chef Morita was announced as the winner during the Friday night banquet held at the Seogwipo KAL Hotel. He was awarded a crystal trophy and business class round-trip tickets for two on Korean Air. He will also be given a customized chef’s coat of his choice. Chefs Kawashima and Koo were also presented with a crystal award.

Thursday evening dinner and entertainment was held as Sulloc Cha Tea Gardens and included a tour of the gardens and Museum O’sulloc. Attendees dined under the stars and enjoyed an extensive buffet featuring a variety of selections, including the locally prepared Green Tea ice cream. Attendees were also entertained by the musical production of "NANTA", which was the first Asian commercial musical in history to debut on Broadway. The non-verbal, unorthodox combination of cooking and high-energy percussion captured the imagination of the  audience and a few attendees even tried their hand at replicating the rhythmic performance. This extraordinary event was sponsored by Amore Pacific. 

The farewell banquet, held at the Seogwipo KAL Hotel provided an evening of fun, entertainment, a specially planned menu and networking camaraderie for all in attendance. Superb entertainment was provided and included traditional Korean music and a performance by an internationally renowned group of break-dance performers! IFSA thanks Korean Air for their generosity in sponsoring this quality event.

IFSA Board Members thanked Ms. Heather Cho, Vice President, Catering Business Division and Hotel & In-flight Sales Business Division, for Korean Air's support of the IFSA Global Leadership Conference-Asia Pacific.

Pictured left to right are: Mr. Jaime Arturo Viola (Philippine Airlines), Ms. Heather Cho (Korean Air), Ms. Sandra Pineau (Continental Airlines), Ms. Pam Suder-Smith (Pourshins, Inc.), Mr. Hideo Miyabe (TFK Corporation, Inc.) and Mr. Ken Samara (AMI Inflight, Inc.).

Pros and amateurs alike converged at the renowned Club at Nine Bridges to network and enjoy some friendly competition. The winning team consisted of Martin Mahovlic, CLS Catering Services Ltd., YVR (Canada); Torsten Brendel, Industrieplanung + Organisation GmbH & Co., KG (Germany); and Soochul Lee, Enter Communications (Korea) The longest drive was awarded to Mr. Hideo Miyabe of TFK Corporation (Japan), and the lowest score went to Mr. Jong Moon Hong of CJ Corporation (Korea).

IFSA extends a very special “thank you” to our many
generous Conference sponsors.