20 SPECIAL FEATURE
20 SPECIAL FEATURE ADVERTORIAL GASTRONOMY & WINE TOURISM Long Island vineyard Fresh Adventures on New York’s Long Island When President Obama recently met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, fine Long Island wine was served. Wait… Long Island? The same island where you land at JFK Airport to get into New York City? Yes, Long Island actually stretches 118 miles (190km) and hence its name. Long Island is home to more 60 vineyards. On one end are boroughs ITB BERLIN NEWS • Saturday 12 th March 2016 considered part of New York City greater area. On the other end, the eastern end, is the upscale Hamptons-- a group of villages and hamlets known as a seaside resort which features some of the most expensive and luxurious residences in the U.S. (You can see this lifestyle on the TV series “Revenge.”) In the middle, Long Island boasts a bucolic nature– as well as being surrounded on all sides by water. This The Cali-Baja Cuisine of America’s Craft Beer Capital While San Diego is best known for its nearly perfect climate and 112 kilometers of beautiful beaches, San Diego has developed a culinary identity all its own. With some America’s most sought-after produce, easy access to fresh fish and crustaceans from the Pacific Ocean, and gastronomic influence from neighboring Mexico, “Cali-Baja,” the region’s unique cuisine defines San Diego as an innovative culinary destination. Named in conjunction with nearby Baja California the nearby state in Mexico, Cali-Baja can be described as Mexico meets California on a plate. The cornerstone of San Diego’s Cali-Baja cuisine is the fish taco, a delicious yet simple dish born in Baja-- then popularized by local surfers and adopted by the culinary community. San Diego chefs have transformed this delightful street food into food art, and fish tacos can be found in every corner of San Diego. In San Diego, you can find a variety of gourmet tacos like the “Tacolandia” taco which boasts bold flavors from marinated, braised and seared pork shoulder, jalapeno slaw and chicharron (pork rind). More than just tacos, Cali- Baja cuisine comes in many shapes and flavors-- San Diego chefs play with the best local produce and ingredients to create seasonal menus that reflect the region’s relaxed vibe, but sophisticated taste. Fortunately, beer is the perfect complement for the Cali-Baja cuisine because San Diego is also home to award-winning local craft beers. With nearly 115 local craft breweries and counting, San Diego is a beer lover’s destination and often referred to as the “Craft Beer Capital of the U.S.” Hall 2.1 / Stand 480 combination of farmland and ocean gives Long Island its growing reputation as a farm (and sea)-to-table scene. Acknowledged by New Yorkers, the island is gaining in international reputation—enhanced by its proximity to the Big Apple. On Long Island, the word “fresh” takes on a different meaning than in the city. Here the catch of the day was likely hauled in that morning from the waters off the island shore, comes paired with vegetables from a nearby farm and a Reisling from a vineyard just down the road. Long Island has a vibrant fishing community, featuring local delicacies like Blue Point Oysters and Peconic Bay Scallops. A visit to Long Island’s farms shows, in addition to fresh produce, homemade jams, honey and pies at local farm stands and markets. Local goat farms offer local cheeses as well as goat-milk products. And lavenders farms are famous for their fragrant fields. Many farms also offer pick-your-own peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries and other local fruits. And Long Island has a variety of organic farms and produce stands, with some of the best apple orchards in New York State. NYC may own the name “Big Apple” but if you want to pick a fresh one, you cross the bridge into Long Island. Hall 2.1 / Stand 480 www.itb-berlin-news.com
EVENTS TOURISM SPECIAL FEATURE 21 France Is Ready For Le Rendez-Vous Sports Event Tourism is key to the success of events like EURO 2016 © UEFA A crowd favourite – especially in the Americas – Bruno Senna Fast Track to Mexico Major investment in Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit set to boost sports tourism This weekend sees the inaugural Mexico City ePrix set to energize the nation, following on from the triumphant return of the popular Formula One Mexican Grand Prix last November. The Mexico City ePrix will run round the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, making it the first ePrix to race at an historic purpose-built circuit. Indeed, after a long hiatus, Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez has been totally rebuilt – thanks to an injection of both private and public funding. Cities around the world vie for major racing events, which not only bring crowds to the venue to watch the event, but also raise awareness through global TV coverage, which often includes “postcard” features about the host location. The Mexico Grand Prix was a regular fixture on the Formula One CITIES AROUND THE WORLD VIE FOR MAJOR RACING EVENTS, WHICH NOT ONLY BRING CROWDS TO THE VENUE TO WATCH THE EVENT, BUT ALSO RAISE AWARENESS THROUGH GLOBAL TV COVERAGE calendar from the sixties through the nineties, after which the “leading” race formula took a break from Mexico. The Grand Prix circuit underwent a significant renovation under the direction of the famed German track designer Hermann Tilke in 2015. The facility has been comprehensively upgraded, with the entire track being resurfaced and changes made to a number of corners including Peraltada. This year, the FIA World Endurance Championship – which includes the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans – will travel to Mexico for the very first time. The 6 Hours of Mexico City will be Round 5 of the championship, with track action beginning on Thursday 1 st September, and the race on Saturday 3 rd September. This weekend’s Formula E race sees the electric cars tackle a slightly different layout from the F1 and endurance cars, but will still go through the impressive Foro Sol baseball stadium section -- home to Mexico City’s Diablos Rojos del Mexico (Red Devils). Recognised as a fastgrowing sector in the global travel industry, Sport Event Tourism is a built-in strategic element in the curating and planning of major tournaments and events. The two biggest properties in this category are The Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, both of which bring huge infrastructural benefits to their host countries as a legacy for domestic and international travellers as well as a short-term boost to the economy through tourism. The London 2012 Olympics, for example, brought an estimated 590,000 completed visits to the UK by overseas residents in July and August, with the average amount of money spent by Olympics visitors being £1,290 per person. The UK earned nearly £2.4billion from all visits in August 2012. In 2010, France was confirmed as host nation for the EURO 2016 - the newly-expanded UEFA European Championship which takes place every four years - and in 2015 UEFA signed UEFA, EURO 2016 a partnership with the French tourism agency Atout France with a view to integrating tourism into the planning of the event. The football tournament takes place 10 June to 10 July 2016, with matches being held at stadiums in ten host cities, and every part of the country is set to benefit from an influx of up to 1.5million foreign visitors from 180 countries. The projected revenue according to the agency is €1billion. The campaign to market France as a Sports Event Destination highlights the festive atmosphere created throughout the tournament for visitors, including street parties, live concerts, and the now commonplace Fan Zones introduced so successfully by Germany at the FIFA World Cup ten years ago. Under the slogan “Le Rendez- Vous” it is an ideal opportunity for France to showcase its culture, history, landscapes, architecture and food as well as its refurbished stadiums and potentially its homeground football success. ITB BERLIN NEWS • Saturday 12 th March 2016
