BAR & RESTAURANT EXPO 2024 CONCLUDES ANNUAL EVENT WITH AN EXCITING DAY THREE
Wednesday, March 20, Bar & Restaurant Expo, the nation’s largest and most influential gathering of bar and restaurant owners and operators, concluded its annual event, providing exclusive access to the latest trends, practical solutions and discussions led by bar and restaurant industry icons.
This year’s expo programming made distinct changes from previous years, lending a special focus to helping owners and operators unlock their profit potential. The highlight of today’s conference lineup was an interactive session entitled “Raise The Bar,” where top industry experts Art Sutley, Mia Mastroianni and Phil Wills explored the intersections of space design, mixology and operational excellence that together create a holistic and unforgettable guest experience, effectively boosting venue profitability. Attendees were invited to come with questions ready and share their own experience in this collaborative discussion.
To cap off this year’s event, Bar & Restaurant Expo recognized winners of various prestigious awards today on the Main Stage, including the Industry Excellence Awards, Industry Impact Award, and the first-ever Supplier Awards. These awards are designed to recognize excellence among professionals in the business, and honor those who have gone above and beyond to improve the industry as whole.
The national United States Bartender’s Guild (USBG) hosted its annual Shake It Up competition on the expo floor. The most talented bartenders in the nation demonstrated their creativity, speed and skill for an expert panel of judges. After many rounds of this competition, Yolanda Gregg was named the 2024 USBG National Champion and will go on to represent the USBG at the IBA World Cocktail Championship in Portugal this fall.
On the expo floor, exciting live demonstrations by popular chefs like Tim Witcher, Bobby Marcotte, Nick Liberato and more continued throughout the afternoon, with each chef making a delicious dish for guests to sample.
Bar & Restaurant Expo will return to Las Vegas March 24-26, 2025.
BAR & RESTAURANT EXPO ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THREE PRESTIGIOUS INDUSTRY AWARD CATEGORIES ON MARCH 20, 2024
Recipients of the Industry Excellence Awards, Industry Impact Award, and Supplier Awards were honored on the keynote stage
Wednesday, March 20,attendees of this year’s Bar & Restaurant Expo gathered to celebrate outstanding leaders, venues and suppliers as event organizers announced winners of three esteemed industry award categories: Industry Excellence Awards, Industry Impact Awards and the first-ever Supplier Awards.
“These individuals and businesses represent the best of the best, and we are proud to recognize their achievements and contributions,” said Tim McLucas, Vice President of Bar & Restaurant Group. “Congratulations to all our winners!”
The winners of each award can be found below:
2024 Industry Excellence Award Winners
The Industry Excellence Awards celebrate dedication to the independent bar and restaurant business. These winners exemplify integrity, commitment to equality, sustainability, community, and culture across the industry.
Winners in each category were selected by a panel of experts from Johnson & Wales University who evaluated each submission based on several criteria:
- Panel Chair: Brian Warrener, Associate Professor & Director of the Center for Beverage Education & Innovation
- Jennifer Broderick, Professor
- Sarah Malik, Associate Professor
- Deana Marzocchi, Associate Professor
- Dean Mistretta, Assistant Professor
“The quality of the entries this year was uniformly excellent,” said Warrener. “Our panel of judges believe these winners truly represent the best in the industry.”
2024 Industry Impact Award Winner
This award recognizes an individual who has displayed an immense passion for their craft and has helped make significant advancements in the field. Considerations for the award include enhancing employee culture, raising the visibility of under-represented businesses and owners, implementing fair wage compensation, practicing sustainability, and supporting mental health, sobriety and addiction recovery initiatives.
Derek Brown, Founder of Positive Damage, Inc.
Author and Founder of Positive Damage, Inc., Derek Brown has been recognized as a leading beverage figure affecting positive change in the global bar industry. As one of the nation’s top bartenders, Brown owned Spirited Awards 2017 “Best American Cocktail Bar” winner, Columbia Room, in Washington, D.C. He now works as a wellness coach and consultant on low- and no-alcohol drinks.
2024 Supplier Award Winners, supported by CM Profit Group
Bar & Restaurant Expo worked with research company CM Profit Group to present the inaugural 2024 BRE Supplier Awards. These awards aim to honor trailblazers who have redefined the bar and restaurant landscape with their exceptional products and solutions. Suppliers submitted products for consideration across six categories, and then Bar & Restaurant Expo attendees voted on which they considered the best in each category based on their experience with the company and its product.
For more information about these awards, visit www.barandrestaurantexpo.com. Stay connected with Bar & Restaurant Expo on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Details for next year’s event will be announced shortly.
THE EXPO HALL OPENS TO KICK OFF DAY TWO OF 2024 BAR & RESTAURANT EXPO
Tuesday, March 19, Bar & Restaurant Expo celebrated a successful day two of the annual event, which marked the official opening of this year’s expo floor where owners and operators were given exclusive access to over 500 exhibitors. Excited attendees flooded the expo floor following a red carpet and special ribbon cutting ceremony led by renowned mixologist and keynote speaker, Julie Reiner.
Reiner cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the expo floor alongside Bar & Restaurant Group Vice President Tim McLucas. Celebrities, honored guests and chefs, including celebrity mixologist Mia Mastroianni, celebrity chef Brian Duffy, co-founder of Spirits in Motion, Phil Wills and more, graced the red-carpet to kick off the expo. McLucas presented Jill Chapman and Emily Gorman, representatives of the expo’s official charity partner, CORE (Children of Restaurant Employees), with a $5,000 donation on behalf of the expo. The expo organizers also presented two students pursuing a career in the beverage & culinary field at Johnson & Wales University, John Owen and Karina Rodriguez Casas, with a $1,250 fellowship grant.
Before leading the ribbon cutting ceremony, Reiner also delivered a powerful keynote session, entitled “Liquid Assets – Turning Your Venue into a Profit Powerhouse.” In keeping with this year’s motif of “unlocking profit potential,” Reiner helped attendees discover how to transform their venues with the goal of boosting the bottom line. She shared her tips and tricks for creating successful partnerships, building a team, creating strong brand identities and more.
Once open, the expo boasted several brand-new activations like the Pizza Zone, sponsored by Parpan, showcasing the hottest trends from unique artisanal toppings to innovative crusts, the Cocktail Clubhouse, a dynamic and captivating space exclusively designed for owners, operators and bartenders passionate about pushing the boundaries of beverage creation, and the Italian Aperitivo Showcase. The Japanese Food & Beverage Showcase also returned to the expo floor for its second year, highlighting an exciting mix of Japanese products, flavors and globally renowned specialties.
Exciting live demos by popular chefs like Brian Duffy, Tori Lubecki, Aaron Fish and more, also look place on the expo floor, where each chef made a delicious dish for guests to sample.
The third and final day of the Bar & Restaurant Expo returns tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. with additional workshops and conference sessions, award ceremonies honoring the best in the industry, live food demos and more. The expo floor opens at 12:00 p.m.
SEMA 2023 Highlights: From Custom Builds to Live Music Entertainment.
SEMA Announces Winner of 2023 Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polish SEMA has crowned Andy Leach’s ’60 Buick Invicta Custom in the Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck category as the winner of the 2023 SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polish competition.
The “X-60,” a custom ’60 Buick lnvicta, was meticulously crafted by Leach at CAL Automotive Creations. This build showcases concept-car styling, featuring a wedge-sectioned body adorned with machined brass trim. The unique chassis, complete with sculpted floors, is a one-off design boasting an I-beam-style derived from both an IFS and IRS. The car rides on nine-piece layered wheels and is powered by a 401 Nailhead motor, equipped with a crank-mounted ProCharger.
Other top finalists include:
4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road
Jared Hancock–’78 Jeep Cherokee Chief S
Young Guns
Charles Spencer–’69 Chevrolet C10
Sport Compact
Jordan Henke–’87 Merkur XR4TI
Other SEMA Highlights:
Brand New edition to SEMA, first time ever “SEMA FEST”.
It featured two stages and 22 musical acts, SEMA Fest attendees enjoyed a variety of unforgettable motorsports entertainment, which included demonstrations from Formula DRIFT, Hoonigan and Nitro Circus.
“The SEMA Show is about preserving and promoting car culture, and instilling that passion for cars in younger, more entertainment-oriented generations,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “SEMA Fest will help us build new audiences that are passionate about the automotive lifestyle.”
Photos by Sonja
SEMA Fest headliners included: Imagine Dragons, Incubus, Wiz Khalifa, AJR, Third Eye Blind, Bush, Walk the Moon, Ludacris, The Struts, Badflower, Chase Matthew, Meg Meyers, Ayron Jones, Rome & Duddy, renforshort, Starcrawler, Dead Sara, Bones UK, Brooke Alexx, Paper Idol, The Foxies, Good Boy Daisy and Hot Crazy.
SEMA ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER ‘SEMA WEEK’ TO KICK OFF IN 2023
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has announced a five-year vision to expand the SEMA Show into an “all-city” experience. Officially called SEMA Week, the expansion’s goal is to create the most passionate and exciting automotive event in the world. SEMA Week will kick off in 2023 with new concepts, activities, and events introduced over the five-year roll-out period.
SEMA Week will be headlined by the SEMA Show, which will remain a trade-only event Monday through Friday. On Friday, the final day of the SEMA Show, a limited number of enthusiasts will be able to attend the SEMA Show through the Friday Experience program, which launched at the 2021 SEMA Show. Beginning on Friday evening of SEMA Week, SEMA will take over the Las Vegas Festival Grounds through Saturday night with an all-new SEMA Fest.
“We have been watching the connection between enthusiasts and our industry grow for more than a decade and, as the industry’s trade association, have a responsibility to help facilitate that connection in new and meaningful ways,” said James Lawrence, SEMA Chairman of the Board. “By creating SEMA Week and SEMA Fest, we will be able to maintain the integrity of the trade show that makes it a must-attend event for automotive professionals while introducing a new platform for enthusiasts and the industry to engage with one another.”
For 2023, SEMA Fest will take place at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds and be open to everyone, bringing together automotive enthusiasts with the aftermarket industry in a high-octane and immersive festival-like celebration of car culture. SEMA Fest will feature top music and entertainment, car show and cruise, VIP experiences, craft food, automotive celebrities, and motorsports. It will run alongside the popular SEMA Ignited Cruise and SEMA Show after-party, which draws thousands of enthusiasts on Friday night.
SEMA Week is also scheduled to include a SEMA Auction, featuring some of the best builds from SEMA and many more amazing vehicles to headline the festivities. SEMA will continue to expand and refine SEMA Week over the next five years, rolling out new events and activities throughout the city of Las Vegas. The evolution of SEMA Week preserves the trade aspects of the industry and business components of the SEMA Show, while enabling enthusiasts from all over to join in the festivities and enjoy car culture-focused events throughout the SEMA Week experience.
Additional details for the 2023 SEMA Show, SEMA Week, and SEMA Fest will be announced in the coming months.
For more information, visit sema.org.
2022 Los Angeles Auto Show
An early look at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show, of all-new and refreshed vehicles during the show’s media preview day. While many auto shows have been dominated by all-electric vehicles, large SUVs and pickup trucks recently, a healthy mix of pure EVs, hybrids and gas-powered cars of all sizes are making their grand entrance at the LA Auto Show this year. Even as big SUVs and pickups continue to outsell their smaller counterparts, most of the new vehicles showcased in L.A. are compact or subcompact cars that easily accommodate city life and offer generous fuel efficiency.
The Toyota Prius’ claim to fame has always been its eco-friendliness, but with a full redesign for the 2023 model year, the Prius hybrid and Prius Prime plug-in hybrid now have even more to offer. The compact car’s new exterior is sleeker, more aerodynamic and more muscular. The hybrid promises a significant performance and efficiency boost to go along with its exterior makeover. Inside, the Prius goes big on tech with an available 12.3-inch touchscreen; unfortunately, it also gets tighter headroom due to the lower roof.
Changes for the 2024 Subaru Impreza are less dramatic but still significant. The new Impreza is available exclusively as a compact hatchback with an updated grille, headlights and taillights. It also sees the return of the sportier RS trim with darkened exterior accents, black 18-inch wheels and a more powerful 2.5-liter boxer engine under the hood. While the updates promise more fun behind the wheel, enthusiasts will likely mourn the loss of the car’s manual transmission option.
The 2024 Kia Seltos small SUV gets a refreshed front and rear end, plus a new X-Line trim. It also sees a 20-horsepower jump for its available turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder and a new eight-speed automatic transmission that promises smoother power delivery for the engine. Inside, a new panoramic dashboard display merges two 10.25-inch screens for the infotainment and digital gauge cluster, respectively.
Electric vehicles may have been forced to share the spotlight this year, but one in particular still managed to steal the show. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 was revealed in early 2022 and made its U.S. auto show debut in L.A. The Ioniq 6 shares a platform with the Ioniq 5 SUV, and it sports a slightly shorter wheelbase and sleeker exterior with a dramatic swooping roofline. Hyundai also promises a more generous range but has yet to disclose those figures.
Another battery-powered vehicle that made its debut is the reintroduction of the all-electric Fiat 500e. Fiat says the subcompact car will be making its way to the U.S., though not for a while. The European version was unveiled in L.A. with three special-edition variants based on prominent Italian designers; however, the U.S. version won’t make its debut until the 2023 L.A. show and is only expected to arrive at dealerships in 2024. For now, only the gas-powered 500X SUV represents the brand stateside.
LA Auto Show: Nov 17-26 – The Most Influential Global Auto Showhttps://laautoshow.com/
2023 Porsche 911 Dakar
Taking inspiration from the classic “Safari buils” that have taken the world by storm, the 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar arrives as a limited edition, off-road-ready version of the legendary 911. It features a twin-turbo engine from a 911 GTS, producing 473 hp. In terms of off-road credentials, the Dakar rides much higher than a standard 911 and uses all-terrain tires. Porsche will only build 2,500 units each priced at $220,000. This is by far the craziest 911 we’ve ever seen from Porsche.
Genesis X Convertible Electric Concept Debuts at the 2022 LA Auto Show.
The sleek four-seat convertible builds on Genesis’ previous X Concept and X Speedium Coupe design studies.
Korean luxury automaker added a third model to its now trilogy of X Concept design study vehicles this evening with the debut of the X Convertible concept on the eve of the 2022 LA Auto Show. The X Convertible shares its EV architecture and powertrain as well as much of its aesthetic and design with the previously revealed X Concept and X Speedium Coupe concepts. The electric four-seater continues Genesis’ exploration of Korean-inspired EV design in a drop-top configuration infused with a California vibe. That’s the state with both the highest electric vehicle adoption and the most convertible-friendly weather year-round.
Like the X Speedium, the X Convertible’s parallel, wraparound light signature evolves and stretches to form the frame of the automaker’s shield-shaped Crest Grille. The elongated body features subtle curves and an arching belt line that finishes with a slight downward slope towards the X Convertible’s rear. Out back, a subtle ducktail spoiler blends into the decklid and integrates a notched high-center brake lamp just above the double tail lights.
Large G-Matrix pattern wheels fill the bulging arches with a concave aero dish rim section designed to extract heat from the EV’s big six-piston brakes. The X Convertible has four seats, but the most important bucket is the one behind the steering wheel. The cockpit-style dashboard flows into a wraparound center console with an integrated touchscreen display that hugs the driver’s seat. Up front is a digital instrument cluster.
The interior is finished in Gina Navy and Dancheong Orange leather. Matched with recycled wool textiles the colors and details of the interior are inspired by Korean roof architecture — funny, since the X Convertible is presented without a visible roof. There is a hardtop; it’s just folded away and hidden. The top uses transparent panels that attempt to create the feeling of open-air driving, even when rain or cold doesn’t allow it.
Like the X Concept cars that came before, the Genesis X Convertible is, for now, just a design exercise. Considering how much the convertible market has shrunk over the last decade, it’s perhaps the member of the trio that’s least likely to reach production. But, as a preview of what we can expect from the future of Genesis’ electric vehicle design and as gorgeous eye candy, the X Convertible is still exciting.