Barbados Food and Rum Festival Welcomes International Media With A Celebration of Culinary Excellence
The Barbados Food and Rum Festival welcomed media representatives from the US, UK, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America and Barbados at a special reception on Wednesday, October 18th. This event marked the official commencement of the festival and celebrated the international media’s vital role in sharing Barbados’ rich culinary story with the world.
Best Caribbean Culinary Festival
Highlighting the festival’s significance, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, the Hon Ian Gooding-Edghill announced that the Barbados Food and Rum Festival recently earned the prestigious title of “Best Caribbean Culinary Festival” at the World Culinary Awards. This recognition is a testament to the festival’s dedication to excellence and its contribution to Barbados’ reputation as a culinary destination.
“As a part of our marketing and public relations strategy, we are positioning Barbados as a culinary destination and showing the world why we are the true Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. The Barbados Food and Rum Festival is becoming an event that destination Barbados is known for and one that will set this island apart. What I love about this festival is how it showcases Barbados’ diverse culinary scene, creates a supportive platform for Barbadian talent and continuously evolves. This strong community that the Festival has garnered over the years will ensure that it continues to be the world-class culinary event that it is,” the Minister stated.
Reaching a Global Audience
This year the Festival saw an increase in international attendees. This is a result of the strategic marketing of the festival by Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. in the island’s source markets. Furthermore, the tourism entity also partnered with global media brands like Conde Nast’ to increase their global reach and promote the festival to a wider audience.
Aprille Thomas, Director of PR and Communications at the BTMI and the Festival’s Director, also provided insights into the festival’s global reach and ticket sales. As of October 5th, 2023, for “Rise and Rum: The Beach Breakfast Party” a remarkable 33% were purchased by international patrons. The breakdown of international ticket sales showed significant interest from the United States, Canada, Caribbean jurisdictions (notably Trinidad and Tobago), the United Kingdom, and four European countries. “Liquid Gold Feast” saw 27% of tickets sold to international patrons, with Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, and the United Kingdom leading the list of international bookings. For Rum Route, 93% of tickets were sold to international patrons, 80% made up Junior Chef’s ticket sales and 56% made up Chef Classics’.
The Ultimate Foodie Dream Weekend
The 2023 Barbados Food and Rum Festival promises to be the most inclusive and captivating edition yet. From October 19th to October 22nd, this ultimate foodie dream weekend will offer something for every type of food lover to enjoy. The festival’s diverse events include Oistins Under the Stars, Chef-Classics, Rum Route, Rise & Rum: The Breakfast Beach Party, the newly added Bajan Fair, the Junior Chef Cook-Off Competition, and the grand finale, Liquid Gold Feast event featuring the sensational Afrobeat’s artist Ayra Starr.
It’s not surprising that some of these events have already sold out, including the highly anticipated Rise &Rum: The Breakfast Beach Party, Rum Route and Liquid Gold Feast. This year’s festival is set to leave a lasting impression on attendees with a dynamic blend of culinary excellence, cultural experiences, and entertainment.
For more information about the 2023 Barbados Food and Rum Festival, please visit www.foodandrum.com
