The State’s premier food and wine event will be back in the South-West for 2018, as the State Government looks to expand Western Australia’s culinary event tourism in the future.
The sponsorship contract with event owner IMG Culinary has been renewed for 12 months, with the seventh Margaret River Gourmet Escape to go ahead in November next year.
However, with the current agreement coming to an end, the Government will review the State’s investment in food and wine event tourism, with a view to expanding the festival to feature not only Margaret River but also the Swan Valley.
The review will involve stakeholder consultation followed by a Request for Proposal process.
The consultation, involving the food and wine industry; tourism operators; local producers and the community, will help determine the final specifications for the new event.
A list of companies with a track record in culinary events will then be invited to submit proposals to run an annual international food and wine festival across the State’s two premier wine destinations in 2019 and beyond.
The successful proponent is expected to be announced in the first half of next year.