There are events you attend, and events you help build. VIN LA MARE 2026 was firmly the second kind for us. This year we were proud to stand alongside Dolphin Travel & Events as a partner for the third edition of VIN LA MARE, and we left Hotel Iaki in Mamaia more convinced than ever that Dobrogea’s future is being written by people who choose to collaborate.
More than an event, a community
VIN LA MARE gathered more than 100 professionals from tourism, HoReCa, business, gastronomy, local production and partner institutions for an honest conversation about Dobrogea’s sustainable development. Our heartfelt thanks go to Elena Luiza Oprea, founder of Dolphin Travel & Events and the initiator of VIN LA MARE, who set the tone from the opening: this was never about changing Dobrogea overnight, it was about bringing to the same table the people who believe in the region and choose to contribute to it. Over three editions, she noted, relationships have turned into partnerships and competition into collaboration, and we couldn’t agree more.
Moderator Oana Yücel carried that spirit through the day with a simple, powerful message: the future isn’t built by waiting, is built by acting.
A program with substance
The conference tackled the questions that actually matter for the region. Economic analyst Iancu Guda laid out the financial reality facing hospitality and tourism, with a clear takeaway: avoiding hard decisions only postpones the problem, while adapting is what builds the long term. AI and data-protection consultant Tudor Galoș reframed artificial intelligence not as a threat but as an opportunity, the competitive edge will go to those who learn to use it well. Valentin Văcăruș from Godmother showed how events themselves turn destinations into strong brands, and Iulian Beiu of Join UP! Romania urged the industry to move past complaining and adopt a pragmatic, market-driven approach to attracting international visitors.
Culture had its place too. Erwin Șimșensohn, General Director of the Constanța State Theatre, spoke about how cultural events can stretch the season and make a destination more attractive, while Aurelia Lăpușan and Anca Elena Ștefan brought the story of Ana Aslan to life, a reminder that the people who made history can become a destination’s truest ambassadors. Alex Dona from DespreVin.ro closed the loop with the case for wine and gastronomy tourism: authenticity as the real reason travellers choose Dobrogea.
Our voice on stage: Dobrogea 2029
For us, one of the most meaningful moments was seeing our colleague Carmen Ispas take the stage on behalf of Flavours of Dobrogea to present the region’s candidacy for the title of European Region of Gastronomy 2029. She made the point we hold closest: this is far more than a gastronomy initiative. It’s a strategic effort to value the region’s multicultural heritage, support local producers, champion Dobrogean wines, grow sustainable tourism, and strengthen Dobrogea’s identity at a European level.
As Carmen put it, Dobrogea already has all the ingredients to become a reference region in Europe, a unique multicultural identity, passionate producers, celebrated wines and people who believe in the power of working together. The candidacy, she reminded the room, is ultimately about how we pool those resources to build a stronger, more visible and more sustainable destination.
The producers who make it real
A candidacy means little without the people behind the flavours, which is why we were so glad to see the region’s makers front and centre. The tasting and exhibition area brought together Dobrogean wineries, Murfatlar Vinul, Crama Hamangia, Domeniile Ostrov, Domeniile Caraman, Crama Darie and Crama Rasova, alongside local producers such as Suvenir din Dobrogea, Migdale de Jurilovca, Lactate TU, Hercinia, Brutăria9, Techir, Grădina Zânelor, DURO Romania, Rozefir, Suvenir din Dobrogea, VAST CRAFT Atelier, Deltaica, Ferițar, Marangoz, Dobrodulce, Miere Milena, Doza de Fresh and participation of Complex Răsărit Corbu. This is where partnerships are actually born: over a glass, a sample, a conversation between a producer and the buyer who didn’t know they existed an hour earlier.
The “Voice of HoReCa – The Real Season” panel, also moderated by Oana Yücel, kept everything grounded, with hoteliers speaking openly about the season’s real challenges and needs.
Why we keep showing up
If there was one shared conclusion, it’s that economy, technology, culture, gastronomy, wines, producers and tourism aren’t separate worlds, they’re parts of the same ecosystem, and change starts with each of us. That is exactly why we love being part of events like this one.
Our thanks again to Dolphin Travel & Events, to Elena Luiza Oprea and her team Tripigo, BRD Groupe Societe Generale, and to everyone who made VIN LA MARE 2026 happen. We were proud to pour a little of Dobrogea’s future alongside you… And we’ll be back.
