More than 350 hospitality professionals from across South Australia attended the inaugural Future Proof Adelaide last week, hosted by Paramount Liquor, to discuss the future of the hospitality industry.
Held twice yearly, Future Proof is a forum for hospitality professionals to network, gain insights into the liquor industry, and meet with suppliers. Last year, Paramount held successful events in Sydney and Brisbane, with Adelaide’s event the first for 2024 and Melbourne to follow soon.
Nathan Rowe, CEO, Paramount Liquor, reflected on the success of Future Proof Adelaide.
“Our goal for Future Proof Adelaide was to create a night of connection, new experiences and meaningful discussions and I feel that we really delivered. It was great to see the drinks industry of Adelaide gather and experience the immersive brand experiences from all our suppliers, from DJ’s and new products, to a glimpse into the future of bar sustainability and even a tattooist. It was great to see guests leaving the event excited about what the future will bring,” he said.
There were three panel discussions throughout the event, hosted by Sam Bygrave, editor and founder of Boothby Media. The first panel, Future Proof Your Brand, featured Never Never Gin co-Founder Sean Baxter, and bar owner and drinks author Cara Devine. Bartenders Nick Corletto from Maybe Mae and Samuel Thornhill from Byrdi were on the second panel for Future Proof Our Industry, discussing sustainability, education, and industry development.
The final panel for Future Proof Adelaide comprised wine and restaurant professional Meira Harel, Big Easy Group co-Founder and CEO Oliver ‘OJ’ Brown, and Gonzo Group Founder Jon di Pinto. Each speaker brought their expertise in the Adelaide hospitality scene to discussions about opportunities for the next generation of industry professionals in Adelaide.
Guests were able to use the newly developed Paramount Passport throughout the evening. Through the Paramount Passport, guests went into the running to win a range of prizes, gaining points by scanning QR codes at supplier stands. The grand prize was a $3000 trip for two to Sydney, including meals at The Waratah and Morena and drinks at Centro 86 and El Primo Sanchez.
Paramount Liquor now turns its attention to Future Proof Melbourne, which will take place in July.