“Food is at the heart of all great
meetings and conferences,” said Norris Flowers, president of Destination Gettysburg.
When it comes to the Gettysburg,PA region’s nearly 3.7 million annual visitors and thousands of meeting and confer- ence attendees, food is second only to the CivilWar.
Adams County has always had great food - incredible restaurants,a distinct agricul- ture industry,and a growing wine indus- try that help make the destination one to savor,but the tourism community has taken steps recently that are turning heads in the travel industry.
“Food is at the heart of all great meetings and conferences,”said Norris Flowers, president of Destination Gettysburg. “Destinations around the country aren’t just looking at food as simply meals that meeting attendees need,but rather expe- riences that are sometimes at the very core of their conference itself.”
As the foodie culture grew around the country over the past several years, so did the passion toward the Gettysburg area’s fruit industry and other farms as more farmers’markets popped up on roadsides and throughout the communi- ty.
From that point, travelers - whether they were here for the CivilWar history or not - could take a short drive up into the beautiful countryside and visit orchards, buy fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers’markets and taste wine made right from the vines and fruit trees here in Adams County.
Restaurants have since incorporated local ingredients into their menus,and an awareness toward the culinary experi-
ences in the region has grown - vital components to becoming a culinary des- tination.
At about the same time, two additional wineries opened their doors and an experience began to take
shape.This experience was boosted by the forma- tion of the GettysburgWine and Fruit Trail,a collection of orchards,markets and wineries in the scenic countryside.
This spring,with the second season of the Savor Gettysburg Food Tour - a seven- stop tour through downtown Gettysburg has again taken the destination to a new level in culinary
travel.This tour is a 3- plus-hour experience,one that not only showcases six eateries and a wine tast- ing, but brings meeting attendees up- close to history along the
way.New in 2015 is the Savory Sweets Tour and GettysburgWine,Cider and Dine Tour, which bring the best desserts and wines to the table for a 3-hour walk throughout the town.
Additionally, the region’s up-and-coming hard cider industry is attracting attention from around the country as this new trend sweeps the tourism industry.Here in Adams County, several cider-makers have begun production in the past two years and we expect more in the near
future.These varieties can be incorporat- ed into any conference or dine-around event.
Destination Gettysburg has, too, shifted its marketing focus toward experiences such as culinary and other areas like out- door recreation, shopping, family fun and its numerous events and festivals.
The timing in Destination Gettysburg’s marketing strategies,along with the growth in the culinary experience, is making for an exciting time in Adams County as we tout not only a rich history and heritage,but a culture rarely found in communities of this size.
“What’s most exciting about this develop- ment is that it defines our destination in its entirety – not just Gettysburg,not just the battlefield,but Adams County as a full experience,”said Jenny McConnell, Director of Sales with Destination Gettysburg.“This experience is bringing meeting planners from their conference rooms into the farms,wineries and restaurants in several communities that surround Gettysburg,and that’s a victory for us all.”
Meeting planners can incorporate food tours, the wine trail and restaurants for an evening dine-around into their confer- ence
agendas.As well, restaurants and other“foodie”spots – like wineries – in the Gettysburg region often host meet- ings and events to bring conference attendees even that much closer to its culinary experience.
Destination Gettysburg, the official destination marketing
organization,markets Gettysburg – Adams County as a premier travel destination, producing a positive economic impact.
www.destinationgettysburg.com Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 89
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