Today the International Culinary Tourism Association (ICTA) named Ms. Katrina White, Travel Trade Manager of the Rhode Island Tourism Division, as chairperson for the Association’s New England Area Committee.   Selection for the position was made from applications submitted by New England tourism industry professionals.  The term of office is one year.

Ms. White’s culinary tourism experience is extensive.  She was instrumental in initiating the Association’s first New England Culinary Tourism Symposium in 2006. She is a board member for the Rhode Island Center for Agricultural Promotion and Education, is a noted speaker on culinary tourism at many local and regional conferences, and continually showcases Rhode Island’s culinary bounty at local, regional, national and international trade shows by serving ‘jonny cakes’ to the thousands of delegates who stop by her booth to inquire about the delicious aroma.  Katrina brings with her, 30 years of overall hospitality experience, 10 of which have been devoted to destination marketing.

The mission of ICTA’s New England Committee is to increase and maintain two-way communications relating to the development and promotion of culinary tourism and its projects and products between the New England region and the Association.  The committee is comprised of Association members from all 6 New England States.  Items high on the agenda for the Committee’’ 2008 workplan include: 2008 New England Culinary Tourism Symposium, development of state and region wide culinary trails and the inclusion of New England culinary treasures on FoodTrekker.com™, a cutting edge consumer culinary travel website launching in January 2008.