The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), the leading voice and advocate for the U.S. spirits industry, today announced that registration is open for its 2023 Annual Conference June 14-15 at the Marriott Marquis in Chicago.

“From the roaring twenties to today’s thriving hospitality scene, the Windy City has always been at the forefront of the spirits industry,” said DISCUS President & CEO Chris Swonger. “We’re excited to gather in Chicago to celebrate 50 years of DISCUS and to shape the future of the industry through unity, innovation, and a spirit of exploration as we discover new opportunities for growth.”

Themed “DISCUS 50th Celebration: 50 Years Advancing Spirits in America,” the conference will bring together a diverse group of top experts in their respective fields to identify challenges and opportunities facing the industry, and to share ideas on how to navigate the rapidly changing spirits marketplace and legislative landscape.

“Like many spirits themselves, DISCUS gets better with age.  As we raise a glass to 50 years of DISCUS, let’s reflect on the progress we have made and look forward to the future with optimism,” said Ugo Fiorenzo, DISCUS Board Chair and Managing Director for the U.S. and Canada at Campari. “Together, we can continue to accelerate the growth that our industry is experiencing and bring it to new heights, responsibly of course.”

Conference sessions will feature hot topics such as consumer retail experience, DEI, brand promotion, future industry innovation, challenges facing the industry from supply chain to economy, sustainability, consumer behavior data, e-commerce, no and low trends, a policy roundtable, and much more.

The “Innovation Showcase” will be back at the conference, a Shark-Tank style competition giving entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their unique inventions before a panel of judges. This year, the showcase will be taking place virtually leading up to the conference, allowing viewers to vote for their top picks. Highlights of the showcase will be featured at the conference where winners will be announced and attendees will have the opportunity to meet finalists during the opening reception.

For the fourth year in a row, DISCUS will also celebrate the best and the brightest in the spirits industry honoring recipients of the DISCUS Distinguished Service Award; DISCUS Impact Award for Emerging Leaders; DISCUS Dave Pickerell Memorial Craft Member of the Year Award; DEI Leadership Award; DISCUS Top Shelf Award for Public Policy Work; and DISCUS 50th Anniversary Honorary Award.

The conference will also include festive networking events, including a “Taste of Chicago” opening reception, a Networking Lunch, Sponsor Receptions, Craft Distributor Reception, and a 50th Anniversary Celebration Event. To receive “early bird” pricing, register before March 17. 

A full day DEI Summit will be held on Tuesday, June 13 for an additional cost of $275. The summit, hosted in conjunction with the DISCUS DEI Committee and DISCUS Partner Member Pronghorn, will bring together interested professionals to discuss ways to expand opportunities, share best practices and empower those who advance DEI efforts for the spirits industry to continue to lead change in the industry.To register, reserve your hotel accommodations, become a sponsor and learn more about the DISCUS Annual Conference, please visit https://www.distilledspirits.org/the-2023-discus-conference/.

Most sessions are open to the media and accredited media can register to attend the conference for free.