NEW YORK, U.S. — The 17th Annual World Tea Expo (#WorldTeaExpo or #WTE19), the leading tradeshow focused on advancing the business of tea, will take place June 11 – 13 in Las Vegas, Nev. at the Las Vegas Convention Center (with a pre-conference program on June 10).
The event will gather more than 3,000 international professionals from various industries, including grocers and retailers, coffee and tea houses, restaurants and foodservice, hotels, manufacturers, distributors and more. Attendees will gain insights about tea and new ways their business can profit from it, in addition to discovering the latest trends and products. Registration and conference details are available at WorldTeaExpo.com (register early for the best rates).
World Tea Expo will feature hundreds of new tea products during the three-day expo, an in-depth educational program with more than 50 sessions, and several new additions, including the “Tea Business Boot Camp: Advanced,” a new “Origins Tasting Tour” with a chance to win a trip to a tea-growing region, and a special closing party with The World Tea & Music Festival, among other highlights.
Samantha Hammer, the World Tea Expo event director and World Tea brand leader, said, “World Tea Expo is the preeminent, global event for the tea community and vertical markets that sell, serve, manufacture or distribute tea. Each year, we’re thrilled to showcase the latest tea innovations, explore important tea issues, and focus on business-building strategies. The event is a must-attend for networking, conducting deals, and celebrating tea with leading professionals from more than 50 countries.”
Highlights and New for 2019:
“Tea Business Boot Camp: Advanced” – Following the success of “Tea Business Boot Camp,” and by popular demand from participants, World Tea Expo has developed a “Tea Business Boot Camp: Advanced” program with a more detailed series of tea-specific business courses and mentoring sessions. The new pre-conference workshop, taking place on June 10, will feature a varied group of successful professionals from the tea world with a series of in-depth lectures on the many aspects of taking a tea business to the next level. This second-level course also offers participants the opportunity to sit down with veteran tea professionals to discuss issues specific to their own businesses in an afternoon of group and private mentoring sessions. “Tea Business Boot Camp: Beginners” will also take place during the pre-conference schedule on June 10.
The New “Origins Tasting Tour Workshop” with a Chance to Win a Trip to Origin – World Tea Expo’s popular “Origins Tasting Tour” will take attendees on a new, interactive and educational “tour” of some of the most important tea growing regions in the world. This year’s program will cover tea estates and teas from China, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Nepal, Taiwan and Korea. Jane Pettigrew, author of World of Tea, will emcee the program, and each region will be presented by a different tea industry leader. New for 2019 – attendees of the “Origins Tasting Tour” will have three chances to win origin trips to India, Korea and Nepal (see details at the World Tea Expo website).
New Hospitality and Foodservice Educational Track – World Tea Expo 2019 will also feature numerous tea educational sessions geared towards hospitality and restaurants/foodservice. Some of the topics include: “Presenting Tea Like Wine: For Restaurants and Their Customers”; “Training for Tea: How to Build Partnerships with Sommeliers and Restaurants”; “Tea by the Numbers – How Tea Can Be a Restaurant’s Highest Profit Center”; and “How to Craft a Tea Cocktail Program.”
The World’s Rarest Teas: An Exclusive Tasting Event – This intimate tasting event, on Wednesday, June 13, from 8 to 9:30 p.m., presents a carefully selected sequence of teas from around the world. Curated by professional tea taster Kevin Gascoyne, owner of Camellia Sinensis, the experience will feature some of the rarest and most exclusive batches of teas.
Closing Party with The World Tea & Music Festival – World Tea Expo will wrap-up the conference and expo with a celebration of tea with The World Tea & Music Festival, an annual event in Las Vegas. The closing party will feature food from Las Vegas-based tea supporting chefs, non-branded tea service, wine and limited cocktail options, interactive tea education, live music and entertainment, and more. The event will take place at the Tealet tea warehouse in Las Vegas on Thursday, June 13, from 7 – 11:59 p.m. All conference participants are welcome to attend ($30 fee with registration).
Additional Highlights
World Tea Expo will also feature a product-filled exhibit hall with hundreds of new teas, tea wares, brewing accessories and related products and services. The conference program includes 50+ business-building educational sessions, including a new track highlighting trends and opportunities. The Global Tea Championship Winners Tasting Circle will allow attendees to taste Global Tea Championship medal-winning teas. And the 6th Annual World Tea Awards rounds out World Tea Expo, to honor some of the best and brightest from the tea industry.
World Tea Expo 2019 sponsors include: International Tea Importers, ITO EN, QTrade Teas & Herbs, Dethlefsen & Balk, DMH Ingredients, Flavor Waves, Harney & Sons, t-sac, and The Tea Spot.
To register for World Tea Expo or for additional information, visit https://www.worldteaexpo.com (register early for the best rates). And be sure to follow World Tea Expo on Twitter: @worldteamedia (#WorldTeaExpo or #WTE19).
