The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), the leading voice and advocate for the U.S. spirits industry, announced it will host its 2022 Annual Conference June 8-10 at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans. Conference registration is now open.
“The DISCUS Annual Conference has quickly become the premier event for spirits executives, key industry stakeholders and supply chain partners,” said DISCUS President & CEO Chris Swonger. “We’ll be gathering this year in New Orleans, a city known for its rich cocktail heritage and a lively energy that matches the spirit of our vibrant industry.”
Themed “Stronger Together,” the conference will bring together a diverse group of top experts in their respective fields to identify challenges and opportunities facing the industry, and to share ideas on how to navigate the rapidly changing spirits marketplace and legislative landscape.
The conference kicks off with keynote speaker Tricia Clarke-Stone, a dynamic entrepreneur, innovative brand builder and author of “Double Down: Bet on Yourself and Succeed on Your Own Terms.” Clarke-Stone has spent two decades launching and leading businesses at the intersection of marketing, tech, media, and entertainment.
Conference sessions will feature hot topics such as sustainability in an age of digital acceleration; beverage convergence in the alcohol sector; the evolving spirits marketplace; industry economics and emerging consumer trends; best practices in diversity, equity and inclusion; data privacy; and NFTs.
The popular “Innovation Showcase” will also be back at this year’s conference. The Shark-Tank style competition gives entrepreneurial individuals and companies a platform to showcase their unique inventions — from packaging to spirits products — before a panel of judges.
For the third year in a row, DISCUS will also be celebrating the best and the brightest in the spirits industry at an awards luncheon where we will honor the recipients of the DISCUS Lifetime Achievement Award; DISCUS Impact Award for Emerging Leaders; DISCUS Dave Pickerell Memorial Craft Member of the Year Award; and DISCUS Humanitarian Service Award.
The awards luncheon will be emceed by Lynnette Marrero, an award-winning New York City-based bartender, mixologist and philanthropist known for co-creating the world’s first all-female speed bartending competition, Speed Rack.
The conference will also include festive events, including a parade down Bourbon Street, as well as multiple networking opportunities and a dynamic trade show with exhibitors representing all facets of the industry.
To receive “early bird” pricing, register before March 31. Registration pricing is detailed below:
- Early Bird (DISCUS Member): $795
- Early Bird (Non-Member): $995
- Standard (DISCUS Member): $895
- Standard (Non-Member): $1,295
To register, reserve your hotel accommodations, become a sponsor and learn more about the DISCUS Annual Conference, please visit www.distilledspirits.org/conference.
