JP Mahon, Michelin chef from Aniar Resturant, with TG4 weather girl Cáitlín Nic Aoidh at the announcement of touRRoir18. Photo: Andrew Downes/XPOSURE

Call out to Mayo food, tourism, farming and cultural businesses

touRRoir is a cross sector global forum on food tourism and culture and it is coming to Galway for the first time on April 23 and 24. A Good Food Ireland event, touRRoir 18 will be hosted in the National University of Ireland Galway to coincide with Galway’s designation as European Region of Gastronomy.

The event will be of great benefit to Mayo based food producers, farmers, hospitality and cultural businesses and anybody interested in our indigenous food, cultural and tourism industry, with an opportunity to learn from a panel of key international experts and industry specialists.

Mayo based members of Good Food Ireland, including renowned butchers Kelly’s of Newport, Achill Island Sea Salt and Cuinneog Butter, will have the opportunity to be part of this major global forum.

It’s also a significant opportunity for similar businesses and organisations across Mayo to get involved in this highly emotive forum alongside international ground-breaking leaders in food, tourism and cultural sectors, which aims to strengthen ties between the increasingly cross dependent sectors.

touRRoir is the world’s leading international symposium, bringing together thought leaders, experienced practitioners and change agents for a unique cross sector dialogue on how, through the inextricable link of these three sectors, companies can grow business, local communities can flourish and destinations can ensure a more successful and sustainable economic future.

Margaret Jeffares, founder and managing director, Good Food Ireland, said: “Food, tourism and culture represent giant 'industries' in their own right and combined, account for the lion’s share of global employment, while their cross-sector effect on businesses and communities and their economies and social fabric is hugely significant.

Consumers search for authenticity and truth in terms of product, service and experience will have a major focus on the touRRoir18 theme - A Unified Force for Good: Food Tourism and Culture.”

touRRoir will bring ground breaking leaders in food, tourism and culture from three continents to Galway for this highly emotive forum which aims to strengthen the existing ties between the increasingly cross dependent sectors. Business operators, food producers, farmers, tourism and hospitality operators and cultural programmers in Ireland will have the opportunity to meet key and highly influential international food experts, leading cultural figures and worldwide travel industry specialists over the two-day global forum at NUI Galway.

The programme includes a hall of fame collaborative gala dinner on Monday, April 23. This is the only recognition in the world for individuals, teams or destinations whose vision, creativity and drive has had a positive and significant impact on the cross sector development of food, tourism and culture, where the confluence of these three sectors have effected change to drive business or where soft power and Gastrodiplomacy initiatives have raised profile or changed an image.

2018 honourees will be inducted to the touRRoir Hall of Fame, determined by a global judging panel.

The dinner will bring together internationally acclaimed chefs who will craft a menu inspired by Galway and the west of Ireland’s landscape and seascape on the Wild Atlantic Way using a supreme array of Irish produce. This inspirational dining experience will also feature Irish producers and craft drink pairings.

Tuesday, April 24, will see a one-day forum including a cultural reception and showcase dinner. Attendees will hear from world-class practitioners and experts in a unique exchange of experiences, expertise and learnings from both within and across the food, tourism and culture sectors.

Keynotes and panel discussions from food travel experts, international chefs, hospitality and travel industry professionals and key influencers in soft power and culture as well as technology change agents will bring latest trends, best-in-class thinking and cutting-edge innovation to our global audience.

The networking drinks and cultural reception followed by the networking showcase dinner will provide opportunities for chefs and food and drink producers to highlight the best of local Irish craft drinks and food produce and cuisine with special acknowledgement for the Galway and the west of Ireland’s status as 2018 European Region of Gastronomy.

For more, log on to www.tourroir.com