A few weeks ago, we offered a glimpse into the Vibe Conference agenda when we announced the first educational sessions. Now, we’re excited to reveal the full agenda!
Vibe Conference returns to the beautiful Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California April 25-27, and this year’s educational sessions are stronger than ever. After discussions with our audience at Vibe Advisory Council, Bar & Restaurant has updated the program to ensure maximum relevancy for all attendees.
This year’s conference features new activations, educational sessions and networking opportunities for a more comprehensive and effective program.
Special thank you to all of our sponsors for their continued support of the show, including American Beverage Marketers, Anheuser-Busch, Bacardi, Beam Suntory, Boston Beer Co., Campari, Constellation Brands Beer, Constellation Brands Wine & Spirits, E.&J. Gallo Winery, Red Bull, Sazerac and many more.
Without further ado, ready on to learn more about this year’s conference sessions!
The Next Thing...Leveraging the Impact of our Realities
Steven Goldstein, Founder of FoodThinque leads this opening discussion, “The Next Thing...Leveraging the Impact of our Realities.” His session will explore four key realities in the world today, their impact on consumers, and break down what it all means for the F&B industry at large.
Rebuilding Both Sides of the Bar
What will drive or derail drink program success in this new environment? That’s the main question that Donna Hood Crecca, Principal, Technomic and David Henkes, Senior Principal, Technomic, pose to their panelists during the ‘Rebuilding Both Sides of the Bar’ discussion. Challenges range from inflation to supply, but consumer demand remains strong, and innovation continues. Crucial to meeting this moment are those on the front lines of the business – bartenders and servers. This will be a fast-paced update on the state of the adult beverage business in restaurants, bars and hotels and exclusive bartender research and an operator panel on how tackling the critical factor in recovery and future growth: labor. Panelists include Tyler Field, III, Divisional VP/ Wine and Spirits, Morton's/ Oceanaire/Mastro's/Strip House/Del Frisco’s Double Eagle, Stan Novack, Executive Vice President, Sammy Hagar Restaurants, Art Carl, VP Culinary & Beverage R&D, Dave and Buster's
The Great Convergence!
Categories, channels and consumer occasions are blurring more than ever. Brandy Rand, Chief Operations Officer, Americas, delves into what this means for the future of the on-premise, while moderating ‘The Great Convergence!’ discussion. Consumer demand for flavor, convenience and experience are shaping beverage alcohol trends in surprising ways. This session will highlight the key drivers for alcohol growth along with a panel discussion on how brand owners and operators are successfully implementing innovative programs and responding to new challenges. Panelists include Mac Gregory, Corporate Director of Food & Beverage, Pacifica Hotels, Robbi Jo Oliver, Sr. Director Wine & Spirits / Training, Landry's/Mastro's Restaurants, James Melucci, Director of Shopper Insights, Beam Suntory
The WOW Factor 2.0 with Kathy Casey and Maeve Webster
Learn how to engage your guests with the ‘Wow Factor’ - from garnishes and techniques to interactive experiences. Take your concept to that next level by creating memorable beverage moments. Join Kathy and Maeve in this hands-on workshop as they explore great ideas for inspiration and implementation in your cocktail and non-alcoholic menus, and showcase who’s creating buzz with a Wow factor out in the field!
Pinot Noir Wine Tasting: Different Terroirs, Different Expressions
Nicholas Paris, Director of Wine & Spirits Education for the E. & J. Gallo Winery, Master of Wine, Advanced Sommelier, and Certified Wine Educator, leads this fascinating exploration into pinot noir. From restrained to expressive, earthy to fruit forward, light to full, few grape varieties vary as much in wine style as Pinot Noir. Discover how this versatile and popular variety expresses itself differently based on its region of origin and wine production methods through a tasting of several different Pinot Noirs from California’s Central Coast to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. There’s no single style of Pinot Noir and each deserves careful consideration in wine programs.
Creating a Robust Recovery with Hotel F&B
While much of the focus at Vibe Conference is on bar and restaurant operators, this session is specifically tailored to hotel operators. David Henkes, Senior Principal, Technomic returns to the stage to moderate this panel evaluating the current state of the hotel food and drinks business. They will discuss opportunities for accelerated growth as hotels continue to recover ground lost during COVID-19. Henkes will provide key datapoints, while the team of hotelier panelists will discuss best practices and future predictions for the years ahead. Panelists include Devin Burns, Vice President, Rooms and Food & Beverage, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Brian Loughnane, Corporate Director of Food and Beverage, Hyatt Hotels, and Rachel Moniz, Principal and Chief Operating Officer, HEI Hotels & Resorts.
Beer’s Role in the New World
Since the inception of the on-premise, beer has played an essential role in driving a successful alcoholic beverage mix. Today's covid-endured environment has experienced shifting winds that leave the on-premise with a unique opportunity to reset the foundation of the business. At the core of that business is beer. Join Greg Merlo, Vice President, Category Leadership, Anheuser-Busch for a look at beer's role in on-premise operation's success - with high frequency, high loyalty, and as a strong driver of social occasions - beer, and the beer drinker, remain critical for your business, both today and tomorrow.
The Lessons Learned and the Future of Off-Premise
“Off-premise” means many things to operators – delivery, take-out, curbside, catering, virtual kitchens, RTDs, even groceries – but each is a revenue generator, given the right infrastructure. Savvy establishments capitalized on every option during the pandemic and have seen their customers taste for convenience only increase. So, what does off-premise look like for the future? Join moderator Colleen Mclellan, Director, Datassential, Sommelier, WSET III and her group of industry leaders to learn what the future holds. Panelists include Cami Lehmann, Director of Marketing, Brinker International, Anna Krone, Director of Beverage, Village Hospitality, and Elisa Cordova, Sr. Beverage Marketing Manager, PF Chang’s.
Diverse Suppliers: Expand Your DE&I Strategy Behind the Bar
Customers today are more curious than ever. They want to know the stories and the people behind the brands they are financially supporting. They are looking to understand company values, and to see companies collaborating with diverse suppliers which gives underrepresented groups greater visibility, increases economic inclusion all the while creating meaningful social change. To stay competitive, companies are adapting their strategies to appeal to the conscious consumer and one of the most effective ways is by sourcing from diverse suppliers. Deborah Brenner, Founder & CEO, Women of the Vine & Spirits, leads this panel discussion around supplier diversity programs and how the Women Powered Brands™ searchable database can help you reflect your company DE&I strategy into your alcohol beverage program. Panelists include Victoria Eady Butler, Master Blender, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, Brittany Merrill-Yeng, Co-Founder, Skrewball Whiskey, and Cynthia Lohr, Co-Owner & Chief Brand Officer, J. Lohr.
All Tequila is Mezcal, But Not All Mezcal is Tequila!
Tony Abou-Ganim, also known as ‘The Modern Mixologist’ leads this hands-on workshop on all things agave. Throughout the session, he will take you on an entertaining and educational journey into the wonderful world of mezcal! Taste through some of the 30 varieties of agave, from Espadin to Tobalá and Tepeztate, and learn what makes this unique liquid different from all other agave distillates!
State of the Wine Industry/How to Build a Better Wine Program
Jason Smith, General Manager, Ultra Luxury & Icon Wine, Constellations Brands leads this session on building a balanced wine list, diving into elements like selecting varietals, known brands vs. esoteric items, and understanding the consumer decision tree. Smith will touch on best practices for training staff, increasing purchase rates for your wine program, merchandising, marketing and predictions for the years ahead.
Beer, Wine, & Spirits: On Premise Sales, Consumer, and Bartender Trends
Matthew Crompton, Regional Director – North America, CGA Strategy and Andrew Hummel, Client Solutions Manager, CGA Strategy are leveraging their industry leading on-premise data sources in this exceptional presentation and panel. They will quantify the importance of the on-premise, analyze BWS sales trends and delve into the on-premise consumer. Using their data they will explore the top 30 US cocktails and establish larger trends in the on-premise. This discussion is followed by a panel discussion with Brian Bell, CMO / VP Marketing and Merchandising, Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant and Patrick Kirk, Vice President Bar & Beverage, Applebee's. Bell and Kirk will give their candid perspectives on sales and consumer trends, and what this means for Vibe Conference attendees.
The Consumer’s Journey from Sneaking a Sip to Product Loyalty
Ever wondered how someone becomes a “white wine only drinker” or specific item and brand only consumer? What about those who are avoiding an entire category – how does that happen?Colleen McClellan, Director, Datassential / Sommelier / WSET III leads this exploration of the consumer’s journey to uncover what triggers these behaviors and how can influence the next generation of consumers. After her presentation, she’ll be joined by three leading industry experts to discuss the implication of this data. Panelists include Bruce Skala, Senior Vice-President, Marketing, Hooters of America, Maurice DiMarino, Wine & Beverage Manager, Cohn Restaurant Group, and Doug Zeif, Principal, Next! Hospitality Advisors.
TikTok and its Billion User Advantage
The Vibe Conference ends with this candid one-on-one discussion between Jamie Carawan, VP of Brand Menu & Culinary, Buffalo Wild Wings and Sandie Hawkins, GM of N.A. Global Business Solutions, TikTok. With over 1 billion active users globally, TikTok has enjoyed unparalleled engagement within its community and has become the place of choice for entertainment seekers. So, how do brands take advantage of that engagement without looking like the advertisers that many audiences instinctively shun? Hawkins will share the company’s strategy to create opportunities in a challenging environment for advertisers. Yes, content matters!
Keep checking barandrestaurant.com and vibeconference.com for show updates and all the latest news. Don't miss a moment of Vibe Conference, sign up for the exclusive newsletter today. We look forward to welcoming you to Vibe Conference 2022 this April 25-27 at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. Registration is open now, reserve your space here.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Donna Bruns at donna@vibeconference.com, Charlie Forman at cforman@questex.com
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