By JOLENE OGLE
SHERATON Noosa Resort and Spa has been named as the winner of Tourism Noosa’s sponsorship offer for a 2016 food event, but Jim Berardo said the announcement won’t change his plans to re-launch the International Food and Wine Festival next May.
Tourism Noosa chairman Steve McPharlin said the Tourism Noosa board had offered Noosa Pacific Hotel, which owns Sheraton Noosa, sponsorship for a culinary event to be held in May 2016 that will showcases the region’s culinary and produce offerings.
Only last month restaurateur and former director of the International Food and Wine Festival Jim Berardo announced he would re-launch the failed food festival in May 2016.
In a statement to media, Mr Berardo said while the announcement from Tourism Noosa is “disheartening” he confirmed he will host the Noosa International Food and Wine Festival under Berardo Festival Management in May 2016.
“It is disheartening to hear of the decision by Tourism Noosa and the Tourism Noosa board of directors to allocate tourism levy funding to another food and wine event proposal by the Sheraton, the minimal funding is one of many contributions towards the overall budget of running the event and will have little impact on the festival program,” he said.
Mr Berardo said it was “disappointing” to hear the “local tourism body was not interested to support the Noosa International Food and Wine Festival after 12 years of proven benefit to the region and the local economy, but would work with other partners to continue to strive for successful outcomes for the nation’s premier food, wine and lifestyle event”.
Mr Berardo said his application to Tourism Noosa was supported by many letters of support from the local business community, including creditors from the 2015 event, backing his application of a future event and recognising his “invaluable experience and contribution” to Noosa over the past 12 years.
The media statement said Mr Berardo was “confident” and remained “hopeful” negotiations with the Queensland State Government (Tourism Events Queensland) would be successful, and said his negotiations with corporate partners were “nearing final stages”.
Mr Berardo said he also “continues his plan to repay creditors from personal funds while the negotiations run due process”.
Mr McPharlin said while Tourism Noosa offers sponsorship to the Sheraton Noosa for the coming festival as well as sponsorship to 12 other events throughout the year, the new sponsorship deal places no restriction on individuals or organisations to conduct other events.
“Tourism Noosa looks forward to working with Noosa Pacific Hotel along with all stakeholders to help ensure the success of this event for the region,” Mr McPharlin said.
Sheraton Noosa Resort and Spa were contacted for comment but were unable to response by deadline.
