Become a Certified Experience

Who Can Be Certified

All food service establishments, culinary retail shops, tour operators and specialty culinary tourism experiences (for example, destination cooking classes) are eligible for nomination and certification.

All nominated establishments are evaluated by the society’s Selection Committee against a set of ten core criteria. Other products such as culinary events and BC wineries are listed and promoted based on professional and public recommendation.

The Nomination Process

Eligible establishments are sourced and nominated for certification by the BC Culinary Tourism Society (BCCTS) Selection Committee multiple times each year.

Establishments seeking nomination may submit a self-nomination form.  All self-nomination forms are submitted to the society’s certification selection committee for review and consideration. Customer nominations are also accepted.

Nominate Now

Nominate a restaurant:
Online Nomination Form | Download PDF form

Nominate a specialty experience (culinary tours, specialty retail & public farms):
Online Nomination Form | Download PDF form

Please ensure that all fields on your nomination form have been completed and that your application package includes all requested materials before mailing to th e BC Culinary Tourism Society.

There is no charge for nominating your establishment for certification.

For help completing your certification nomination form, please contact us anytime at 604-926-9071.

Certification Process

Selection Committee Nomination

All establishments nominated by the Selection Committee have clearly met and/or exceeded the society’s ten core criteria and are eligible for immediate certification.  Establishments nominated by the committee receive a letter inviting them to participate in the program.

Consumers or establishments who submit seflnomination forms are evaluated by the  Selection Committee every six months.  Each application is balanced against the society’s ten core certification criteria.  Self nominated establishments may be required to pay a one time $200 visitation fee. During visitations, a member of the Selection Committee will visit the establishment to evaluate it, in person, against the society’s ten core criteria.  

Establishments who meet the society’s certification criteria are then invited to participate in the BC Culinary Tourism certification destinations program.   

Applicants whose nomination forms and/or onsite evaluates that do not clearly demonstrate compliance with the society’s ten core certification criteria will be encouraged to re-apply once all criteria defaults have been amended.  BCCTS is happy to assist all non-certified establishments prepare for certification.  

The BCCTS Selection Committee meets a minimum of once every six months in Fall and Spring each year.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the BCCTS Selection Committee, please contact us at info@bcculinarytourism.com.

Submission Deadlines

Certification nominations are accepted year round, but are only reviewed at certain times by the society’s selection committee.  Submission deadlines for upcoming review panels will be posted below regularly.

Next Selection Committee Review Deadline: Fall 2010