Cocktail by kspodder
Only in New Orleans could you invent a new international event called Tales of the Cocktail! Since the city claims it is the place where the term "cocktail" was invented, what better place to hold such an event. Naturally, it is held in the French Quarter.
This year's theme, fittingly, is about how to keep people drinking cocktails during the recession. You'd think that would be a no-brainer. But let all of those other discretionary activities, it may be that folks are opting for cheaper alternatives. A bottle of jug wine at home costs less than one martini at an upscale restaurant. So, when people do go out, they have one cocktail instead of two. And profit is in the alcohol for many restaurants and for all the barrooms.
Tales of the Cocktail was founded as recently as 2003 by Ann Tuennermann with just a few hundred participants attending that first event. In 2008, over 15,000 people attended. More are expected this year. While attendees do get to sample some product, the conference really is about education and networking. There is a series of dinners, cocktail demos, tastings,competitions, seminars, book signings, tours and special events.
Coming during the height of the summer, Tales of the Cocktail offers a nice boost to the local economy with a studied economic impact of over $7.6 million. At the same time, this is a great time of the year for attendees with hotel rates at their lowest point, airlines looking for travelers to the city, and New Orleans great restaurants offering their best at their best prices of the year.
The event runs from July 8th this year to July 12th, so you have missed it for 2009. If you are in the industry or just want to enjoy knowing about the joys of cocktails, mark this event down for next year. You won't go wrong.
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