THE Portland Spa Conference and Banqueting Centre is holding a major catering event over two days in October.

It has teamed up with the CEM Group for the Weymouth and Portland Catering Show on October 21 and 22.

The World Heritage Coast Hospitality Association and Dorset New Forest Tourism Partnership are supporting the event And the Dorset Echo has also thrown its weight behind the show as media partner.

The CEM Group already organises the Bournemouth Hotel and Catering Show and decided to hold the new showcase after six months of research and development.

Many exhibitors have already signed up and there have been many enquiries from major food service players.

Show director Anna Wallis said: "We discovered that only three per cent of trade buyers from Weymouth and Portland visit our annual Bournemouth event, providing an untapped opportunity to bring the hospitality and tourism community together at a crucial time."

The event has been hailed as a fantastic new opportunity to reach hundreds of hotel, guest house and catering trade buyers including tourist and leisure attractions, cafes, pubs and public sector'.

The show comes as the Portland Spa gains momentum with its range of conferences and exhibitions - and as the area begins to step up its preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games. It is being held near the time of Dorset Food Week but also as the annual Open 4 Business extravaganza reaches its climax in south and west Dorset.

Go to www.hotel-expo.co.uk/weymouth or call 01425 485040 for more information and bookings.