No Escape as organisers can festival

Gourmet Escape organisers IMG Culinary confirmed last week’s Times report that it would struggle amid east coast lockdowns by cancelling the festival on Friday. The news popped the lid on long-running disgruntlement with the annual festival propped up by Tourism WA and expanded from its initial focus on Margaret River to take in the Swan Valley and Rottnest. Online, Margaret River hospitality leaders said what had started as a local festival had quickly spiralled out of scale and was now an over-priced, substandard offering which under-engaged with businesses in the region. Gayle Tindal, a former Escape marketing and events co-ordinator, said the event was “just not well-managed”. “The event organisers need to up their game,” she said. “It’s all about the money, and it shows.” She cited long queues, the drinks ticketing system, insufficient staff, inadequate toilets, and waiting times as key problems. There was also no word yet on whether Tourism WA would claw back taxpayers’ money contributed to stage the 2021 event, with last year’s Escape also cancelled because of COVID-19. A State Government spokesperson cited commercial confidentiality in declining questions from the Times about taxpayers’ multimillion-dollar contribution to the festival. “Tourism WA will work alongside the event organisers and local venues to promote any events and activities, and to highlight the amazing food, wine and produce in the region,” the spokesperson said. “We’re continuing to identify event opportunities for WA, and working to pick up displaced events from other jurisdictions, particularly those that help to promote the State through media coverage.” Celebrity chef and former Tasting Australia director Ian Parmenter said taxpayers were not well served by the overseas company running the event under Margaret River’s brand name. “So far it is estimated that the cost to taxpayers has been more than $20 million dollars, yet it hasn’t delivered since the first one or two Escapes,” he said. “Certainly, smaller local food and drink producers never benefited.” The Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association and Margaret River Wine Association hoped this year’s inaugural Fine Vines festival, starting on October 15, would capitalise on the market gap. MRBTA co-chief executive Sharna Kearney said the cancellation was expected, but “nonetheless disappointing”. Along with Fine Wines, lobbying was underway to redirect east coast visitor pass schemes for a new South West Wanderer Pass for intrastate tourists. MRWA chief Amanda Whiteland expressed support for local businesses affected by the Escape’s cancellation. “We hope Gourmet Escape’s Margaret River ticket holders retain their accommodation and still visit and enjoy the bookable wine experiences on offer at this beautiful time of year,” she said. The festival starts on October 15.