Alejandro Marichal: “This forum is a celebration of the talent that sustains our destiny, an opportunity to recognize those who make Maspalomas an international benchmark in hospitality.”
Yilenia Vega: “Promoting live training in emblematic spaces like the Maspalomas Lighthouse allows us to link tourism with the citizens and strengthen the essence of Maspalomas as a destination”
Gastronomy and culinary experiences will take center stage at the 12th Maspalomas Costa Canaria International Tourism Forum 2025, an event that this year focuses on the human element of service, local talent, and innovation applied to tourism. Within this framework, one of the most anticipated events will be the showcooking demonstration “The Origin of Flavor,” to be held next Monday, November 17th, at the Maspalomas Lighthouse. This free activity, open to the public, is one of the main events of the first day and will transform one of the municipality's most iconic landmarks into an open-air culinary classroom.
The Councillor for Tourism of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council, Yilenia Vega, emphasizes that this edition “reinforces the essence of the destination through the people who make it possible every day. Bringing live training to a natural setting like the Maspalomas Lighthouse allows us to connect tourism with the community and strengthen Maspalomas's essence as a destination. Being able to enjoy, learn, and share gastronomy with an unparalleled backdrop perfectly represents what Maspalomas is: a destination that embraces its visitors with both professionalism and heartfelt hospitality.”
The live culinary demonstration will begin at 17:30 p.m. with chef Pepa Muñoz from the Madrid restaurant El Qüenco de Pepa, which has been awarded a Repsol Sun. She will be followed by mixologist Matteo Ciarpaglini from Club Paradiso—recognized as the World's Best Bar in 2022. Both will explore the value of local produce, sustainability, and creativity as driving forces behind the Canary Islands' culinary identity.
In keeping with this human dimension of the forum, the First Deputy Mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Alejandro Marichal, points out: “The municipality is experiencing a special atmosphere these days: we are celebrating the excellent work carried out throughout the year by our professionals, the true driving force of the destination. Maspalomas Costa Canaria is not just sun and beach tourism; its hardworking people are an essential part of our brand. Furthermore, this session is part of a program that departs from the traditional format to focus on practical activities, in line with this year's theme: to champion the human value of hospitality.”
Two days of training, talent and gastronomy at ExpoMeloneras
The Maspalomas Costa Canaria 2025 International Tourism Forum, organized by the Tourism Department of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council and to be held on November 17 and 18 at ExpoMeloneras, will bring together leading national figures in gastronomy, culinary science and service, and will do so through a program designed to bring knowledge closer to the field, with training sessions that connect theory, practice and future vision.
The first day, Monday the 17th, will begin with the presentation “Professional Pampering with Different Languages,” given by José Ramón Calvo, head waiter of the Mugaritz restaurant, who will discuss how empathy and attention to detail can transform a meal into an emotional experience. This will be followed by the panel discussion “The Power of the Dining Room,” featuring Nikola Ivicic, head waiter of the Aquarela restaurant (one Michelin star); María González, from the Bevir restaurant; Diego Tornel, best sommelier of the Canary Islands; and Érika Sanz, trained by Martín Berasategui, in addition to Calvo himself.
In the afternoon, the session will conclude by shifting the focus to the Maspalomas Lighthouse, where the showcooking "The origin of flavor" will take place.
On Tuesday the 18th, the program will continue with the presentation “The Importance of Dialogue Between Science and Cooking for the Future,” by researcher Pere Castells. Midday will feature one of the most anticipated names of the event: Pepe Rodríguez, chef of El Bohío and MasterChef judge, who will speak on gastronomy, tourism, and local development. The closing session will be led by consultant and coach Juan Ferrer, with the conference “Customer Experience = Employee Experience,” focusing on the importance of supporting tourism staff to guarantee excellent and responsible service.
With this focus on the future, the Maspalomas Costa Canaria International Tourism Forum reaffirms its role as a platform for learning, innovation, and reflection for industry professionals. At the same time, the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council continues to promote a destination that thrives on its people and the excellence of its service.
