Marketing Birmingham gives city a Taste of Birmingham
Following Birmingham’s success in the Michelin guide, Marketing Birmingham will be showcasing the city’s outstanding culinary achievements at Taste of Birmingham this summer. In a UK first, Marketing Birmingham is taking ownership of the city’s annual Taste event - the first time a UK ‘Taste’ city has taken on the franchise.
The three year contract allows Marketing Birmingham to manage the four day food and drink event, working closely with its key partners in the city and wider region. Through sponsorship and commercial partnerships, it is anticipated the event will be entirely self-funded.
Taste of Birmingham 2009 will take place in Cannon Hill Park from 9 – 12 July this year.
Neil Rami, Chief Executive at Marketing Birmingham, said:
“While these are uncertain economic times, we feel it is important to build on what the city’s good at. Increasingly, food and events help shape a city’s image. Taking a more strategic role in the Taste of Birmingham event will allow us to make it more relevant to the city and we hope attract interest and visitors from further afield.
“Taste of Birmingham is part of a successful national brand and is one of a series of five events taking place throughout the UK. We will be working closely with restaurants and chefs in the city and throughout the Midlands to ensure the event showcases the region’s growing culinary offer.”
Andreas Antona, chef patron at Michelin starred Simpsons restaurant, said:
“We’re looking forward to the return of Taste of Birmingham. This time, the event will be taken to the next level, showcasing the whole spirit of the region’s culinary talent.
“Marketing Birmingham is working closely with us and other food and drink partners to ensure award-winning restaurants to businesses at grass-roots level are represented.”
Justin Clarke from Brand Events, who manages the Taste festivals said:
“This is the fourth year that Taste of Birmingham will be held in the city and the event plays a key part in the city’s attraction for visitors. Marketing Birmingham’s management of Taste will focus on boosting the volume of new visitors and create a national profile for the event and city as a whole.”
Roger Allonby, head of tourism and culture at Advantage West Midlands, which is sponsoring the event, said:
“Taste of Birmingham will give visitors a flavour of the diverse range of food and drink the Heart of England has to offer. Birmingham is a great base to explore the rest of the region and its exciting culinary scene.”
Marketing Birmingham successfully worked with Brand events to bring the Taste concept to Birmingham in 2006. This was the first Taste festival to be held outside London.
Marketing Birmingham will announce further details about Taste of Birmingham 2009 in due course.
Visit http://www.visitbirmingham.com/taste/ for further information and updates.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Taste of Birmingham is part of the Taste festivals portfolio including London, Leeds, Bath and Edinburgh. There are now Taste festivals in 18 cities around the world.
Wragge & Co LLP Commercial team has advised Marketing Birmingham on a licensing agreement to host Taste of Birmingham 2009.
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