At WTCE 2026 in Hamburg, gategroup marked more than just its presence at one of the industry’s most important gatherings. The event offered an opportunity to showcase how progress in onboard hospitality is shaped through collaboration across culinary, operational, digital and equipment expertise.
Throughout the week, our showcase brought together ideas and solutions designed to support the future of travel catering and hospitality. Alongside our own teams and brands, a number of valued partners helped strengthen that story and bring added depth to the conversations taking place across the stand.
Among them were MEIKO Group, RATIONAL AG, TCR and Black Swan Data, each contributing to a broader picture of what modern airline catering demands today. From kitchen performance and hygiene systems to ground support and data-led decision-making, these partnerships reflect the wide range of capabilities needed to deliver smarter, more responsive and more efficient operations.
WTCE 2026 also provided a platform to spotlight innovation partnerships more directly. Our collaboration with ABB Robotics, together with Swiss Engineering Partners AG, drew attention through the Make & Pack workstation prototype, a concept developed for airline catering that combines robotics with AI-powered vision and live operational insight. The result is a practical example of how automation can support quality, consistency and flexibility in real-world environments.
Taken together, these collaborations reinforced an important message for us in Hamburg. The future of onboard hospitality will not be shaped by one discipline alone. It will come from the way culinary thinking, technology, equipment, operations and insight work together with purpose.
As we reflect on a successful week at WTCE 2026, we extend our thanks to all of the partners, collaborators and visitors who contributed to the energy and exchange around our presence. Their involvement helped make our showcase not only a presentation of what we do, but a reflection of the wider ecosystem helping move the industry forward.
About gategroup
gategroup is a leading global provider of airline catering, retail-on-board, and hospitality products and services. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the company serves millions of passengers through a network of nearly 200 locations in more than 60 countries. By leveraging innovation and operational expertise, gategroup partners with the world’s leading airlines to create exceptional travel experiences. Learn more at www.gategroup.com
