Lead Consultant Eric Pateman
ESP is owned and operated by Eric Pateman, one of the world’s leading consultants and strategists on culinary tourism, and the only expert on the planet who unites a background as a chef with an MBA in Finance and international experience in over 100 countries.
After over 25 years in business and the hospitality industry, Eric has built a network of thousands of valuable connections around the world and in all aspects of the sector.
As the nation’s leading ambassador for Canadian cuisine, he is working with most of the provinces and territories as well as with the federal government.
Internationally, he is one of the top five experts on culinary tourism, sharing his expertise with clients around the globe from the USA and the UK to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and beyond.
- “Culinary exploration is one segment of the tourism industry that touches almost every visitor, in every region. Armed with this knowledge, Destination British Columbia engaged ESP Culinary Consulting to identify key culinary tourism marketing gaps in the province, and how they may be addressed through content development, distribution, and teamwork. The end result was a clear, well thought-out road map, identifying our strengths and positioning our weaknesses as an opportunity for growth and collaboration. The finished product provided Destination BC with a deep understanding of where we need to focus, and what we’ll need to ensure future successes. For that, we are grateful to Eric and his team.”— Carla Mont, Digital Content Specialist, Destination British Columbia
- “The team at RDA Barossa was thrilled with the recent workshops and lectures conducted by Eric Pateman on creating great culinary experiences with a true Barossa flavour. Your observations were insightful, your challenges realistic and your recommendations extremely useful. It was motivating for our small businesses to hear about examples of innovative approaches around the globe and your perspectives on more compelling ways to tell our own stories around the region’s love affair with food! Our successful business owners loved sharing notes with you and bouncing ideas around. We hope you can visit again one day and continue the journey with us.”— Anne Moroney, CEO, Regional Development, Australia Barossa
- “I worked with Eric on the Canadian Culinary Tourism Strategy Framework for the Canadian Ministry of Tourism. I was impressed with his professionalism and the extent of knowledge and relationships he has when it comes to Canadian cuisine — everyone from farmers to chefs to industry associations. His role as the leader of culinary tourism in Canada (and globally), and well as an ambassador for the country promoting and highlighting our culinary offerings, is impressive. His contributions to the report allowed us to produce a clear, well thought-out strategy, identifying Canada’s significant opportunity (and challenges) in the global culinary tourism market. I look forward to working with Eric on more projects as he is inspiring, and brings knowledge, passion and energy.”— Greg Klassen, Partner, Twenty31 Consulting
