Corporate Vision Issue 6

54 CORPORATE VISION / Issue 6 2018 , Tasting Scotland Gourmet Journeys & Events is an award-winning DestinationManagement Company that focuses on culinary and whisky tours and specialist tastings for the luxury market. We profiled the firmand spoke to Tasting Scotland’s Director, Brenda Anderson as we looked to discover more about the successful company. A Unique Behind the Scenes Taste of Scotland Tasting Scotland Gourmet Journeys & Events is an award- winning Destination Management Company that focuses on culinary and whisky tours and specialist tastings for the luxury market. They offer a range of expert-guided or self-drive leisure and corporate tour itineraries from half-day tasters to two week vacations, as well as corporate tasting events that are centred- around Scotland’s iconic food and drink. Experiences include unique behind-the-scenes visits to artisan producers, cooking with a private chef in a Scottish castle, blending your own Whisky to take home, seafood creel fishing with a lifelong fisherman off a remote Scottish island and making your own Gin. Dining experiences are as eclectic - crab shacks by the sea, farm produce on the estate or Two-Michelin star fine dining. The tour clients are mainly foodies or what the firm in the industry call ‘ deliberate food travellers ’, or for businesses who wish to provide a reward for hard-working employees. The tasting events are best suited to the global corporate market, as these showcase local, regional and country-wide food and drink specialties and come with a plethora of hilarious tales and historical insights. In other words, a fun and tasty alternative to a typical dinner! When discussing the Tasting Scotland’s overall mission, Brenda highlights the ways in which the team strives to achieve excellence. “Here at Tasting Scotland, we have both a vision and a mission. “Our vision: To be the country’s premium market leader in culinary, food & drink tours and tasting experiences, whilst supporting the drive to create a sustainable food tourism strategy in Scotland. “Our mission: To deliver world class, multi-sensory, authentic and memorable tour and tasting experiences that celebrate the rich heritage, legendary culture and current day innovation of Scotland’s iconic food and drink. 1806CV11 “To achieve these, we rarely sit still (and we eat and drink a lot – in research!). We are always striving to offer even better than before. From developing gastro related experiences with current partners, to looking out for new opportunities with new restauranteurs, artisans, 4 or 5 star boutique hotels and the like. At Tasting Scotland, we continue to be the only Destination Management Company in Scotland who solely focus on the delivery of culinary or culinary and cultural based itineraries, which is why there are no other role models to follow. Also, we are the ground breakers setting the path and so it is vital we remain alert to external and internal changes, as well as adjusting our products and services without delay to suit the needs of our clients. Scotland is new to this particular niche.” At Tasting Scotland, they don’t adopt a B2B or B2C approach. It’s always P2P; a person to person approach. First class communication is very much at the core and particularly important in their customised tours and events where it is absolutely essential to fully understand needs and desires. The firms have an excellent understanding of what is available and when from their suppliers and partners. The relationship with the many talented small scale artisan producers: farmers, bakers, fisherman, smokers, whisky makers and of course the chefs is absolutely pivotal to our success. And of course, they trial everything first, only releasing when we have perfected each element. As for what differentiates Tasting Scotland from competitors, Brenda reveals to us that the key to the main difference is what they do is 24-7, as well as noting on some of the services she provides. “When Scotland had its official ‘Year of Food & Drink’ in 2015 (a themed initiative by Visit Scotland), we saw a number of operators creating one or two packages in this niche area as part of their overall product offering but what makes us stand out is that this is what we do 24- 7. There is no dilution of effort.