The National Restaurant Association plans to feature education sessions during the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) that will offer insight into alcohol beverage trends, responsible serving policies and better profits. The event will take place in conjunction with the 2008 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, May 19-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
"Beverage alcohol represents a major profit center for many restaurant and hospitality operators,” said William Anton, convention chairman. "…In addition to the interactive demonstrations and relationship-building opportunities the event provides, IWSB will also feature outstanding education sessions created to help operators sharpen their bar program's competitive edge."

IWSB education sessions will include:

“An Executive View of Responsible Alcohol Service” – A panel of beverage executives from leading chains will discuss the strategies necessary to create a culture of responsible service and consumption.
,br> “Getting the Most Out of Your Distributor Relationship” – A panel of top industry segment distributors discuss how to create opportunities with alcohol distributors and wholesalers.

“Trends in Beverage Alcohol” – A session designed to help restaurant operators get up to speed on beverage alcohol trends, how to leverage them to enhance bar programs, and how to promote those changes.
,br> “The Culinary Experience and Beverage Alcohol” — New, on-trend food and beverage pairings, including an interactive tasting session presented in conjunction with The Culinary Institute of America.

“Beverage Promotions that Maximize Sales” — Out-of-the-box ideas for unique promotions, award-winning menu designs, food-beverage pairings and effective training materials.

“Customer Loyalty Programs” — How to incorporate beverages into customer loyalty programs and mine program data to tailor beverage marketing strategies.

More information, including registration details, can be found at winespiritsbeer.org.