Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Righetti.
Hi Denise, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My career began in hospitality and tourism, working with Royal Caribbean, where I developed a deep appreciation for the power of travel and memorable guest experiences. Later, while working as a Marketing Manager in Boca Raton, I discovered how much I enjoyed bringing people together around food, wine, and shared experiences. That passion eventually led me to take a leap of faith and launch Savor Our City™.
What started as a small local food tour company quickly evolved into something much bigger. I realized that food is one of the most powerful ways to connect people to a destination, its culture, and to each other. Over time, Savor Our City grew from offering simple walking food tours to creating immersive culinary experiences for corporate groups, private clients, and organizations across the country.
Today our experiences range from chef-led cooking classes and mixology workshops to culinary scavenger hunts, wine tastings, and curated food tours in cities nationwide. The focus has always been on creating meaningful, interactive experiences that allow people to explore a destination through its flavors while supporting the local restaurants and small businesses that make each city special.
Along the way, I’ve also had the opportunity to combine my love of wine education with philanthropy through my long-standing partnership with Wines for Humanity, helping raise funds for charities while teaching people about wine in a fun and approachable way.
Looking ahead, my vision continues to grow. We’re expanding Savor Our City experiences nationwide, launching new city-based events and festivals, and one day we hope to open up culinary centers where people can gather for hands-on cooking classes, tastings, and cultural experiences. At the heart of it all is the same mission that inspired me from the beginning: creating meaningful connections through food, culture, and community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like most entrepreneurial journeys, it definitely hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road. Building a business in the hospitality and events industry requires constant adaptability.
The pandemic was, of course, one of the most significant challenges our industry has ever faced. Overnight, experiences that relied on people coming together simply stopped. It forced me to rethink how we operate, strengthen partnerships, and find creative ways to keep the business moving forward while staying connected with our clients and community.
Another challenge has been scaling while maintaining the highly personalized experiences that Savor Our City is known for. As we expand into more cities and work with larger corporate groups, it takes careful planning, strong local partnerships, and the right team to ensure every experience still feels authentic and thoughtfully curated.
At the same time, those challenges have shaped the business in a positive way. They pushed me to become more strategic, build stronger relationships with chefs, venues, and partners, and continuously innovate the types of experiences we offer. In many ways, the obstacles have helped refine our vision and strengthen the foundation for future growth.
We’ve been impressed with Savor Our City, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Savor Our City™ is a culinary-focused event planning and experience company that specializes in bringing people together through food, wine, and culture. We design interactive experiences such as guided food tours, chef-led cooking classes, mixology workshops, wine tastings, and culinary team-building events for corporate groups, private clients, and organizations across the country.
What really sets us apart is the level of personalization and storytelling that goes into every experience we create. Rather than offering standard tours or classes, we focus on curating experiences that feel authentic to the destination and meaningful for the guests attending. Our events often include behind-the-scenes interactions with chefs, tastings at locally loved establishments, and engaging activities that allow guests to connect with the people and culture that make each city unique.
We’re also proud that our experiences support local restaurants, chefs, and small businesses. Every event we produce helps shine a spotlight on the culinary talent within a community while creating memorable moments for our guests.
As we look ahead, we’re continuing to expand our footprint nationwide while developing new culinary events, city-based experiences, and immersive food and wine programs that celebrate the unique flavors of each destination. What I want readers to know most is that Savor Our City isn’t just about food tours—it’s about creating experiences that bring people together, support local communities, and leave guests with lasting memories of the places they visit.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that relationships truly are the foundation of everything in this business. Hospitality is ultimately about people—our guests, our restaurant partners, chefs, venues, and the many collaborators who help bring each experience to life. The stronger those relationships are, the stronger the experience becomes for everyone involved.
I’ve also learned the importance of staying adaptable. The events and hospitality industries can shift quickly, and being able to pivot, think creatively, and remain solution-oriented has been critical to navigating challenges and continuing to grow.
Another key lesson has been trusting my instincts and the vision behind what I’m building. When I started Savor Our City, the idea of culinary experiences as a form of team building and destination exploration wasn’t as widely recognized as it is today. Staying committed to that vision—and continuing to evolve it—has helped shape the brand into what it is today.
At the end of the day, I’ve come to realize that success isn’t just about growth; it’s about creating experiences that genuinely bring people joy while supporting the communities and businesses that make each destination special. That balance is something I always strive to keep at the heart of what we do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.SavorOurCity.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savorourcity
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savorourcity
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deniserighetti
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Savorourcity
