It’s a
WRAP!
The 2009 Nightclub & Bar
Convention and Trade Show
Put Industry Innovation on
Display
By Donna Hood Crecca
Las Vegas was the site of the
nation’s largest bar and beverage
show when the 2009 Nightclub
& Bar Convention and Trade Show hit
town March 1 – 4. The multi-faceted
event delivered big: dynamic presenters, actionable information, an exciting
exhibit floor, invaluable networking
and spectacular events. The economy
may be down, but the crowd at the
Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade
Show was decidedly up as nightclub,
bar, restaurant and hotel beverage pros
engaged with vendors from a range of
product categories on creative ways to
drive the on-premise business forward.
International Hospitality Week, which
includes the Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show along with International Restaurant Show and Hotel World
Expo and Conference, drew 28,000
hospitality professionals to Las Vegas to
check out new products, strengthen existing partnerships and forge new ones.
Product innovation was a highlight of
the Nightclub & Bar Show. “It’s been a
great show --busy for us and wonderful
for our new products like Red Stag and
Maker’s Mark Mint Julep (Pre-made).
The reception to the new products has
been very positive,” said Ken Ruff,
vice president customer management,
on-premise, for Beam Global Spirits &
Wine, Inc.
& Bar Show was very successful. The
show coincided with our launch week
in Las Vegas and was a great place to
position our brand with key business
associates, buyers, potential buyers and
friends. We will definitely be back next
year,” said Madeline Vinski, CEO of IS
Vodka.
Others involved in events ranging
from the Shake It Up! mixology competition — sponsored by Southern Wine
& Spirits — to book signings, and from
the celebrity red carpet walk to the Top
100 Party at XS Nightclub, sponsored
by Absolut and Pernod Ricard USA, also
found the Nightclub & Bar Show time
well spent. “The Las Vegas Nightclub &
Bar Show is more than just a fun time
– lots of great vendors, products and
networking opportunities are here, as
well as some pretty fantastic events.
From Shake it Up! to excellent seminars, they’ve got it covered here,” said
Kathy Casey, president of Kathy Casey
Food Studios & Liquid Kitchen.
“The show offers customers new
ways to increase profit levels within their business. Besides networking,
there were a lot of wonderful new products available to take advantage of this
year,” noted Steph Richardson, owner
of Bailey’s Café in Saratoga Springs,
N. Y. “The nightly events at the clubs
were fantastic, and we are all looking
forward to attending the show next
year!”
Keynoters provided insights into the
challenges and opportunities facing the
industry. Dr. Peter Cressy, president
and CEO of the Distilled Council of the
U.S., offered his take on “Protecting
Ourselves from the Perfect Storm,”
noting the confluence of tax increase
proposals with a down economy and
other threats to the industry. The key
to weathering this storm, he said, is
upholding the positive aspects of the
on-premise industry and making the
industry’s voice heard in legislatures
from the nation’s capital to the various
states and municipalities.
Steve Shlemon, president of the Carrabba’s Italian Grill chain, gave an upbeat, energetic talk on the opportunities
for growth open to savvy operators who
engage their guests and employees.
Celebrity tippler Kevin Brauch, known
as the Thirsty Traveler, and chef David
Adjey of The Food Network’s “
Restaurant Makeover” dished on what’s hot,
what’s not and what’s necessary to
capture guests’ attention and dollars.
Attendees were able to take deep
dives into a range of topics relative to
their businesses during the conference
sessions, where experts and leading
operators shared their knowledge and
inspired their listeners to get serious
about driving traffic, sales and profits.
The Top 100 Panel was standing-room-only as three leading operators shared
the secrets of their success.
Each evening, attendees conducted
“market research” at Las Vegas’ top
nightclubs and venues as their Club
Pass gave them entry to the hottest
spots. From the Vino Las Vegas wine
tasting to the Five Star Awards Dinner
to the DJ Spin-off, the vibrancy of the
industry was on display.
“Nightclub and bar delivered everything promised: a big crowd, a great
party and awesome times,” enthused
Michael Fuller, vice president of restaurant and nightclub operator N9NE
Group.
