Recently, the World Food Travel Association expanded its prestigious ambassador network by naming Dr. Gerald Kock as its official, certified representative on the island of Aruba, in the Dutch Antilles in the Caribbean.
Association Names New Ambassador on Aruba
15 April 2025
World Food Travel Association Names New Ambassador on Aruba
Dr. Gerald (Gino) Kock is an accomplished alumnus of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), graduating in 1987. With over 15 years of diverse experience in the hotel, restaurant, airline, and healthcare industries across Aruba, St. Maarten, the Netherlands, and the United States, he has demonstrated exceptional versatility and expertise.
Transitioning into education, Dr. Kock played a pivotal role in implementing the American Culinary Federation’s Apprenticeship Program at Aruba’s community college, Colegio EPI, where he also served as Dean of Student Affairs.
In 2004, Dr. Kock graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in International Hospitality and Business Management from Stenden University, Netherlands. He furthered his academic journey by earning a Doctorate in Hospitality and Tourism Management in 2013 from the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.
Dr. Kock has presented at numerous hospitality, tourism, and ethnomusicological conferences, aiming to bridge tourism with the creative industry by integrating musical culture and tourism on small islands. His project "Chanita ta di Fiesta," which fosters sustainable connections between tourists and small farmers, earned him the prestigious UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Enterprises in 2012.
He has published five articles in prominent journals, including the Journal of Heritage Tourism and the International Journal of Hospitality Management. Recently, he chaired Aruba's SDG-Indicators Working Group (SDG-IWG).
From 2021 to 2024, he served as an advisor to the Minister of Economic Affairs, Communication, and Sustainable Development and is currently Policy Advisor at the Department of Economic Affairs, Commerce and Industry in Aruba.
This article introduces Francesc-Fuste-Forne, the newest recipient of the prestigious culinary tourism industry Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed by the World Food Travel Association.
In this episode number 73 of our Taste of Place podcast, we speak with Allison Zinder, an American living in Paris. We speak about French food, culture and language, and why the French culinary legacy is so profound.
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Our judges have completed their final deliberations and we are pleased to announce the finalists and winners of our Association's 2024 Global Culinary Travel Awards. Best Program to Promote Culinary Culture to Visitors Eat & Walkabout (Spain) Best Beverage Experience for Culinary Travelers City of Nicosia (Cyprus) Best Culinary Heritage Product or Experience for Travelers Marang Marang Women's Association (Philippines) A press conference featuring the three winners will be streamed live with the winners on Wednesday, October 30 at 15:00 London, UK time. Visit our YouTube channel on that date, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel in order to be notified!
In this episode number 72 of the Taste of Place podcast, we speak with Audrey Kelly. Audrey is the co-owner and head pizza maker at Audrey Jane’s Pizza Garage in Boulder, Colorado in the USA, which she runs with her brother, Peter. After studying pizza-making under Tony Gemignani, she opened her restaurant, and achieved quick success, with the restaurant having been been featured on the Food Network; the Travel Channel; and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Audrey won first place in the Pizza in Teglia competition in Naples, Italy, and has been featured in the New York Times and NPR. As a mother of twin boys, she balances family life with expanding her business, including plans for a second location. Audrey also grew up in a family of bakers, so she knows a thing or two about making dough!
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