Program Supports and Brings Together the Bar & Restaurant Industry to Discuss Current Industry Challenges and Solutions
Questex’s Bar & Restaurant group – owners of the Nightclub & Bar Show and VIBE Conference – is kicking off its virtual event series, Evolve, a six-month sales, education and networking program that keeps bar and restaurant owners, operators, investors and suppliers engaged with sales and marketing programs, skills development, staff retention tools and networking opportunities.
The new series begins Nov. 10, 2020 and continues through April 2021. Details can be found here and registration is available here.
“We’re excited to bring the hospitality community together to connect as we all navigate this storm,” said Tim McLucas, vice president, Bar & Restaurant, Questex. “Evolve is meant to bring real solutions via real conversations to the very real plight facing owners and operators today. Some bars and restaurants are looking for ways to keep doors open, others are eking out enough profit to provide for staff and families while others are considering ways to expand. We’ve gathered leading voices in the bar and restaurant industry to hear how they are managing the circumstances around the pandemic and we hope that their insight will help attendees manage their challenges and create new opportunities for their businesses.”
The first leg of the Evolve virtual event begins Nov. 10 in Washington, D.C., which is the heart of so many issues today. Like many places, operators in the city are fighting for every inch to keep their doors open and their staff employed, while mere blocks away, an ineffective Congress fights and squabbles over the next round of PPP loans or the elusive Restaurants Act. With an educational focus on Technology, a portion of the education content was captured on location at the legendary Jack Rose Dining Saloon.
The schedule for the upcoming Washington, D.C. virtual event on Nov. 10 includes:
- Jeremiah Batucan, conference director, Bar & Restaurant at Questex, Amy Brandwein, chef and owner, Centrolina + Piccolina, Jeff Miskiri, owner and operator, Po Boy Jim / Felicity Lounge DC / The Creoleon 14th, and Bill Thomas, owner, Jack Rose Dining Saloon, who will all gather for an Industry Roundtable to share their stories on how they are navigating COVID-19 when it comes to matters of business survival, challenging legal restrictions and managing guests' experiences.
- Social media and digital evangelist, Todd Collins, chief operations officer, Restaurant Reputations, will present “Driving Demand with Digital Tactics,” where he’ll talk about where bar and restaurant owners need to be, how to simplify tools to make it easier, and tricks to get content in front of more potential guests.
- Rohit Malhotra, beverage director of Capo Speakeasy, will present “Creating Buzzworthy Beverage To-Go Programs,” where he’ll share how his team found fun, creative and cost effective ways connect with local residents and drive new sales by keeping his beverage program fresh.
- Rev Ciancio, head of revenue marketing, Branded Strategic Hospitality, will present “3rd Party Has Been Canceled: Earn More by Getting Guests to Order Direct,” where he’ll discuss how to get consumers to order directly from your restaurant instead of third-party delivery service providers like UberEats, DoorDash and GrubHub.
In addition, Evolve will offer live Q&A during its educational sessions, live industry networking, Bar Talk chat rooms addressing key topics, and Interactive Sponsored Bars with live meetings.
Evolve Series Calendar
Evolve will also present additional technology-focused content and insights from Washington. D.C. on Nov. 17. Additionally, the Evolve 2020/2021 virtual event series continues with these dates:
2nd On Location Recording: Seattle, WA
Virtual Event Air Dates Dec. 7 and 14
Theme: Operations
3rd On Location Recording: Austin, TX
Virtual Event Air Dates Jan. 13 and 26
Theme: Marketing
4th On Location Recording: Las Vegas, NV
Virtual Event Air Dates Feb. 9 and 22
5th On Location Recording: New York, NY
Virtual Event Air Dates March 8 and 22
Theme: People & Staffing
6th On Location Recording: Los Angeles, CA
Virtual Event Air Dates April 12 and 26
Theme: Guest Experience
Sponsors
Evolve sponsors include: 2 Touch POS, Barventory, BassBoss Truly Hard Seltzer, d’marie, Dry Botanical Bubbly, MTI, White Claw Hard Seltzer and Xtreme Music Bingo.
Register
To learn more and register to attend Evolve as an operator for free, visit https://events.barandrestaurantexpo.com. All virtual event air dates will be available to relive on demand.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Jamie Schroeder at [email protected] or Veronica Gonnello at [email protected]. Stay connected with Evolve on Facebook and Instagram @nightclubbar and follow #evolve. Questex’s Bar & Restaurant group will also bring the industry together at VIBE Conference, June 7-9, 2021, at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. and at the Nightclub & Bar Show, June 28-30, 2021, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev.