2025 Year in Review

    World Food Travel Association – 2025 Highlights

In 2025, the World Food Travel Association focused on strengthening culinary culture as living heritage, supporting the people and practices that sustain it, and building informed global collaboration rooted in values rather than prestige.        
        Advanced the Taste of Place Movement and Alliance     We clarified and communicated the purpose of the       Taste of Place Movement     — a global effort dedicated to safeguarding culinary heritage and empowering the keepers of food culture in alignment with the Declaration for the Preservation of Culinary Heritage . The Taste of Place Alliance framework was defined to support destinations, organizations, and practitioners who share these values. We also invite those who support this mission to join the Movement through philanthropic contributions. Do you represent a destination? Please contact us to learn how your destination can participate.      
        Delivered Strategic Advisory and Destination Engagement Work     We conducted destination-level analysis and advisory engagement in diverse regions, including the       Bothnian Bay area of Sweden and Finland     and with Saudi Arabia’s Culinary Arts Commission , to help partners explore how food culture, regional identity, and cooperation can contribute to responsible cultural and economic resilience.      
        Updated Professional Training Programs     All certification and training programs were updated with current research, terminology, and real-world cases. Regular refresh cycles ensure that practitioners receive instruction that reflects the most accurate and relevant information available.      
        Built Relationships Through Targeted Engagement     We engaged directly with destinations, stakeholders, and partners through site visits and industry events, including exploratory meetings in Umbria, Italy and participation in World Travel Market , to listen, assess alignment, and foster partnerships grounded in cultural integrity.      
        Expanded and Recognized Leadership Within Our Global Network     In 2025 we welcomed new Ambassadors from diverse regions, including Chef Dela Acolatse ( Ghana ) and Gerald Kock ( Aruba ), and named Mabel Esther Vega Montaño ( Colombia ) as our first Taste of Place Guardian, recognizing her lifelong commitment to ancestral knowledge and rural food culture. These appointments reinforce our values as articulated in the Declaration for the Preservation of Culinary Heritage. Interested in becoming an Ambassador or Guardian in your area? If you share our values and commitment, please get in touch .      
        Honored Outstanding Contributions to the Field     We awarded the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to Francesc Fusté-Forné (Girona, Spain) in recognition of his distinguished career advancing food tourism research, education, and understanding of culinary culture. We also invited the community to nominate other individuals whose work has made enduring contributions to our field.      
        Provided Global Advocacy Through Editorial and Media Platforms     We continued to interpret and elevate global developments in newsletters and digital content, and through the       Taste of Place Podcast     , which released 11 episodes in 2025 featuring inspiring leaders. Notable episodes included “Peace Through Food” with Paula Mohammed, “The Sweet Taste of Ethics” featuring Veronica Peralta on ethical chocolate, and “From Tunisia With Flavor” with Jamie Furniss on repositioning Tunisian cuisine for travelers. By sharing these conversations, we reinforced food as cultural heritage and connected listeners with makers and culture bearers.