#ChampagneWishes #WhomYouKnow @NightclubBar 2018 NIGHTCLUB & BAR CONVENTION AND TRADE SHOW
Day One:
The first day of the 2018 Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade show has come to a close where attendees participated in a variety of Pro Workshops, learned invaluable knowledge from speaker sessions with industry leaders and fine-tuned their skills at offsite bootcamps and trainings.
To kick off the morning, guests participated in several Pro Workshops, allowing them to receive a hands-on learning experience from industry experts. Throughout each workshop, attendees were given insider knowledge, tips and tricks that will help move their venue to the forefront of their industry. Workshops included trainings on creating a cocktail program that fits your venue and patrons, how to train staff in a way that boosts productivity, performance and morale, as well as a step-by-step instruction on the best process of opening a bar that will lead to its success.
Throughout the day, attendees learned from the experts in each field with speaker sessions ranging in topics from how to cater to millennials, sustainability in cocktails, lighting design, how to give your venue the right vibe through music, menu design Jedi mind tricks and much more.
Select attendees had the opportunity to travel to Caesars Palace for the OMNIA Nightclub Bootcamp where members from the team – including security, management and VIP hosts – took guests on a back-of-house tour of the venue, giving key insight into several major aspects of OMNIA’s operations. Throughout the tour, insider knowledge was shared surrounding bar operations, VIP Host marketing, security, DJ booth, lighting and sound, as well as cocktail service.
This evening, Foxtail Pool at SLS Las Vegas will host the Welcome Kickoff Party with a live performance by 80’s Station. Following the event, attendees will travel to XS Nightclub at Encore Las Vegas for the first Nightlife Party of the convention, where the Nightclub & Bar Award winners from across the country will be celebrated for their incredible achievements in the nightclub, bar and hospitality realm. To access a list of the NCB Award Winners, visit here.
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The sun is setting on an exciting second day of the 2018 Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show, where attendees continued their journey for knowledge with keynotes, speaker sessions and offsite trainings. In addition, the expo floor was opened with a star-studded red carpet and ribbon cutting ceremony.
The morning began with a special message from CORE, the official charity of the NCB Show that is dedicated to granting support to children of food and beverage employees navigating life-altering circumstances. The NFL Alumni Association (NFLAA) joined CORE to share the message of families helped through their program. On the expo floor, CORE and NFLAA hosted a “Putt with the Pros” contest where participants could donate $10 in exchange for the opportunity to put against NFL alumni, Barrett Brooks and Victor B. Cogen. In addition, CORE hosted a silent auction where funds raised benefitted the organization.
Guests listened in awe as NFL Analyst and former Quarterback, Ron Jaworski, gave his keynote speech titled The Game Changer: Lessons from Ron “Jaws” Jaworski, where he offered insight into his career, comparing the teamwork and defense seen in football to how to protect your brand like an NFL offensive line protects its quarterback. Attendees came away with different strategies and tactics that can be put in place to tackle your company’s challenges.
Following his keynote speech, Jaworski made his way to the red carpet to officially open the expo floor and was joined by celebrities, chefs, DJs and more. Celebrity appearances included Chairman of the Las Vegas Host Committee, Oscar Goodman; pro BMX rider, Ricardo Laguna; celebrated chef, Brian Duffy; Jackyl lead singer, Jesse James Dupree; and ”Vanderpump Rules” stars Tom Sandoval and Scheana Marie. Following the red carpet, Jaworski cut the ribbon and officially open the expo floor.
New to the expo floor, the Esports and Gaming Pavilion offered an interactive learning experience that features a fully-equipped Esports Arena and Virtual Reality (VR) Arena. Throughout the day, Esports and VR industry leaders hosted a series of tournaments and demonstrations, giving attendees a first-hand experience with each product while learning how to incorporate these new experiences into different venues.
As attendees explored the expo floor, they learned more about a variety of products, including CannaVinus, the “perfect wine pairing for cannabis lovers;” Berg, a liquor control system to help bartenders provide consistent drinks; and ADJ, featuring a variety of DJ lighting products.
Throughout the afternoon, classic and flair mixologists from across the country participated in the United States Bartender’s Guild (USBG)Shake It Up Flair and Classic Competition where they were challenged to create innovative, beautiful and tasty cocktails for a panel of judges. The grand prize winner will represent the United States in the upcoming World Cocktail Competition this summer.
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The final day of the Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show has come to a close and thousands of visitors have learned new tips, discovered new products and gained insider knowledge from industry leaders from across the country. Attendees were delighted to find hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the newest products, services, devices and more for everything they could possibly imagine within the nightclub and bar industries.
Thom Greco, chairman of the Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show Advisory Board, hosted the Bar of Tomorrow: eSports, Streaming and Innovation keynote panel, educating listeners on how to respond to industry transitions and how to handle disruptive innovation such as streaming and social media within your venue. The session also focused on the prevalence of eSports and engaging generations Z, X and millennials.
“King of Miami Nightlife,” and superstar nightclub developer and operator, David Grutman, served as the final keynote of the convention with his speech, ‘To Dominate, The David Grutman Experience.’ Grutman outlined how he achieved his level of success and notoriety through a series of tips and lessons he learned throughout his career. Rising industry stars, students and entrepreneurs learned from Grutman’s experiences as he delivered his talk in the raw and unfiltered manner that has propelled him to success.
For the first year, participants were offered the opportunity to register for the Sapphire Gentleman’s Club Bootcamp, where they learned about entertainer procedures, legalities, day club procedures and many other topics in depth while touring both front and back-of-house operations at the award-winning establishment.
Guests explored the expo floor and enjoyed the F&B Innovation Center where they enjoyed live cooking demonstrations from established chefs such as Chef Brian Duffy, Chef Matt Varga, Chef Pete Blohme and many more.
Additionally, entrepreneurs and restaurateurs participated in the Nightclub and Bar Pitch Tank where vendors had the opportunity to present new and innovative products or services to a panel of judges to gain valuable feedback or a potential investment.
This year, exciting new products and pavilions graced the expo floor, including the Craft Beer Pavilion featuring exciting brands including Prescott Brewing Company, Elysian Brewing Company, Bootleggers Brewery and more, offering guests samples of the best ciders and craft beer from across the world.
As guests wandered through the expo hall, they discovered new and innovative products, services and brands to help bring their venue to the next level. Exhibitors including Jevo, the fully automated gelatin shot maker; Bacardi, showcasing its signature rum cocktails; Diageo, the world’s largest producer of spirits and many more.
The final nightlife event of the convention will take place tonight at Hyde at Bellagio Las Vegas, with a special Neon Jungle themed afterparty. The Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show will return to the Las Vegas Convention Center Monday, March 25 through Wednesday, March 27, 2019. For more information, visit the NCBShow.com.
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About Nightclub & Bar Media Group
Nightclub & Bar Media Group, a division of Boston, MA based Questex LLC, is the go-to resource for the on-premise professional. Mirroring the fast-paced, trend-setting nature of the beverage industry, Nightclub & Bar has been providing the specific tools bar professionals, owners and managers need to grow their businesses, compete, and succeed in this hyper-competitive and dynamic industry for over 30 years. Nightclub & Bar Media Group produces the Nightclub & Bar Show, VIBE Conference, Nightclub & Bar Awards, and produces daily content on www.nightclub.com.
