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 honoring 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 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. Info: www.distilledspirits.org/