Over the last 5 years, we are observing multiple examples of food producers adding visitor experiences to their offer, and in turn reaping significant rewards.  In this practical session for food producers and other food businesses interested in creating a visitor experience at their own premises, we will explore how tours, tastings and meet-the-maker experiences can create new income streams. This session will show how visitor experiences can deliver strong margins while deepening customer loyalty. We will also look at how opening your doors can strengthen your brand story, provenance and local reputation. This event is ideal for producers and other food businesses considering site visits, factory tours, tastings, workshops or food tourism experiences.

• Fáilte Ireland: Tanya Da Silva:  Tanya will explain what a saleable visitor experience looks like for a producer and outline the supports available through Fáilte Ireland. Tanya is a Projects Officer with the Dublin Regional Team at Fáilte Ireland since 2022. She was previously Market Manager in Ireland for Expedia and holds a BA in Tourism Marketing from Dublin Institute of Technology. Failte Ireland - Irish Tourism Trade Support | National Tourism Development Authority
• Burren Farm: Bronagh O’Rourke: Bronagh from Burren Farm Experience will share a real-life case study of how the visitor experience has enhanced their offer https://www.burrenbeefandfarm.ie/
• Patricia Farrell, founder of Wilde Irish Chocolates, established Wilde Irish Chocolates in the 1990s with a vision that embraced food tourism long before it became a recognised industry trend. Patricia will discuss the challenges and successes of building a a thriving chocolate factory, visitor experience, and recently opened Hot Chocolate Café & Coffee Dock in Tuamgraney. https://wildeirishchocolates.com/

Agenda:

• 10.00 Opening & welcome
• 10.10 Fáilte Ireland: Tanya Da Silva: Saleable visitor experience dynamics
• 10.30 Burren Farm:  Bronagh O’Rourke: Building the visit experience
• 10.50 Wilde: Patricia Farrell – Creating the visitor experience vision
• 11.10 Q&A
• 11.30 Close