Bar Convent Singapore Aims for 25% Growth in 2025 Convention

Bar Convent Singapore (BCB Singapore), a trade-only event for bartenders, bar owners, distributors, and producers, is planning a 25% growth in visitor and exhibitor numbers for its 2025 convention. The event, which debuted in 2023 with 150 brands from 18 countries, will be held at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre on March 3-4, 2025. The convention will feature country pavilions from the USA, Italy, and Mexico, in addition to the existing Japan pavilion.

Henry Stonham, project manager for BCB Singapore, said the new venue offers a more central and upscale setting for networking and discovery. The event will showcase a diverse range of local craft spirits, including Cocuy Sarochel, a 100% agave spirit from Venezuela.

Peter Chua, brand ambassador and head of education at BCB Singapore, is developing a strong education program with content specifically created for the region. The program will focus on Asian craft spirits, low and no alcohol cocktails, and sustainability.

Prominent bar industry personalities, including Hyacinthe Lescoët of The Cambridge Public House and Little Red Door in Paris and Singapore’s Bannie Kang, co-founder of Side Door, will speak at the event. The sessions will cover a range of topics, from the sustainability science of flavor to the intricate nuances of Baijiu Awamori, and multiple sessions on agave spirits in collaboration with Club Cantina, an educational platform about Agave Distillates.

To ease financial barriers for bartenders and distillers from emerging markets, Chua and Stonham are organizing guest shifts for bars to encourage sponsorship from major spirits brands and streamlining logistics to reduce costs for regional participants. BCB Singapore is also conducting roadshows across the region, including Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, and Manila, to raise awareness about the event.