Tasty treats on the menu at catering expo

Businesses working in the hospitality sector were demonstrating their products and services in Bournemouth today.

The Hotel and Catering Show attracted hoteliers, restaurateurs, chefs and an army of trade suppliers from coffee machine makers to commercial recycling companies.

Being such a broad subject, a walk round the stands could end up with a sampling of ice cream or a sales pitch about laundry services.

While trainee chefs were on view competing in a cookery challenge, there were ‘soundbite’ sessions with expert tips on staying in business during the credit crunch.

A show with fine ingredients indeed.

The Economic Voice: hearing you loud and clear

If you think quantitative easing is another word for a laxative, you might benefit from the spirited online debates going on over at The Economic Voice.

Launched today, this site looks set to become a regular haunt for all those keen to argue the toss on financial issues and their political consequences. It’s more Joe Public than industry pundit.

The first posts consider whether the euro is being overvalued, how a Citigroup memo led to a global equity rally and how far banks will continue to dump toxic assets on the already besieged tax payer.

Thanks to the recession, much of the subject matter is bleak so far but the insights are genuine.

One of the more positive topics has contributors speculating on what mortgage holders should do if they have benefited from the latest Bank of England base rate cut.

Run up more credit card bills, seems the popular view.