Food Network and Signature Travel Network Join to offer Culinary Travel Programs

Food Network, the first and only cable channel dedicated to connecting viewers to the joy and power of food, and Signature Travel Network, one of America’s oldest retail travel consortia in the country has announced that they will join forced to offer innovative and engaging culinary travel programs, exclusive to Food Network fans.

Plans are underway to offer a range of exclusive Food Network programs in 2010, including: cruises with Food Network stars and based on specific Food Network shows; trips tied into specific Food Network culinary trends or topics; and weekend getaways to locations such areas such as Napa Valley, California.

Culinary-centric travel programs are growing enormously in popularity with “foodies.” Research indicates that 37 percent of leisure travelers find the opportunity to experience different and unusual cuisine on vacation highly desirable (Source: 2008 National Travel Monitor) and 23 percent of affluent travelers consider the ability to learn a new skill or activity on vacation highly desirable. (Source: Portrait of Affluent Travelers). Some 27 million travelers, or 17 percent of American leisure travelers, engaged in culinary or wine-related activities while traveling within the past three years. (Source: Travel Industry Association Survey 2007).