Maybe you've noticed this too - Food and Drink Tourism seems to be coming to the fore again. I’ve noticed it finding its way into conversations, onto agendas, and pockets of discussion.
It reminded me just how vital once was to our work, and how much ground was covered in those vibrant years before the pandemic. Back then, food and drink tourism was front and centre. It had momentum, investment, and a strong voice in the tourism narrative. Then came the lockdowns and, understandably, attention shifted elsewhere.
It feels as if the spark is coming back though and with good reason. Food and drink continue to be one of the most powerful and tangible ways to connect visitors to place, to story, and to sustainability.
That's what has inspired this month's article and the newsletter. Hope you find them both valuable.
March was busy for us - it's traditionally our busiest month just before the season kicks in. We got to partner with valued clients and their industry on a range of interesting projects - from accredited sustainable destinations training and food & drink sustainability workshops to place-inspired storytelling and collaborative experience development.
I shared talks on Slow Tourism, the Green Claims Directive and was especially delighted to connect with a group in Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland, Canada (many with proud Irish heritage) on the topic of The Place Paradigm. It was humbling to hear how many had felt inspired by my 2021 Tedx Talk when I first spoke of that concept.
Although manifesting in different ways, the common threads across all of these projects were Place, Values and Purpose - something we might explore in next month's newsletter.
In the meantime, here’s to more great moments in the month ahead, even amidst all the geopolitical turmoil!
Beir bua,
