Are You Ready to Make a Splash?

ORLANDO, Fla. - March 11, 2015 - PRLog -- Washington D.C. (Feb. 26, 2015) - The industry's premier event is coming to Orlando, and whether you are a supplier looking to take your brand, product or service to the next level, or a wholesaler seeking new products or the opportunity to network with colleagues, the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) 72nd Annual Convention & Exposition is where you need to be.

The event will be held April 12-15, 2015 at the Grand Lakes Orlando, a joint J.W. Marriott / Ritz-Carlton property.

"The WSWA Convention & Exposition continues to break records for attendance and provide a venue for suppliers to seek distribution opportunities and wholesalers to identify tomorrow's trends and hot products," said Craig Wolf, WSWA President and CEO.

"This year's convention also offers valuable educational programs, high-level networking, and a dose of the fun and excitement for which WSWA is known," Wolf added.

Convention highlights include information-packed general sessions with powerful and educational speakers: Duke University's Mike Krzyzewski "Coach K" and the highly-decorated combat veteran and former Seal Team Six leader Robert O'Neill.

Coach K became the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history and has achieved an impressive 1000-plus career wins-along with a historic string of four NCAA championships that makes him one of only three coaches in NCAA history to earn four or more titles. A great story teller and motivator, Coach K will kick off the Opening General Session on Monday, April 13.

Robert O'Neill, is one of the most highly-decorated veterans of our time, with a Navy career spanning more than 400 missions including the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips after the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama. O'Neill will speak during the General Business Session Wednesday, April 15.

The convention also includes the popular and information-packed U.S. Beverage Alcohol Forum with sessions on marketing, working within the three-tier system, launching brands and extensions. Presentations will also explore the rapidly changing market for legalized marijuana. Erik Qualman, a prominent technologist, consultant and social media/marketing expert will deliver a keynote presentation.

Suppliers have the opportunity to enter their brands and latest products into our Wine & Spirits Tasting Competition or enter their creative original cocktails into our Call for Cocktails Mixology Competition.  Wholesalers are invited to enter mixologists into our unique Wholesaler Iron Mixologist Competition. Competitions are hosted in partnership with The Tasting Panel magazine and the Somm Journal, two of the country's most important and fastest-growing beverage industry publications reaching over 100,000 hospitality professionals each month. Competitions will again by emceed by Tony Abou-Ganim, The Modern Mixologist and a noted author and commentator.

The WSWA 72nd Annual Convention & Exposition also includes the ever popular Taste of the Industry and the Opening Night Reception sponsored by The Presidents' Forum of the Distilled Spirits Industry.

To register or learn more, please visit www.wswaconvention.org.

Keep up on the latest convention photos, news and other developments on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wswaconvention and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wswaconvention.

About WSWA

The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America is the national trade association representing the wholesale tier of the wine and spirits industry. WSWA is the voice for wholesalers in Congress, the executive branch, the courts, with the news media and in communities across America. Member firms represent 80% of the total U.S. wine and spirits market. Information about the association is available at www.wswa.org.

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Contacts: Jeff Solsby / jeff.solsby@wswa.org / 949-933-5030

Rosalind Napoli / rosalind@spinprgroup.com / 310-339-4115