The symposium is designed primarily for business professionals in the food, beverage, hospitality and tourism industries, including relevant associations. Others, such as government and economic development staff and public relations/advertising professionals, may also find the program of interest.
The one-day regional symposium format is organized in the format below. Symposium content is a balanced mix of both relevant theory and hands-on practical learning so you can take knowledge back and start using what you have learned immediately.
Customized for each symposium and depends on a variety of factors that include costs for room rental and food/beverage, and number of speakers. Association members are always entitled to a discount for all education events.
We would be delighted to speak with you if your region or business is interested in holding a symposium. Before you contact us however, please review our brief list of requirements:
LOCATION
The host location must be near a large base of potential attendees (i.e. near a large metro area but not necessarily in a large metro area). Generally we regard a 60 minute drive from a major metro area as a good distance. The host location should have easy access (primarily highway and air but possibly also sea and rail, if appropriate) to major feeder markets.
HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS
The Association does NOT book room night contracts with lodging properties under any circumstances. If a lodging property wishes to offer a special rate, we will promote it, but we cannot serve as the hotel's outside sales agent. We prefer a model where the Association either pays for the meeting room rental or the room rental fee is waived based on food/beverage pick up.
COHOST PARTNER
While our organization does all the work, we need your input and support. We require a local partner to help with two items: 1) promoting the symposium to your membership list and/or contact list (e.g. in your newsletter) and your media list (e.g. issuing a press release); and 2) suggestions for relevant speakers and topics; suitable venues; and catering and audiovisual recommendations. Examples of suitable businesses for partnering to produce the symposia include destination marketing organizations, restaurant management companies, hospitality management companies, convention centers, or a food/beverage manufacturer or distributor. We may also ask your assistance to help introduce Association leadership to other local businesses who can help to publicize the symposium. The major benefits to the partnering organization include prominent visibility including in the symposium program, our press release and on the symposium page of the website; a host table with your materials at the symposium; the opportunity to promote your organization; and a limited number of complimentary registrations for your organization. Your organization will most likely receive media coverage as well as a result of our efforts to publicize the symposium. While the Association does all the work to produce the symposium, you reap all of the benefits.
SYMPOSIUM COSTS
The local destination marketing organization is NOT required per se to provide any financial or staff support to help produce the symposium. However, our experience has shown that a small subsidy is usually needed to help bring registration costs down for the delegates. The typical subsidy is approx. US$5000. So for example, if 100 delegates attend and the co-hosting organization's subsidy is US$5000, each delegate's registration would be reduced by US$50. If the co-host partner wishes, this subsidy/discount to delegates can also be restricted to members of membership organizations. If cash is not an option for the co-hosting organization, there are other ways to reduce the registration cost for delegates. For example, the co-hosting organization could help locate a free or low-cost venue, arrange reduced rate catering, or secure the donation of audiovisual equipment, etc.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Association produces the symposium entirely on our own with our own resources. However, if the local destination marketing organization will not help with our requests for assitance (e.g. venue, speakers, catering), there is little chance the symposium will succeed and may be canceled. The ICTI does not produce any symposia without co-host partner participation.
MINIMUM & MAXIMUM NUMBERS
We require a minimum number of paid registrants for the symposium to take place. The minimum number depends on the costs to produce the symposium, and costs vary widely. In general, we have found that 65 is a realistic number to look forward to as the minimum number of registrants. Symposia that do not receive the minimum number of registrants will be canceled. Generally, our symposia get on average about 80-120 delegates each. Certainly more can be accommodated depending on the size of the venue.
FREQUENCY
In larger countries such as the US, Canada, Australia and Brazil, the Association will produce no more than one symposium per geographic region of a country per year.
MARKETING
The details for each symposia need to be confirmed a minimum of 9 months before the proposed date of the symposium. The reason is that we need 6-9 months to promote the symposium on our website and through other marketing channels. Prior experience has shown that shorter windows of marketing time result in substantially fewer attendees. We want the symposium to be a success. Therefore, we take the time required to plan and market the symposium in a proper fashion.
OTHER SYMPOSIA
Why work with the ICTA to produce a symposium rather than organizing one on your own? The ICTA brings an enormous array of international resources, experience and examples to symposia. These benefits add unparalleled value and exposure for your local and regional delegates. When you partner with ICTA, not only do you have access to the world's best Culinary Tourism resources, you also benefit from the exposure that ICTA gives, and the credibility it lends, to your efforts. In most cases, the ICTA produces the entire symposium, thereby saving you staff time and resources, i.e. money. We are very careful to solicit your detailed input but we do all the work for you. If you have ever produced an event, you know how many little details can add up to quite a large headache. Also by involving ICTA speakers, your delegates benefit from best practices Culinary Tourism examples from all over the world - not just your region. The ICTA also maintains a vast database of Culinary Tourism contacts around the world - potential delegates that we can market to for your symposium. Lastly, the ICTA staff has extensive experience with cross-cultural communication and speaks a wide variety of languages. We know what it takes to launch an idea successfully across borders and into different cultures and languages. We always defer to you as the local expert, but because our staff are highly experienced with international matters, your job is that much easier.
