New Hospitality Cluster develops Estonian food culture and introduces it to the world

Umbrella organisations established the Hospitality Cluster attached to the Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association, the purpose of which is to develop Estonian food culture and introduce it to the world.

The members of the Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association are part of the Hospitality Cluster and their purpose is to give a strong push to take Estonia to the top of the gastronomy world. According to the members of the Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association, they have existing clients who travel to Estonia to experience the great food here, but this segment must be consciously increased.

The initiator of the idea was Kristjan Peäske, Board Member of Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association and owner of the restaurant Lee and Lore Bistro. “We can only be happy about the birth of the Hospitality Cluster because it unites one team to work with all the umbrella organisations in Estonian food culture,” Kristjan Peäske is optimistic about the future. “I sincerely believe that we will create a successful platform through this cooperation, whereby we can advance and popularise Estonian hospitality as an industry important to us. A small group thinks that Estonia could become the new food capital of the Nordic countries; we have to spread this rumour.”

“Today in Estonia, we offer world-class food and drink experiences – it is time to tell the world about this well-kept secret,” says Aivar Hanson, leader of Flavours of Estonia and head of the White Guide in the Baltics. “Tallinn Old Town, a UNESCO world heritage site, is far from being the only reason to travel to Estonia.”

The founding members of the cluster are Estonian Chefs Association NGO, Flavours of Estonia (Havera OÜ), Estonian Rural Tourism NGO, Estonian Bartenders Association NGO, Estonian Sommelier Association NGO and Silverpoon (Gastronomy Society of Estonia) NGO. The restaurant sector currently employs 15,000 people, before the crisis this number was 19,000.

The founders of the cluster are organising big events and world-class competitions. The following events are taking place this autumn:

• The best sommelier and the best junior sommelier competitions organised by the Estonian Sommelier Association and sponsored by AS Liviko.
• The Estonian Championships in Alcohol-Free Cocktails organised by the Estonian Sommelier Association during Tallinn Cocktail Week and Tallinn FoodFair.
• The Estonian Chefs Association is also preparing for the World Championship in Luxembourg in 2022 in addition to the Chef of the Year and Junior Chef of the Year and continuing with the project ‘Chefs at School’.

The Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association is the representative organisation of hotel and restaurant companies. Almost 200 companies or associations are part of the association, including schools teaching hotel management and catering. The Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association is the founding member of the Estonian Employers’ Confederation and has belonged to the Association of Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs and Cafés (HOTREC) since 1993.

Further information:
Kristjan Peäske
Board Member of Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association and owner of the restaurant Lee and Lore Bistro

Aivar Hanson
Leader of Flavours of Estonia and head of the White Guide in the Baltics

Source: Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association