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16th of April - V European Congress on Gastronomy Memory and Future || 17th of April - New Trends in Tourism. Naturally
World stars of gastronomy, chefs recognized by the Michelin Guide, discussions on the future of tourism, experts in AI and marketing, workshops, and the opportunity to discover the Flavours of Gdańsk – all of this during the 16th edition of the New Trends in Tourism conference and the 5th European Gastronomy Congress “Memory and Future.” We will meet on 16–17 April 2026 at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk.
16 April 2026 - 5th European Gastronomy Congress "Memory and Future"
This is where chefs, producers, experts, and enthusiasts will meet to discuss the future of gastronomy and celebrate the culmination of the title of the European Capital of Gastronomic Culture. On stage will appear, among others, Eduard Xatruch, co-founder of the legendary Disfrutar* restaurant in Barcelona, Michel Moran, and Przemysław Sieradzki, the youngest Michelin-star recipient in Poland.
The congress programme is divided into three thematic panels:
Chefs’ Panel
- The New Geography of Taste – modernity and creativity versus heritage.
- Knowledge as a solution for the gastronomy of the future
- We are one team
Wine and Spirits Panel – A look at wine and spirits from the perspective of tomorrow.
Gastronomic Tourism Panel – Gastronomic tourism as a driver of local development.
More information: HERE
Join us for networking after day one of the conference! More details coming soon.
17th of April 2026 – New Trends in Tourism Conference
“Naturally” is the theme of this year’s conference, where we will demonstrate how simplicity and balance are becoming not only a trend but a real need of the modern tourist.
Main conference segments:
Destination Marketing
Authenticity, storytelling, and place branding in times of rapid change – featuring presentations by Marta Siembab and Jakub Biel, who will show how to talk about a destination in a way that makes it naturally attractive.
Statistics and Analysis in Tourism
The latest data, trends, and research that help make fact-based decisions. In this segment, Małgorzata Kacprzyk and Wojciech Witkowski, experts in tourism analytics, will share their insights.
New Technologies
From digitalisation and AI to innovative applications – how technology makes life easier for tourists and the industry. Featuring Dawid Adach and Aleksandra Sidorowska, who will present solutions that truly work in practice.
*If you have accessibility needs during the conference, including assistance for people with disabilities, please indicate them in the registration form.
*Lectures conducted in Polish will be translated into English.
About the place
European Solidarity Centre
The European Solidarity Centre is a state-of-the-art cultural institution and an open urban space where people, values and ideas come together. Opened in August 2014, the ECS is still a relatively new building on the map of Gdańsk… more
Experts
Maciej Kautz
Event Strategist and Emcee
Rafael Ansón
Honorary President of the International Academy of Gast ...
Maciej Dobrzyniecki
President of the Polish Academy of Gastronomy
Eduard Xatruch
Co-founder of the restaurant Disfrutar***
Przemysław Klima
Co-owner of restaurant Bottiglieria 1881**
Thijs Vervloet
chef and owner of the Maison Colette**
Laia Freixinet
Managing Director of the Hofmann culinary school
Michel Moran
Chef and restaurateur
Krzysztof Szulborski
President of the Polish Chefs Association
Idoia Calleja
Director of Master’s Degrees and Courses at the BCC
Patrycja Siwiec
Expert in professional guest service (hospitality)
Przemysław Sieradzki
Head chef of the Giewont restaurant
Hubert Cygan
Co-owner of the restaurant Giewont
Diego Grimberg
Head chef of the restaurant Hofmann*
Radosław Fronc
CEO of Main Square Hospitality Group
Adam Pawłowski
First polish Master Sommelier
Charles Bonnay
Export Director of the Champagne house Frerejean Frères
Julio Pinto
General Director of Bodega Matarromera
Michał Pajdosz
Winemaker, the driving force behind the success of Winn ...
Tomasz Kempka
Expert at the Polish Tourism Organisation on gastronom ...
Francisco De la Torre Prados
Mayor of Málaga
Marc Michen
Senior Manager at EY (Ernst & Young)
Monika Krzepkowska
Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Madrid
Camille Louyot
International Development Manager at the MICHELIN Guide
Carlos Miguel Fontão de Carvalho
Secretary General of European Community of New Gastron ...
Slavija Jačan Obratov
Croatian National Tourist Board
Jakub Biel
Creative Marketing Expert
Marta Siembab
Senselier – sensory expert
Ieva Davydenko
Senior Project Manager at Go Vilnius
Wojciech Witkowski
Head of Sales Data Insights at Visa (CEE)
Małgorzata Kacprzyk
Senior Public Policy Manager at Airbnb
Tomasz Palak
Legal Counsel
Aleksandra Sidorowska
founder of the agency Precious Content
Dawid Adach
Co-founder of MDBootstrap.com and CogniVis.ai
Program
The conference agenda is available below. It may still be subject to change.
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08:00
09:00
Registration
The mobile application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the App Store.
09:30
10:30
New Geography of Taste - Modernity and Creativity vs. Heritage
Maciej Dobrzyniecki
Eduard Xatruch
Przemysław Klima
Thijs Vervloet
The panel will feature leading figures of the European gastronomic scene: the co-founder of the legendary Disfrutar*** restaurant in Barcelona, the President of the Gastronomic Academy in Poland, the co-owner and creator of the success of Kraków’s Bottiglieria 1881 restaurant**, and an outstanding Belgian chef and owner of the Maison Colette restaurant**.
The discussion will address the art of balance and current culinary trends. The panel will outline the future directions of European cuisine, combining innovation with respect for heritage.
10:30
11:15
Knowledge as a Solution for the Gastronomy of the Future
Maciej Dobrzyniecki
Laia Freixinet
Michel Moran
Krzysztof Szulborski
Idoia Calleja
Experts from leading European culinary education centres: the Managing Director of the prestigious Hofmann Culinary School and Restaurant Group in Barcelona, the Director of Master’s Programmes and Courses at the Basque Culinary Center, as well as renowned chefs: the President of the Polish Chefs Association and one of the most recognisable culinary authorities in Poland, Michel Moran.
Experts will highlight the importance of education in achieving success and driving positive change in the industry. The panel will emphasize the essential role of education in a chef’s personal and professional development.
11:45
12:30
PANEL I – MODULE C: ONE TEAM
Patrycja Siwiec
Przemysław Sieradzki
Hubert Cygan
Diego Grimberg
Radosław Fronc
Experts from leading European educational institutions and renowned chefs will highlight the importance of education in achieving success and driving positive change in the industry. The panel will emphasize the essential role of education in a chef’s personal and professional development.
On stage will appear: the youngest Michelin-star chef in Poland, the co-owner of the Michelin-starred Giewont restaurant, the head chef of the Michelin-starred Hofmann restaurant in Barcelona*, a leading expert in psychology in gastronomy and professional hospitality service, and one of the most influential entrepreneurs in the Polish gastronomy industry, the founder and CEO of the MSHG Group.
13:15
14:15
Lunch Break
Partner restaurants will prepare dishes based on traditional recipes that will take you on a culinary journey through the history of Gdańsk.
It’s a perfect opportunity to discover local flavours in a modern interpretation and experience the unique atmosphere of the city also on your plate!
14:30
15:30
PANEL III TOURISM
Tomasz Kempka
Francisco De la Torre Prados
Marc Michen
Camille Louyot
Monika Krzepkowska
Carlos Miguel Fontão de Carvalho
Slavija Jačan Obratov
This panel will focus on the exchange of experiences among representatives of leading tourist destinations, who will share insights on using gastronomy to enhance regional attractiveness. Together with European experts, we will discuss the promotion of gastronomic tourism as a tool for supporting the cultural heritage of destinations.
We will examine the impact of gastronomic tourism on increasing the recognition of regional products and their market positioning. The panel will underline the role of gastronomy in local development and the promotion of regions.
08:00
09:00
Registration
Have you registered for the conference? Download our event app now! This way you can avoid formalities on site and enter the event smoothly, while also gaining quick access to the agenda, speakers, and the most important information about the conference.
The mobile application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the App Store.
09:30
10:30
New Geography of Taste - Modernity and Creativity vs. Heritage
Maciej Dobrzyniecki
Eduard Xatruch
Przemysław Klima
Thijs Vervloet
The panel will feature leading figures of the European gastronomic scene: the co-founder of the legendary Disfrutar*** restaurant in Barcelona, the President of the Gastronomic Academy in Poland, the co-owner and creator of the success of Kraków’s Bottiglieria 1881 restaurant**, and an outstanding Belgian chef and owner of the Maison Colette restaurant**.
The discussion will address the art of balance and current culinary trends. The panel will outline the future directions of European cuisine, combining innovation with respect for heritage.
10:30
11:15
Knowledge as a Solution for the Gastronomy of the Future
Maciej Dobrzyniecki
Laia Freixinet
Michel Moran
Krzysztof Szulborski
Idoia Calleja
Experts from leading European culinary education centres: the Managing Director of the prestigious Hofmann Culinary School and Restaurant Group in Barcelona, the Director of Master’s Programmes and Courses at the Basque Culinary Center, as well as renowned chefs: the President of the Polish Chefs Association and one of the most recognisable culinary authorities in Poland, Michel Moran.
Experts will highlight the importance of education in achieving success and driving positive change in the industry. The panel will emphasize the essential role of education in a chef’s personal and professional development.
11:45
12:30
PANEL I – MODULE C: ONE TEAM
Patrycja Siwiec
Przemysław Sieradzki
Hubert Cygan
Diego Grimberg
Radosław Fronc
Experts from leading European educational institutions and renowned chefs will highlight the importance of education in achieving success and driving positive change in the industry. The panel will emphasize the essential role of education in a chef’s personal and professional development.
On stage will appear: the youngest Michelin-star chef in Poland, the co-owner of the Michelin-starred Giewont restaurant, the head chef of the Michelin-starred Hofmann restaurant in Barcelona*, a leading expert in psychology in gastronomy and professional hospitality service, and one of the most influential entrepreneurs in the Polish gastronomy industry, the founder and CEO of the MSHG Group.
13:15
14:15
Lunch Break
Partner restaurants will prepare dishes based on traditional recipes that will take you on a culinary journey through the history of Gdańsk.
It’s a perfect opportunity to discover local flavours in a modern interpretation and experience the unique atmosphere of the city also on your plate!
14:30
15:30
PANEL III TOURISM
Tomasz Kempka
Francisco De la Torre Prados
Marc Michen
Camille Louyot
Monika Krzepkowska
Carlos Miguel Fontão de Carvalho
Slavija Jačan Obratov
This panel will focus on the exchange of experiences among representatives of leading tourist destinations, who will share insights on using gastronomy to enhance regional attractiveness. Together with European experts, we will discuss the promotion of gastronomic tourism as a tool for supporting the cultural heritage of destinations.
We will examine the impact of gastronomic tourism on increasing the recognition of regional products and their market positioning. The panel will underline the role of gastronomy in local development and the promotion of regions.
08:00
09:00
Registration
Have you registered for the conference? Download our event app now! This way you can avoid formalities on site and enter the event smoothly, while also gaining quick access to the agenda, speakers, and the most important information about the conference.
The mobile application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the App Store.
10:05
10:30
Scent – the silent architect of experiences
Marta Siembab
The lecture focuses on designing emotions and customer experience through the skillful engagement of the sense of smell. At its core, scent is presented as a carrier of brand values, an element of a place’s identity, and a way to build lasting bonds with the audience...
Moving away from the popular idea of merely decorating spaces with fragrance, we shift toward using olfactory impressions as a strategic tool and a way to build competitive advantage in a world overloaded with stimuli. Scent is a business tool. Today, spaces can smell not only pleasant, but also smart and effective.
10:35
11:00
Vilnius Served Cold
Ieva Davydenko
This presentation explores how Vilnius Pink Soup Fest turned one of Lithuania’s most iconic dishes into a bold international marketing story. Created by Go Vilnius to boost the city’s visibility abroad, the festival grew from 15,000 to 93,000 visitors in just three years.
It will show how local culture became a city-wide experience that engaged communities, attracted international media attention, and helped strengthen Vilnius’ international profile through creative storytelling, visitor experience design, and measurable impact.
13:40
14:40
Lunch Break
Partner restaurants will prepare dishes based on traditional recipes that will take you on a culinary journey through the history of Gdańsk.
It’s a perfect opportunity to discover local flavours in a modern interpretation and experience the unique atmosphere of the city also on your plate!
15:10
15:35
Natur(AI)ly, or How to Create Authentic Tourism Content in the Age of AI Without Killing Local Character
Aleksandra Sidorowska
AI can do a lot for us. The only question is: can it build relationships? You can’t generate emotions...
This talk is an honest conversation about where artificial intelligence truly helps, and where it starts speaking for us… a little too much. It explores the line between support and replacement, and how to use AI consciously in content creation—without losing your own voice.
15:40
16:05
Cities of the Future: How AI Has Changed Tourism
Dawid Adach
Does traveling still make sense in the era of VR and artificial intelligence? If you can “visit” the world from your couch—why go anywhere at all?...
What happens when trip planning shrinks from hours to minutes? When navigation and live translation work in real time, without taking your phone out of your pocket? When cities start managing tourist flows based on data rather than intuition?
What tools do tourists have today—and what advantages are hotels, destinations, and event organizers gaining? Which business models will survive the digital transformation, and which will become obsolete? And how do you prepare for a future that is arriving faster than we expected?
Tourism is at a turning point. The question is no longer “will AI change the industry?”—but whether the industry will manage to change along with it.
What tools do tourists have today—and what advantages are hotels, destinations, and event organizers gaining? Which business models will survive the digital transformation, and which will become obsolete? And how do you prepare for a future that is arriving faster than we expected?
Tourism is at a turning point. The question is no longer “will AI change the industry?”—but whether the industry will manage to change along with it.
08:00
09:00
Registration
Have you registered for the conference? Download our event app now! This way you can avoid formalities on site and enter the event smoothly, while also gaining quick access to the agenda, speakers, and the most important information about the conference.
The mobile application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the App Store.
10:05
10:30
Scent – the silent architect of experiences
Marta Siembab
The lecture focuses on designing emotions and customer experience through the skillful engagement of the sense of smell. At its core, scent is presented as a carrier of brand values, an element of a place’s identity, and a way to build lasting bonds with the audience...
Moving away from the popular idea of merely decorating spaces with fragrance, we shift toward using olfactory impressions as a strategic tool and a way to build competitive advantage in a world overloaded with stimuli. Scent is a business tool. Today, spaces can smell not only pleasant, but also smart and effective.
10:35
11:00
Vilnius Served Cold
Ieva Davydenko
This presentation explores how Vilnius Pink Soup Fest turned one of Lithuania’s most iconic dishes into a bold international marketing story. Created by Go Vilnius to boost the city’s visibility abroad, the festival grew from 15,000 to 93,000 visitors in just three years.
It will show how local culture became a city-wide experience that engaged communities, attracted international media attention, and helped strengthen Vilnius’ international profile through creative storytelling, visitor experience design, and measurable impact.
13:40
14:40
Lunch Break
Partner restaurants will prepare dishes based on traditional recipes that will take you on a culinary journey through the history of Gdańsk.
It’s a perfect opportunity to discover local flavours in a modern interpretation and experience the unique atmosphere of the city also on your plate!
15:10
15:35
Natur(AI)ly, or How to Create Authentic Tourism Content in the Age of AI Without Killing Local Character
Aleksandra Sidorowska
AI can do a lot for us. The only question is: can it build relationships? You can’t generate emotions...
This talk is an honest conversation about where artificial intelligence truly helps, and where it starts speaking for us… a little too much. It explores the line between support and replacement, and how to use AI consciously in content creation—without losing your own voice.
15:40
16:05
Cities of the Future: How AI Has Changed Tourism
Dawid Adach
Does traveling still make sense in the era of VR and artificial intelligence? If you can “visit” the world from your couch—why go anywhere at all?...
What happens when trip planning shrinks from hours to minutes? When navigation and live translation work in real time, without taking your phone out of your pocket? When cities start managing tourist flows based on data rather than intuition?
What tools do tourists have today—and what advantages are hotels, destinations, and event organizers gaining? Which business models will survive the digital transformation, and which will become obsolete? And how do you prepare for a future that is arriving faster than we expected?
Tourism is at a turning point. The question is no longer “will AI change the industry?”—but whether the industry will manage to change along with it.
What tools do tourists have today—and what advantages are hotels, destinations, and event organizers gaining? Which business models will survive the digital transformation, and which will become obsolete? And how do you prepare for a future that is arriving faster than we expected?
Tourism is at a turning point. The question is no longer “will AI change the industry?”—but whether the industry will manage to change along with it.
Ticket
Regular Ticket | 2-day Conference
from
999
PLN
(aprox. 240 EUR)
The package includes:
5th Gastronomy Congress
Workshops
Lunch
NTT Networking Evening
New Trends in Tourism
Lunch
5th Gastronomy Congress
Workshops
Lunch
NTT Networking Evening
New Trends in Tourism
Lunch
Contact to the organiser
GDAŃSKA ORGANIZACJA TURYSTYCZNA-
+48 58 305 70 80
-
register@newtrendsintourism.com
Event address
-
Europejskie Centrum Solidarności
-
Plac Solidarności 1, Gdańsk
(16/4/2026 from 09:00 to 09:30)
(16/4/2026 from 09:30 to 10:30)
