In recent years, the annual USA Trade Tasting conference has become one of the most highly anticipated events in the U.S. wine and spirits industry. Now in its fourth year, the USATT event in New York City continues to set exhibitor and attendance records with each passing year. Last year, for example, over 100 exhibitors from around the world showcased their products in the Grand Tasting Hall, while over 2,000 people attended the event.

This year’s USATT event, set to take place on May 13-14 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea, is the only event of its kind in the U.S. where importers and distributors of wine, beer and spirits can learn, network and source new products. In recent years, for example, the USATT has seen the arrival of many trendsetting products (including hybrid spirits and wine in non-traditional packaging) and a host of innovative brands from all over the world. For importers and distributors, this is the place to go to see what’s next and find out which major trends are starting to tip into the popular mainstream. The same brands and products appearing at USATT are likely to show up on wine lists and drinks menus around the nation.

Buyers coming to USATT 2019 include some of the biggest names within the global wine industry, including Park Street, Luxe Wine & Spirits, Verity Wine Partners and Austral Estate Wines. Since its inception in 2016, the USATT has earned a reputation where deals get done, and the event’s organizer, Beverage Trade Network, continues to build out the networking opportunities available at the event, including opportunities to set up meetings before the show even kicks off and special breakfast networking sessions.

The constant flow of visitors around the exhibition floor gives participants and exhibitors plenty of opportunities to meet top importers, distributors and buyers and discuss potential deals face-to-face. “We really want the USATT to be the first event importers and distributors think of when they think about sourcing high-quality and innovative products,” said Sid Patel, CEO and Founder of Beverage Trade Network.

What to expect at the 2019 USATT

As the USATT event has grown and developed over the past four years, it has steadily increased in both size and scope. This year’s 2019 edition, for example, will include a two-day Alcohol Beverage Importers & Distributors (ABID) conference, a Future SOMM event hosted by the Sommeliers Choice Awards, private wine tastings of award-winning wines, and a variety of different coaching sessions and workshops.

For importers and distributors looking for hands-on practical advice on how to grow their business and become more profitable, the two-day ABID conference offers a perfect mix of strategic and tactical insights. The 2019 USATT speaker’s list is a who’s who of some of the biggest names in the wine & spirits industry, including:

• Robert Bradshaw, President & COO, Cape Classics
• Tali Dalbaha, Corporate Wine Director, Buy Rite Wine & Liquor
• Eric Guerra, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Vineyard 29
• Larry Lieberman, CEO, Lieber Fine Wines & Spirits
• Gordon Little, Co-Founder, Little Peacock Imports
• Bill Sciambi, Co-Founder and Chairman, Verity Wine Partners
• Daniel Sullivan, Wine Director, Super Buy Rite

The ABID conference takes place within the Metropolitan Pavilion, next door to the USATT Grand Tasting Hall, giving ABID participants easy access to some of the hottest wine & spirits brands. The ABID conference consists of a series of TEDx-style talks, followed up by panel discussions and in-depth Q&A sessions. Topics for the event are specifically tailored to the small- and medium-sized business market.

For importers and distributors looking to try some of the top-rated wines, beers and spirits in the world, the USATT also includes an opportunity to taste the winners of the USA Wine, Spirits and Beer Ratings events. These are the same alcohol beverage brands that are likely to be picked up and adopted by top on-premise restaurants and bars in New York City and other major cities.

This year’s showcase training session at the 2019 USATT will be “Modern Selling for Distributors and Importers,” as presented by Ben Salisbury, President of Salisbury Creative Group. In addition, there will be other opportunities for importers and distributors to attend workshops and other coaching sessions.

Top media partners for the USATT event include Santé, BevRoute, and Wine Industry Insight. Thanks to this growing support within the wine and spirits industry and the buzz it is attracting on social media, USATT continues to attract top importers and distributors to the event. This year looks to be no different, with event organizers Beverage Trade Network already expecting another record-breaking year in 2019.

About Beverage Trade Network

Beverage Trade Network (BTN) hosts events, competitions, expos, tastings and conferences for the alcohol beverage industry on a global basis. In addition to the USATT, BTN also hosts the highly acclaimed London Wine Competition, London Spirits Competition and London Beer Competition. BTN also hosts the China Wine Competition in Shanghai, the International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show in San Francisco and London, and a number of other events in Asia, Europe and North America.

Beverage Trade Network is dedicated to helping wine producers and wine brand owners get closer to buyers, distributors and retailers. As part of this mission, Beverage Trade Network organizes events as part of a wider drinks initiative to introduce new brands, producers and manufacturers to the global marketplace.

For more information: www.BeverageTradeNetwork.com