GWTO

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The 13th Yantai International Wine Conference and Exposition kicked off in the coastal city of Yantai, Shandong province

Measuring 21,000 sqm, this year’s event highlights Yantai’s role as the only “International Grape and Wine City” in Asia, and aims to promote the integrated development of the city’s wine and wine tourism industries.

Jose Antonio Vidal, founder president of the Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO) has been warmly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China, the Shandong region and Yantai authorities, and by the board of the Yantai Wine and Vine Bureau. For the private sector side he attended meetings with the main wineries’ (Châteaux) owners and general managers.

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Yantai becomes a member of the World Wine Tourism Council

Mr. Vidal participated as speaker at the opening ceremony of the expo and delivered the Key-note speech: Yantai Wine Tourism at the Next Level.

He said that China and Yantai have over the past three years (2020-2021-2022) made efforts to be able to take advantage of the opportunity to promote the innovative development of the wine industry focused on tourism, with even more energy and more quality. More quality in the personal attitude that is reflected in the courage and entrepreneurial drive.

Three years that have made it possible for Yantai and GWTO to twin for a hopeful wine tourism future focused on solid fundaments to create and positioning the Yantai Wine Tourism Destination Brand on the world wine tourism map.

GWTO president spoke highly of Yantai’s efforts in deepening cooperation with GWTO to accelerate the integrated development of the local culture and wine tourism sector, through the International GWTO Quality Certified of the Yantai Wine Tourism Destination, organizing events to position the brand, participation in GWTO international events, to promote and commercialize the wine tourism activities into de marketplace EnoWineClub.com and the professionalization through training programs by GWTO Academy.

premios apeno 2023 hospitalidade e estadia

GWTO supports APENO in its National Wine Tourism Awards 2023

The ceremony of the second edition of the APENO (Portuguese Winetourism
Association) / Ageas Seguros National Wine Tourism Award took place on the 26th
of May, at the Hotel Convento de São Paulo, in Redondo (Alentejo).
An event that distinguished the best wine tourism companies, practices and projects in Portugal, with Ageas Seguros as main sponsor, through a transparent vote carried out on an online platform by more than 250 judges.

The President of the Republic of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, appreciated the participation of the Minister of Agriculture and the support of the President of the Global Wine Tourism Organization GWTO, highlighted Portuguese tourism and wines, recognized as among the world’s best, wishing APENO the greatest successes.

“Hospitality and Accommodation are the Alpha and the Omega of service excellence” José Antonio Vidal, President of GWTO

During the event, presented by Mónica Jardim, the GWTO President participated in the Awards ceremony for Best Hospitality (Herdade da Malhadinha Nova) and Best Accommodation (Torre de Palma Wine Hotel). In the words of José Antonio Vidal “Hospitality and Accommodation are the Alpha and Omega of service excellence: the keys to success or failure”.

The event was attended by several official entities, including the Secretaries of State for Tourism, Nuno Fazenda, and Agriculture, Gonçalo Rodrigues; the President of the Vine and Wine Institute, Bernardo Gouvêa; the President of the Regional Tourism Authority of Alentejo, Vitor Silva; the Presidents and/or representatives of the National CVR’s and Regional Tourism Entities; as well as José Antonio Vidal, President of the Global Wine Tourism Organization GWTO, the organization that represents Wine Tourism worldwide: “It was a pleasure getting Portugal to attend the Awards. GWTO supports the labour of APENO in Portugal and I believe it is already bearing fruit. Congratulations APENO and to all winners and finalists!”.

“APENO is growing every day and making an important progress in structuring the sector. Bringing together the world of wine and tourism at this exceptional event that rewards the best in wine tourism makes us feel delighted. The event was different, creative, full of glamour, surprises and details. In what depends on us. And always be this way!”, Maria João de Almeida, APENO President.

The Russian National Culinary Association joins Global Wine Tourism Organization

The Russian National Culinary Association joins GWTO

The Russian National Culinary Association (RNCA) became the first Full Member in Russia of the Global Wine Tourism Organization (RNCA). The accession agreement was signed by their presidents Mr. José Antonio Vidal and Mr. Victor Belyaev.

Founded in 1990, RNCA is the most distinguished professional associations in the country joinning chefs, cooks, and industry organizations from various regions of Russian Federation, representing Russia in the World Association of Chef’s Societies ‘Worldchefs’ (WACS).

Mr. José Antonio Vidal and Mr. Victor Belyaev

The first meeting between both presidents took place in Perm (Russia) with the occasion of the National Culinary Art and Service Olympiad ‘Legend’ with the mediation of GWTO Vice President for EurAsia, Mr. Leonid Gelibterman.

Wine tourism is inextricably linked to gastronomy, and this agreement between GWTO and RNCA opens up new opportunities and prospects for the development of enogastronomic tourism in Russia.

About GWTO

A Global wine, agri and gastro Tourism Business and Knowledge Network, comprising the whole agritourism value chain located in wine destinations -related to ‘wine’ in its broader sense-, the public sector and the academic by GWTO Academy. GWTO has been created to enhance the social-economic development of wine tourism destinations and its residents through strategic value propositions, as part of an inclusive and supportive governance framework, based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

For more info:
Julia Smirnova
[email protected]

GWTO presented at TTG Fair in Rimini (Italy) its wine tourism new vision post Covid

The Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO) filled the capacity of the LifeStyle Arena at the Rimini TTG Fair, before an audience made up of professionals from the wine and olive sector, consultants, start-ups, professors and students.

José Antonio Vidal, president CEO: “Few entrepreneurial activities have the growth prospects of a sector as broad and transversal as wine tourism.

The mission consists of rethinking activities related to wine tourism, strengthening territories and involving all actors in the value chain, taking into account inclusion, accessibility and sustainability as its three main axes, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

The key to definitive success is in Knowledge Management and in the Wine Tourism Guide, as the visible head of the good work of the entire organization.

GWTO is made up of its Members -with its committees made up of more than 30 authorities that work on Marketing strategy-, and the Academy, which works in research and training, organized in a team of Fellows -rectors, PhDs, professors and coordinators of Master’s degrees from the most prestigious universities and business schools, specialists in eno, agro and gastro tourism.

The co-creation of training programs with academic institutions, the presence as exhibitors at the main tourism, wine and gastronomy fairs, the organization of meetings with the main stakeholders (GWTOtalks), the organization of congresses and forums, the creation of the Economic Monitor of wine tourism -which will analyze the evolution of markets, international trends, forecasts and economic impact-, and the Market Place of world wine tourism, accredited by the GWTO Quality Mark, whose focus will be on customer satisfaction, are just some of the value propositions.

5 Key words
#coopetivity, #sustainability, #inclusion, #training, #communication

Paola Puzzovio, Director for Italy: “What can we do for Italian wine tourism thanks through GWTO? What are we missing? We will have a global network of knowledge. A global coordination that will help us to develop and strengthen networks at an international level”.

Concetta D’Emma, Director of Social Networks, spoke about inclusive experiences also at the food level with the new figure of the Glocal Storyteller: “How can we narrate the territory in social networks in an ethical, coherent and concrete way, taking into account sustainability (environmental, economic, social) and inclusion and accessibility policies? And how can we engage our guests and travelers in line with our mission?”.

José Antonio Vidal concluded saying that “it is important that companies and the sector in general Think Big. We are in the right business. The future is bright for all who understand that sustainable wine tourism is a business opportunity. And that is why coo-petitiveness is essential: we must not see others as competitors, given that all the actors in the supply chain coexist in a territory”.

About GWTO

A Global wine, agri and gastro Tourism Business and Knowledge Network, comprising the whole agritourism value chain located in wine destinations -related to ‘wine’ in its broader sense-, the public sector and the academic by GWTO Academy. GWTO has been created to enhance the social-economic development of wine tourism destinations and its residents through strategic value propositions, as part of an inclusive and supportive governance framework, based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

More information:
[email protected]
Follow us on Twitter: @gwto_omet  @gwto_academy

GWTO invited by Russian authorities

The president CEO of the Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO) José Antonio Vidal, got Russia despite all the difficulties of traveling during the pandemic. The main purpose of his visit was to hold meetings with representatives of the russian public, private and academic sectors.

Mr. Vidal’s trip started in the city of Perm (Ural region), where he participated in the Russian Culinary and Services Olympiad «Legend». Chefs from all over Russia, including regions with great potential for the development of wine tourism, took part in the Culinary Olympiad.

The opening ceremony was attended by Governor of Perm Krai,Dmitry Makhonin, the president of the National Culinary Association of Russia, Victor Belyaev, and Leonid Gelibterman, GWTO Director for Central EurAsia region and president of the russian International Center of Wine and Gastronomy. In the opening ceremony, José Antonio Vidal said: “On behalf of the GWTO I congratulate all participants and organizers of the Olympiad and wish success to the National Culinary Association of Russia. I bring you also greetings and best wishes from Rafael Ansón, Honorary President of the GWTO and President of Honor of the International Academy of Gastronomy”.

Together with Yulia Vetoshkina, Minister of Tourism and Youth Policy of the Perm Krai, and Yulia Rybakova, Adviser to the Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism), José Antonio Vidal took part in the panel discussion ‘Development of gastronomic tourism in Russia’, moderated by Leonid Gelibterman, in which Mr. Vidal stressed that “wine tourism -matching with gastronomy proposals- is the real motor for agritourism destinations”, offering GWTO support for its socio-economic development.

José Antonio Vidal gave as well a master class about wine tourism for professors and students of the Higher School of Economics, one of the leading universities in Russia with campus in Perm, Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

GWTO president had a useful and important meeting with the Minister of Tourism and Youth Policy of the Perm Krai, Yulia Vetoshkina, who appreciated the potential of cooperation with the GWTO for the development of agritourism in the Perm Region, planning to include in the next meeting the Ministers of Culture and Agriculture, as well as the academic sector of Perm. As a joke -but, as we know, every joke has its share of truth-, Ms. Vetoshkina suggested opening a GWTO office in Perm.

In Moscow, José Antonio Vidal held four important negotiations with the main national stakeholders.

The president of the Union of Winegrowers and Winemakers of Russia,Leonid Popovich, who said: “We discussed the benefits of GWTO membership for producers who are members of the Union of Winegrowers and Winemakers of Russia”. Mr. Popovich described the possibilities of cooperation as fantastic: “We also discussed the prospects of cooperation between the GWTO Academy and Russian universities because the Union of Winegrowers and Winemakers is interested in increasing the professional level of the industry participants”. 

From the Government of the Russian Federation, the Adviser to the Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism), Yulia Rybakova, will organize meetings among GWTO with the Ministers of Tourism of the Russian wine regions.

From the academic side, the Rector of the Moscow State University of Tourism and Sports, Masyagina Natalia Vasilievna, has also shown her interest in the educational field of the GWTO Academy.

Finally, José Antonio Vidal held a meeting with the Director of Simple Wine Travel Agency, Natalia Zhestkova, the main outcoming wine tourism touroperator in Russia.

About GWTO

A Global wine, agri and gastro Tourism Business and Knowledge Network, comprising the whole agritourism value chain located in wine destinations -related to ‘wine’ in its broader sense-, the public sector and the academic by GWTO Academy. GWTO has been created to enhance the social-economic development of wine tourism destinations and its residents through strategic value propositions, as part of an inclusive and supportive governance framework, based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

More info: Julia Smirnova
[email protected]

The Georgian EnoTourism Association (GETA) and Caucasus Int’l University join GWTO

With many centuries of experience in the field of winemaking, Georgia considers wine tourism as a source of revitalization.

To advance and move forward into a management and development stage, the Georgian EnoTourism Association (Geta) and its associate, the Caucasus International University (CIU), have formalized their membership to the Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO).

“Working together with GWTO is a great opportunity to promote the development of wine tourism in Georgia, actively contribute to the success of family wineries and their products, increase educational activities and, most importantly, to carry Georgia’s name as one of the best destinations for wine tourism in the international arena”, says the founder and member of the Geta Board of Directors, Kety Gorgiladze.

On August 5, the Rector of CIU, Kakhaber Kordzaia, and the founder of Geta, Keti Gorgiladze, held a meeting with the President of GWTO José Antonio Vidal, and the Senior Advisor, Carlos Vogeler, during which various areas of cooperation with GWTO and with the GWTO Academy were discussed.

Geta and GWTO thank the Ambassador of Georgia in Spain, H.E. Mr. Ilia Giorgadze for his collaboration, as well as the gastronomic writer and editor Federico Oldenburg, for his mediation.

GWTO invited by Tourism of Greece at the Wine Tourism Conference in Santorini

The Global Wine Tourism Organization (GWTO) was present at the Wine Tourism Conference: Strategies and prospects in the post-Covid era, which was held in Santorini, at the Santo Wines congress center. Its president, José Antonio Vidal, gave the Keynote Speech, after the official inauguration by the Vice Minister of Tourism Sofia Zacharaki.

International Tourism in Greece accounts for over seven million annual tourists (before the pandemic), 20% of GDP and 25 % of employment. The country opened borders to health qualified international tourists on May 14th.

In the presentation of the campaign All you want is Greece, Minister Theocharis declared: “It is our responsibility to recover tourism as soon as possible and in a sustainable manner” to ensure the promotion of alternative Tourism “through the creation of products which attract outbound markets and collaborating with private sector associations to promote and improve the country brand”. This should be a collective effort of all the stakeholders of the tourism sector in Greece.

“Having Santorini as the starting point of two-day event devoted to wine tourism, the Ministry of Tourism launches a journey for the promotion of wine tourism throughout Greece”, said the Deputy Minister of Tourism Sofia Zacharaki and responsible for the organization of this event.

“Wine Tourism is a priority in the agenda of the Ministry of Tourism of Greece, as shown in our participation in the open days initiatives of the wineries” declared Panagiota Dionysopoulou, Director General of Tourism Policy, during her intervention in the GWTO talks session, together with the Minister of Tourism of Argentina, Matías Lammens.

The Greek Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourist Organization (GNTO) were jointly awarded the “World’s Leading Tourist Board” by World Travel Awards (WTA) in 2020, recognising the “hard work and methodical efforts, the care for health and safety carried out to millions of tourists who were hosted in Greece.”

About GWTO

A Global Wine Tourist Business and Knowledge Network -related to wine in its broader sense-, comprising the whole agritourist value chain (from public, private resources located in wine destinations,  and academic sectors),  to contribute to the social-economic development of wine tourism destinations, as part of an inclusive and supportive governance framework based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

More info at:
[email protected]

The Global Wine Tourism Organization is presented in Puglia (Italy)

The first experience in Puglia for José Antonio Vidal (OMET President), where he had the opportunity to participate in a journey along almost the entire region to discover some excellent food and wine experiences having the opportunity to know its history, culture, tradition and simplicity of the genuine products of this land of the sun, taking an active part in all activities: picked tomatoes, strawberries and zucchini in a farm in Manduria run by a typical apulian family; visited the olive oil mills (frontoi) typical of Gallipoli area; has tasted the wines of the best wineries that produce Primitivo and Negramaro inside some exclusive Masserie, only to name a few. And to get even more into connection with the locals, José Antonio participated in a lab-cooking class to create the famous orecchiette, one of the symbolic products of the region.

During the live event at Oasi Quattro Colonne (Santa Maria al Bagno, Lecce) -the first in attendance after almost two years!-,  José Antonio presented GWTO to Puglia, the Global Wine Tourism Organization, in order to give its support to all companies and local actors who want to enter into a new vision of Wine Tourism: “Smart tourist destinations cannot exist without taking account of the sustainability and inclusiveness, not only as distinctive factors, but also as fundamental principles of the company’s philosophy and daily practice.  Now the capital relational takes on value over any other capital, ways of relating and uniting to be successful:  working together within the industry to strengthen quality and support the sale of local and fresh products and season to reactivate consumption and economy, supporting the entrepreneurial fabric “closer”, said the GWTO president.

In addition to interactive workshops and show cookings that have delighted all guests, high-level speakers have followed each other in the thematic panels.

About GWTO

A Global Wine Tourist Business and Knowledge Network -related to wine in its broader sense-, comprising the whole agritourist value chain (from public, private resources located in wine destinations, and academic sectors),  to contribute to the social-economic development of wine tourism destinations, as part of an inclusive and supportive governance framework based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

More information: [email protected]

1st Tour of the Global Wine Tourism Organization LatAm

The GWTO Regional Director for LatAm, carried out his first enogastronomic tour, visiting the Province of Mendoza (Argentina).

The economist and expert in tourism, Pablo Singerman, stated “The main reason for the trip was to meet personally and officially present the OMET and its President, the Spanish José Antonio Vidal, to the highest representatives of the public, private and academic sectors related to Wine Tourism,”.

The Argentinean was received by Mariana Juri, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Province of Mendoza, and member of the academic team of OMET Academy. “Of course the focus of our dialogue was the growing importance of Wine Tourism for Mendoza, for Argentina and for all of Latin America,” said the Regional Director.

He was also received by Sebastián Bragagnolo, Mayor of Luján de Cuyo; Fernando Barbera, President of the Gastronomic Hotel Association of Mendoza (AEHGA) and his team; Marcelo Montenegro, Vice-president of the Mendoza Tourism Entity; Mariano Alguacil, Director of Tourism Development of the Ministry of Tourism of Mendoza; Javier Espina, Coordinator of the Federal Council of Tourism of Argentina Republic (CFT); Sergio Villanueva, Executive Director of the Wine Fund; Magdalena Pesce, Ceo of Wines of Argentina (WOFA); Analía Parra, Director of Tourism of Tupungato; Ignacio Stabio from the Technical Team of the Tourism Board of San Carlos; Elizabeth Marincak, Director of Tourism of Tunuyán; Walter Bressia, Director of Bodegas Bressia and Director of Wine Tourism of Bodegas de Argentina; Claudia Yanzón, owner of the Wine Bus and member of the Association of Women in Wine of Argentina (AMUVA); Romanella Paggi from Viajes Ketek, and the main representatives of the Argentine Wine Corporation (COVIAR) headed by its President José Zuccardi and Carlos Fiochetta (General Manager). He was also received by Miguel Zuccardi, in charge of the Olive Oil division of the Zuccardi Family, and by Rodrigo Lemos, Coordinator of the Ad Hoc Wine Tourism Association of Coviar and member of the OMET consulting team.

Singerman explained to all of them that one of the purposes of OMET is to strengthen the relationships between the private, public and academic sectors, to talk about the development of Wine Tourism both in Mendoza and throughout Argentina, as well as to express the importance of the creation of the World Economic Monitor of Wine Tourism, also under his Technical Direction, in cooperation with OMET Academy.

The tour included visits and meetings at several wineries such as Andeluna -with the reception of its Wine Tourism Manager Mariana Cerutti-, The Vines, Corazón del Sol, Giménez Riilli, Salentein, Rosell Boher Lodge, Santa Julia and Monteviejo, where he met with the successful chef Nadia Haron and her winemaker, Marcelo Pelleriti. He had the pleasure of tasting excellent wines and first class dishes at the restaurants Casa Vigil Bodega El Enemigo -together with its creator, Alejandro Vigil-, the Al Pasión Lodge and the Atipana mountain restaurant, among others.

“These were five very complete days that are now part of the beginning of the tours to Wine Tourism destinations both in Argentina and all over Latin America, in which a strong alliance was established with the promise of working in favor of the development of Wine Tourism”, Singerman stated. And he assured: “We are already receiving proposals from many destinations in order to visit them and continue this virtuous process of Wine Tourism growth. We are going to work together and collaborate so that the top experiences of Enotourism take place in Latin America and to deepen the training for the development of this segment of Tourism that is growing year after year”.

ABOUT GWTO

International network of knowledge and entrepreneurism that integrates both the public and private sectors, in order to contribute to the socio-economic development of Wine Touristic destinations. All the foregoing encompassed within an inclusive, supportive and sustainable governance framework aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

Laura Gutiérrez & Paula Labonia, GWTO Press Delegates LatAm ([email protected])

Follow us on Twitter: @gwto_omet / @gwto_academy

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