Vinexposium considering trade show for spirits

Vinexposium, the organisers of Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris, is considering launching a standalone trade show for spirits, it was revealed at a press briefing in London last week.

Commenting on the spirits section at the upcoming Paris-based fair in February 2023, Vinexposium CEO Rodolphe Lameyse described this part of the business as “so exciting”, with a 40% growth in exhibitor numbers for next year’s show.

This sectioin of Vinexpo Paris, which is branded Be Spirits, will have its own hall (Hall 2) in 2023, and extended opening hours, with visitors allowed to remain in this area of the fair until 8pm, when the other halls shut their doors at 6 or 7pm, depending on the day.

Looking further ahead, Lameyse said that he would like to turn this spirits zone into its own show in two years’ time.

“If I can have Be Spirits as a dedicated show then I will take this opportunity,” he said. “That won’t be in 2024, but most likely 2025 or ’26,” he added.

Speaking further about next year’s exhibition, he said that Vinexposium would once again build a 40 metre ‘Infinity Bar’ at the show, which was installed for the first time at this year’s Vinexpo Paris, and had given him “a bit of white hair”, because it was so busy at the February fair.

However, while this year’s Infinity Bar was filled with French bars, next year will see an international presence, with the 40m installation hosting 10 Parisian bars, 5 bars from around France and 5 European bars “to showcase the creative spirit of top mixologists.”

As previously reported, next year’s Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris – which takes place in Paris on 13-15 February – will be 25% larger and feature double the number of international exhibitors.

Around 3,500 producers are forecast to take stands in 2023, compared to a little below 3,000 at this year’s event.

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