Portland, Ore. (November 27, 2012) — The World Food Travel Association (WFTA) today announced that its inaugural FoodWorx conference will be held in Portland’s Gerding Theater at the Armory on Tuesday, January 15, 2013. Trend-setting and trend-spotting experts from the worlds of food, beverage, travel and hospitality will discuss “The Future of Food,” from production and manufacturing, to distribution and consumption. With a topic as important – and often controversial – as this, and a modern format set up to make the seminars interesting and useful, both veteran professionals and aspiring consumers will be inspired.
“FoodWorx is a new kind of conference for a new day,” said WFTA Executive Director Erik Wolf. “We’re looking to the future in all that we do.” Format highlights include:
· Twelve short, 20-minute TED-style inspirational talks
· Twitter-style Q&A for maximum time efficiency
· Pre-conference delegate and speaker networking in private LinkedIn group
· Opportunities to interact with speakers at private pre-conference dinners
· Special name badge recognition for job seekers
· End of day ”Cascadian Cuisine” call to action (reception featuring only regional food/drink and workgroup signup) to energize and maintain conference buzz long after the event
Many world-class thought leaders will speak at FoodWorx, including Allison Frost, the Conference Emcee, and the Senior Producer at Oregon Public Broadcasting; Karen Brooks, Food Editor, Portland Monthly Magazine; Steve Jones, Owner, Cheese Bar; and Brian David Johnson, Futurist, Intel Corporation.
Conference speaker Heather Schmidt, Sustainability Manager at New Seasons Market, said, “FoodWorx is a not-to-be-missed event. Oregon’s leadership in the food and drink industries will serve as excellent inspirational examples for professionals and consumers no matter where they live.” Conference emcee Frost agrees: “The growth of our food scene, and our craft brewers, distillers and vintners, make Oregon a great example for other aspiring food communities around the world.”
For more information, visit the FoodWorx conference website: http://www.foodworxconference.
Media kit, including high-resolution logos, speaker biographies, etc available on the WFTA media page here: http://www.foodworxconference.
About the World Travel Food Association
The World Food Travel Association (WFTA) is the world’s leading authority and largest organization for the food tourism industry, with 18,000 members in 135 countries. The WFTA’s programs in education and development help to preserve and promote the world’s food cultures through travel. FoodWorx is produced by the International Culinary Tourism Institute, a 501-c-3 sister division of the World Food Travel Association. For interviews with Erik Wolf, call Kuvy Ax, PR, at 720.329.7327.