A Taste for Travel

Discover how the hospitality industry is tapping into a rising interest in food tourism.

Over the past few years food has emerged as a travel megatrend, with 77 percent of leisure travelers participating in culinary activities on vacation, according to Mandala Research, LLC’s 2013 report The American Culinary Traveler.

Some properties are working with farmers markets to provide foodie experiences. The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts, holds a farmers market on-site. At Hotel Madera in Washington, D.C., guests can sign up for the Farm to Table to Bed package. Perks include a Sunday brunch for two cooked with produce sold at that day’s farmers market and $10 to be redeemed at the market. In McGaheysville, Virginia, Massanutten Resort promotes their community partner, the Dayton Market, a group of 18 independent shops, many of which sell homemade foods.

Other resorts hold cooking classes for owners. Several of AMResorts’ properties, such as Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica and Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun, regularly offer cooking and cocktail making classes. At Risata Bali Resort & Spa, cooking classes are among the most popular activities. “Guests learn the basics of Balinese or Indonesian exotic cuisine,” says resort manager Fransiska Handoko. “Our head chef teaches students and guides them through a tasting of herbs and spices. Guests gain hands-on experience preparing various dishes of their choice and can practice their new skills back home. They can also sign up for a day trip to the local market.”

Photo credit: Risata Bali Resort & Spa