The 2018 Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show (NCB) is returning to the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas on March 26-28.

“The nightlife and bar industry has evolved so much over the past three decades, and we are excited to showcase those changes and new trends during the 2018 Nightclub & Bar Show,” said Thom Greco, chairman of the Nightclub & Bar Advisory Board, in a statement. “Each year, we thoroughly evaluate the industry to create a captivating program that will allow our attendees to obtain unique knowledge that is forward thinking and up to date with the current industry trends. This year’s conference program is one that is going to offer once-in-a-lifetime networking opportunities, new experiences and trends that our attendees will be able to use to succeed in their business ventures.”

Showcasing hundreds of exhibitors, the 33rd annual NCB Show offers access to suppliers launching innovative products, the latest industry topics and trends through an array of expert speakers, networking opportunities, educational workshops, offsite events, celebrity appearances, cocktail competitions, tours of Las Vegas venues, nightlife events and more.

Back by popular demand, the NCB Show will host several offsite trainings and tours, designed to give attendees a first-hand look into Las Vegas’ top nightlife venues and hotel properties. This year’s offsite trainings and tours include Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits Academy, OMNIA Nightclub Bootcamp, Wynn Nightlife Tour, and Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club Bootcamp.

“Our offsite trainings are a great way for people to gain first-hand knowledge while being fully immersed and able to look directly at the topic they are discussing,” Greco said. “They are going to learn directly from the best-of-the-best, and take that knowledge and apply it to their own venues and industries.”

The NCB Show’s education program offers attendees face-to-face access to experts who will offer insights, tips of the trade and insider knowledge about some of the innovative and trending topics seen in the industry today, it says. This year’s beverage programming includes the following speakers: Charlotte Voisey of William Grant & Sons, Harold Johnson of Hooters Casino Hotel Las Vegas, Michael Shetler of Breakthru Beverage, and Raymond Kanehailua Jr. of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.

In addition to the speaker sessions, convention attendees will have the opportunity to work hands-on with industry leaders including Bob Brown of Bob Brown Service Solutions, Bob Peters of The Punch Room, Chris Lenahan of Edge Group USA, Tobin Ellis of BarMagic, Ron Cates of The Ron Cates Companies and David Scott Peters from TheRestaurantExpert.com.

On March 27, Ron Jaworski, NFL analyst and CEO Quarterback, will keynote “The Game Changer: Lessons from Ron ‘Jaws’ Jaworski.” The session will offer insight into building and protecting a brand.

Immediately following the keynote, Jaworski will walk the red carpet and cut the ribbon to officially open the 2018 expo hall floor.

Among the other keynote opportunities, a discussion titled “The Bar of Tomorrow: eSports, Streaming & Innovation” will take place at 11 a.m. March 28. Attendees will learn insider knowledge about how this ever-evolving innovation is impacting the business. The panel will be moderated by Greco and include Bill Dever, chief strategist of Harena Holdings LLC; Nick Fotheringham, owner of The Nerd in Downtown Las Vegas; JT Gleason, director of Integration Success and Developer Success with Twitch.tv; Armando Lanuti, president of Creative Works Inc.; and Shawn Smith, president of Harena Data. BI