Canada’s Culinary and Agritourism Leaders Head to Kelowna for the 2027 Taste of Place Summit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Canada’s leading culinary and agritourism summit brings national industry leaders to the Thompson Okanagan May 17 & 18, 2027
(Toronto, ON) – August 24, 2026 – The Taste of Place Summit is heading to Kelowna, British Columbia, on May 17 and 18, 2027, bringing together destination and economic developers, tourism leaders, marketers, producers and changemakers from across Canada and beyond to explore the future of culinary and agritourism.
Hosted by the Culinary Tourism Alliance in partnership with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, the two-day summit will showcase the region’s rich culinary and agritourism landscape while creating opportunities for delegates to exchange ideas, build connections and discover practical strategies for developing authentic tastes of place.
Set in Kelowna, Canada’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, the 2027 Taste of Place Summit will demonstrate how food, agriculture, tourism and community can work together to create memorable visitor experiences and stronger local economies.
“Kelowna and the Thompson Okanagan offer an incredible setting to explore what a taste of place can truly mean,” said Rebecca Mackenzie, President + CEO, Culinary Tourism Alliance. “This region is home to passionate growers, producers, chefs and tourism operators who understand the power of connecting people to place through food and drink. We’re excited to bring leaders together to experience that firsthand, exchange ideas and explore how culinary and agritourism can create lasting benefits for communities across Canada.”
“The Thompson Okanagan region, particularly the iconic Okanagan Valley, has been the homeland of the Syilx Okanagan Nation since time immemorial. Their traditional food systems are guided by the foundational teachings of the Four Food Chiefs: Skimxist (Black Bear/animals), Siya (Bitterroot/below-ground plants), Ntyxtix (King Salmon/water life), and Spiya9m (Serviceberry/above-ground plants)”, noted Ellen Walker -Matthews, President and CEO of the TOTA. “Together, these chiefs embody a complete, balanced ecosystem that offers timeless lessons in sustainability, biodiversity, and community interconnectedness.”
Two Days of Learning, Connection + Inspiration
The Taste of Place Summit is designed to move learning beyond the conference room.
On May 17, delegates will embark on one of four carefully curated Learning Journeys throughout the host region. These immersive experiences will introduce participants to the growers, producers, chefs and tourism operators behind some of the Thompson Okanagan’s standout culinary experiences, offering an opportunity to see best practices in action and take home practical ideas for their own communities and organizations.
Full Learning Journey itineraries will be announced in the coming months.
On May 18, delegates will come together for a full day of speakers, panel discussions and networking with destination developers, thought leaders, marketers and stakeholders from across the culinary tourism value chain. The Main Stage program will be presented in both official languages, with translation devices available.
Programming will connect to the pillars of Canada’s National Culinary & Agritourism Action Plan, supporting collaboration and action to strengthen culinary and agritourism across the country.
Call for Presenters Now Open
The Culinary Tourism Alliance is also inviting industry leaders, practitioners and changemakers to help shape the 2027 Summit program.
The Call for Presenters is now open, with proposals sought for practical and inspiring sessions that demonstrate a clear connection to culinary and agritourism and align with the pillars of the National Culinary & Agritourism Action Plan.
Speaker proposals will be accepted until September 25, 2026.
Tickets + Registration
Registration for the 2027 Taste of Place Summit is now open at TasteOfPlace.ca.
Early Bird pricing is available until December 31, 2026, at $1,000 for general registration and $800 for CTA members. Beginning January 1, rates increase to $1,100 and $900, respectively.
About the Culinary Tourism Alliance
The Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA) is a non-profit committed to connecting tastemakers across Canada and around the world with a goal of sparking delicious developments in culinary and agritourism. With established expertise in culinary and agritourism development, the CTA seeks to ensure that authentic tastes of place become a significant economic driver for communities and regions, and a primary way for travellers to enrich their experience.
To learn more, follow @CulinaryTourismAlliance on LinkedIn and Instagram or visit CulinaryTourismAlliance.com.
About Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is a not-for-profit society that represents a geographic area nestled in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. The region’s name is derived from two major geographic features: the Thompson River and Okanagan Lake. TOTA plays a support, leadership, and growth role in the tourism industry as a regional destination management organization.
It aims to stimulate ongoing sustainable growth by embracing the value of tourism through community engagement, innovative leadership in promoting authentic experiences, and inspiring creative collaboration. Key initiatives include; Biosphere Certified Gold Destination, 7 Generations Pledge, and Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism.
For more information about TOTA visit TOTABC.org, or visit the consumer-facing website ThompsonOkanagan.com.
Connect socially at @Thompson_Okanagan.
Media Contact:
Rebecca Mackenzie
President + CEO, Culinary Tourism Alliance
(613) 471-0102
