BCB 2024: First Programme Highlights!
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As every year, education will take centre stage at this year's BCB. Visitors can look forward to a wide range of presentations and workshops on a total of seven stages and education areas.
BCB is not just about networking and new products, but also about high-quality education! This year, there will once again be some exciting speaker highlights, new stage concepts and Parkstreet University will also be back as an education partner. We give you a little foretaste.
Angus Winchester reveals first speaker highlights
“This year’s Education program is both as solid and innovative as the industry it serves: with talks from Industry legends as well as new speakers from other associated industries plus a whole new stage format with the Workshop area.
On the Main Stage we have leaders like Leo Robitscheck from the Nomad Group of hotels and restaurants discussing the needs and beauty of the restaurant bar. The Winner of the 2024 Hospitality Award Keith Motsi from Tokyo’s Virtu bar will explain his philosophy about reading the room and Jean Trinh (Alquimico Bar Catagena) will discuss building lasting communities in cities. Plus, Alex Francis (ex Little Red Door in Paris) will continue to explain the trials and tribulations of opening a new bar in one of the world’s premier markets.
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Angus Winchester, BCB Director of Education
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More social and wellness education is always in demand. So, experts like Merly Kammerling from UK’s Well & Being agency will provide tips for successfully winding down after busy nights to help avoid both physical and mental problems. In addition, sports psychologist Nick Wykes will discuss how to motivate elite performers in a (bar) team. Several panels about parenting in the industry and negotiation skills for women and minorities were also highly demanded and will be provided.
Finally, we have standalone topics from speakers such as Priyanka Blah & Yash Bhanage who will be discussing the growth of India as a key hospitality market. Other sessions will cover accessing or designing effective bartender education and touching on the new wave of sustainability as shown by bars such as Line in Athens that is showing the way forward in a complex new world.”
BCB visitors can look forward to exciting speakers such as Priyanka Blah & Yash Bhanage, Jean Trinh und Alex Francis.
New stage concepts at the trade fair
Loyal BCB visitors will certainly notice a few innovations in the stage concepts: For the first time, the Main Stage will be located in the Rotunde in Hall 16, where visitors can expect presentations and panels by well-known bar experts as usual.
The new ‘BCB Workshop Stage’ will also give visitors the opportunity to get active themselves. The focus here is entirely on interaction and hands-on elements. The practical workshops cover topics such as garnishing, cocktail photography and videography, carbonation, working flair and flavour theory – all run by experts and celebrated authors.
“This area will also include workshops on emotional intelligence and gender-neutral mixology, which promise to be eye opening and game changing for the industry,” says Angus Winchester, BCB Director of Education.
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Parkstreet University is back as a partner
Once again this year, the Park Street University (PSU) education stage returns as a platform for spirits industry veterans and new brand builders. The PSU stage will once again pull together insights from data firms, founders, CEOs, distributors, and top suppliers to help attendees keep their finger on the pulse of the industry.
This year, the PSU stage will add several new topics to its lineup, including an update on EU spirits laws and regulations, an overview of what spirits innovation looks like in 2024, and the landscape for the most in-fashion spirits categories in Europe (The Category Trends Shaping Alcohol in 2024). The stage will also bring back mainstay entrepreneurial topics like brand building and a roadmap for creating a financial model that sets yourself up for a sale. Coinciding with BCB's focus on whisk(e)y, the PSU stage will host a seminar titled Maturing Markets: A Look at the Contemporary Whiskey Shelf.
Further information about this year's programme and speakers will be announced shortly on the BCB website.
