The 2026 Taste of Place Summit, presented by the Culinary Tourism Alliance and host destination partner, Explore Edmonton, offered our team an incredible opportunity to connect, learn, and collaborate.Our President & CEO, Cassandra Zerebeski, and I were among the 180 delegates from across Canada and other parts of the world, including the US and Ireland, who attended this year's event.

The annual Summit, launched in 2023, brings together destination organizations and tourism professionals, chefs, producers, and industry leaders to explore how food and drink can strengthen destinations, support local economies, and create meaningful visitor experiences.

On day one, after opening remarks and the first keynote presentation, delegates were invited to choose one of the Summit's curated learning journeys to sample the area's tourism offerings. The Explore Edmonton Learning Journey (Urban Tour) that I participated in was engaging and informative, thanks to a tour of Delavoye Chocolate Maker, a foraging trip through the River Valley with From the Wild, a visit to the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market, which included lunch crafted by Chef Shane Chartrand and his team, and a stop at Blind Enthusiasm Brewery.

2026 Taste of Place Summit - Group Photo
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2026 Taste of Place Summit - Chris Shauf presenting
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2026 Taste of Place Summit - Badge
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2026 Taste of Place Summit - Learning Journey - Chocolatier
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2026 Taste of Place Summit - Learning Journey - Foraging
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2026 Taste of Place Summit - TOTA Announcement
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(1) Pictured (left to right): Rebecca Mackenzie, President & CEO, Culinary Tourism Alliance; Chef Ned Bell, Creative Advisor for the Centre for Food Wine and Tourism at Okanagan College; Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO, TOTA; myself and Cassandra representing Tourism Kelowna, (2) Team K at the Summit, (3) Showcasing Kelowna's UNESCO City of Gastronomy journey, (4) Learning Journey: Visit to Delavoye Chocolate Maker, (5) Learning Journey: From the Wild foraging, (6) Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA). Pictures 1, 2, and 6 courtesy of TOTA.

On day two, I was proud to take the stage and share Kelowna's journey to becoming Canada's first and only UNESCO City of Gastronomy. During the 20-minute presentation, I outlined the City of Gastronomy application process and why Kelowna was an exceptional choice for the designation, shared a few of our videos highlighting the region's culinary community, and showcased the plans our region has to build upon the UNESCO designation over the next few years.

One of the most exciting moments of the Summit was the official announcement that Kelowna will host the 2027 Taste of Place Summit. As destination host, Tourism Kelowna will partner with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association to welcome delegates to our region, with learning journeys taking place throughout the Okanagan. The announcement was met with plenty of enthusiasm from attendees, and our team couldn't be more excited to showcase the people, places, and flavours that make our region a world-class culinary destination.

In addition to attending the conference, Tourism Kelowna also contributed a fantastic package, dubbed the Ultimate Kelowna Culinary Experience, to the Summit's auction. We thank our Kelowna partners, 50th Parallel Estate Winery, Ailm Estate, Jason Parkes Customs, Lakeside Eco-Sports, Prestige Beach House, Mission Hill Family Estate, Quails' Gate Winery, and A Taste of Kelowna Food Tours, for their generous contributions towards the auction item. 

Last but not least, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the Culinary Tourism Alliance and Explore Edmonton for hosting such a memorable and impactful Summit. We can't wait to welcome everyone to Kelowna for next year's Summit!

Stay tuned to the Taste of Place Summit website for details on the 2027 Kelowna event as they are announced.

If you'd like to discuss Tourism Kelowna's involvement with the 2027 Summit or how your business can get involved, email me at chris.shauf@tourismkelowna.com.