Conference Sessions

Education is an important part of IWINETC and our outstanding conference programme of talks provides a range of innovative, creative and cutting-edge sessions delivered by leading industry experts.

We have established 5 key content themes (Research, Professional Development, Branding and Marketing, Grape Escape Destinations and Networking) that underpin all of the talks over the 2 day conference. These have been hand picked based on the significance they play in wine and culinary  tourism market. Learn from experts, discover grape escape destinations, keep up-to-date with the latest developments and enhance your business and professional skills.

  • 9:30 am - 10:00 am
  • Budapest Ballroom

Welcome & Opening Announcements

Welcome to Budapest, Hungary for the 10th anniversary of The International Wine Tourism Conference, Exhibition, B2B Workshop & Fam Trips (IWINETC). Some words of welcome from the organisers and key sponsors.
  • 10:00 am - 10:45 am
  • Budapest Ballroom
  • Grape Escape Destinations

Opening Plenary Session: Destination Hungary

Outstanding wines, stunning vineyard views, delicious culinary delights and steaming thermal natural spas are Hungary’s major attractions for food and wine lovers. But there’s more…stunning architecture, vital folk art and Europe’s most exciting capital after dark.… Read More
  • 10:50 am - 11:25 am
  • Erzsébet Room
  • Networking

Coffee Time

Grab a coffee, make friends with someone you don’t know and together make your way to the exhibition area to take part in a competition to name all the wine regions represented.
  • 11:30 am - 12:15 pm
  • Budapest Ballroom
  • Branding & Marketing

How to Thrive in the New Tourism Economy

Wine tourism is moving out of the cellar door and into the world of experiential tourism, where people want to be surprised and delighted by authentic experiences. Felicity Carter, editor-in-chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International,… Read More
  • 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
  • Lánchíd Room
  • Research

Japan’s Wine Tourism: Culinary Politics in Japanese Wine World

This presentation provides a case study of wine tourism in Japan using the methods of cultural sociology. It argues that Japan’s wine tourism represents a form of culinary nationalism. This, however, is not contradictory to… Read More
  • 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
  • Margit Room
  • Grape Escape Destinations

Tokaj – Discover the Destination Behind the World Famous Name

The presentation will be based on a historic overview of how the name Tokaj became world famous and how the past decades have changed the winemakers’ way of thinking to rebrand this name. Tokaj region… Read More
  • 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
  • Budapest Ballroom
  • Branding & Marketing

Integrating Wine into a Wider Cultural Context. The Importance of Wine Festivals

A panel discussion on the wine festivals of Hungary. How do these festivals contribute to the reputation of a region? Chaired by Elizabeth Gabay MW who is based in the tourist region of Provence. Panel members… Read More
  • 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm
  • Corso & Erzsébet Rooms
  • Networking

Time for Lunch

  • 2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
  • Budapest Ballroom
  • Professional Development

Getting Seriously Social

How social network platforms can be used for customer acquisition and retention. Case studies and take away ideas from around the globe. While the case studies are not specifically travel-oriented, these best-of-breed studies and examples… Read More
  • 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
  • Lánchíd Room
  • Research

Getting it Right in Eastern Europe

A recent survey of the Eastern European wine industry shows that some nations post communism have excelled as wine tourism destinations. Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary and Czech Republic have especially flourished. Is it because of their… Read More
  • 3:00 pm - 3:45 am
  • Margit Room
  • Research

Wine Tourism in an Emerging Wine Destination, Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy

We will present the wine tourism offerings and potential in the Côte Chalonnaise, a wine sub-region in Burgundy, France. While the wines of Burgundy are globally renowned, the sub-region of Côte Chalonnaise has lacked a… Read More
  • 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm
  • Budapest Ballroom
  • Grape Escape Destinations

Treasure Hunting in Hungary

Wines of Hungary Grand Tasting. A colourful, entertaining journey to eight Hungarian wine regions through 8 different wines. Here, you will discover some of hidden treasures of Hungary: its unique wines and its compelling tourist… Read More
  • 9:30 am - 10:15 am
  • Budapest Ballroom
  • Branding & Marketing

Travel in a Digital World

Your customer base is evolving.  Digital immigrants – those who were born prior to the Internet era – are giving way to the digital natives of Generations Y and Z.  They now have the earning… Read More
  • 10:30 am - 10:55 am
  • Erzsébet Room
  • Networking

Coffee Time

  • 11:00 am - 11:45 am
  • Lánchíd Room
  • Research

The Wine Lab – Generating Innovation between Practice & Research

The presentation focuses on The Wine Lab International Project, aiming at generating innovation between practice and research on the European level. The three year long project includes a wide variety of activities including research, networking… Read More
  • 11:00 am - 11:45 am
  • Margit Room
  • Research

An Analysis of Wine Tourism Life Cycle Stages in Washington State

The purpose of this research was to investigate efficacy of wine tourism in Washington state using Butler’s Tourism Area Life Cycle Model (TALC). This exploratory study outlines practices and strategies of Washington state wineries and… Read More
  • 11:00 am - 11:45 am
  • Budapest Ballroom
  • Branding & Marketing

Don’t Go West, Go Direct!

Direct to consumer (DTC) is the new catchcry in the wine industry. Fuelled by low margins offered by retailers and distributors, wineries increasingly rely on direct sales to generate full-tote revenue.  This means converting cellar… Read More
  • 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
  • Margit Room
  • Professional Development

What Makes a Wine Tour in a Wine Region Successful?

The presentation What makes a wine tour in a wine region successful? deals with the various components of a tour: the preparation by the Travel Agency which should establish its itinerary in close contact with… Read More
  • 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
  • Lánchíd Room
  • Branding & Marketing

Branding in the 21st Century: A Legal Perspective

Branding is a marketing practice that creates a name, symbol or design that both identifies and differentiates your product. An effective brand strategy requires a business to distinguish itself from its competitors, but also protects… Read More
  • 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
  • Budapest Ballroom
  • Branding & Marketing

Everyone

Who does build the brand? Everyone. Today the use of the brand does no longer mean just the material possession of the brand. The brand is being formed by everyone, what more, everyone can have his… Read More
  • 1:00 pm - 2:25 pm
  • Corso & Erzsébet Rooms
  • Networking

Time for Lunch

  • 2:30 pm - 3:15 pm
  • Budapest Ballroom
  • Branding & Marketing

Integrate or Die

Your optimal digital communication mix for a campaign to improve customer acquisition and retention. At every stage of the pre- and post- purchase journey, people touch multiple digital touchpoints even when not consciously looking for… Read More
  • 2:30 pm - 3:15 pm
  • Margit Room
  • Professional Development

The 7-Step-Formula for an Unforgettably Unique Gourmet Wine Tour

Tour Operators usually offer Gourmet Wine Travel Tours without success because they don’t attract REAL Wine Lovers to apply for it. So, what are the most important advertising points to use to make higher profile… Read More
  • 2:30 pm - 3:15 pm
  • Lánchíd Room
  • Branding & Marketing

Take your Kids to Wine Country

Families that play together, stay together, and many modern parents are reluctant to change their imbibing and travel habits once the nippers arrive.  Savvy wineries and wine regions have realised that the family market is… Read More
  • 3:30 pm - 4:15 pm
  • Budapest Ballroom
  • Branding & Marketing

Country Branding – The Wine as the Messenger

When discussing the world’s top wine tourism destinations and finest wines, it is the celebrated regions of France, Italy and Spain in Europe or Napa in California that have historically been most respected. What are… Read More
  • 3:30 pm - 4:15 pm
  • Lánchíd Room
  • Grape Escape Destinations

Hungary Prime for Wine Tourism

Hungary’s wine regions are a delight to travel around with their über cool combination of centuries-old cellar rows interspersed with state-of-the-art wineries, set in charming, rolling and utterly welcoming countryside. Despite Hungary being quite a… Read More
  • 3:30 pm - 4:15 pm
  • Margit Room
  • Professional Development / Branding & Marketing

Responsible Wine Tourism for a Sustainable Wine Culture

A growing trend, wine tourism is not only a source of revenue for wine regions, for the wine business value chain and for the society, but it is also revealing and safeguarding the great cultural… Read More
  • 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
  • Budapest Ballroom
  • Grape Escape Destinations

Closing Plenary Session: Basque Country: Premium Wines & Stunning Architecture

Many of the Premium Wines of Europe are produced in the Basque Country (El País Vasco in Spanish), a region of northern Spain well know for its ancient culture and beautiful landscapes.  Few wine regions… Read More