IT ’ S BEEN SO DIFFICULT FOR on-premise operators to get back to some sense of normalcy following the pandemic ’ s peak , you might think that beverage program creativity would take a back seat . But the 2022 BevX Award winners demonstrate that innovation and ingenuity is alive and well .

For instance , Dave & Buster ’ s Entertainment , which operates 144 venues across 40 states in North America , overcame Covid-19 challenges by conducting rigorous consumer research and completely overhauling its beverage program . The new initiatives have resulted in significant growth in both sales and profitability — and earned Dave & Buster ’ s the award for Best Overall Restaurant Beverage Program .

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line , the 2022 winner for Best Overall Hospitality Beverage Program , also totally revamped its drinks offering and operations . Menu upgrades at the various bar and restaurant concepts helped increase the quality rating of drinks . For example , the full redesign of its beer-centric pub menu now showcases regionality of the brews of the world and includes a tasting chart .

The cruise line ’ s increased marketing efforts advertising its venues , cocktails and events helped boost awareness with guests . What ’ s more , enhanced bar employee training raised Royal Caribbean ’ s guest ratings of the quality of drinks , speed of service and the friendliness of bar staff .

Meanwhile , historic Hudson Valley hotel Troutbeck this past year implemented a rotating women-led beverage residency . Four female beverage leaders each spent time at Troutbeck hosting educational programs for staff and guests and curating a list of “ Selects ” on the wine list or creating specialty cocktails for menus , among other activities .

The female-forward beverage residency program , which followed the success of its chef residencies in 2021 , enhanced the hotel ’ s hyperlocal culinary experience . It also earned Troutbeck the Best Innovative Independent Beverage Program award . Speaking of women in beverage , our Raising the Bar Award goes to Mariena Mercer Boarini , the resort mixologist at Wynn Las Vegas . You might have read about Mariena in Cheers before ; she has been a pioneer in molecular cocktail development as well as innovative spirit-free libations .

That ’ s just a taste of the accomplishments of this year ’ s crop of BevX Award the recipients — see page 9 for full profiles of the winners . Congratulations to all of them and Cheers !

BevX Issue 2022 Vol . 34 No . 3

Editor Melissa Dowling 763-383-4442 • mdowling @ epgacceleration . com

Managing Editor Kyle Swartz 763-383-4447 • kswartz @ epgacceleration . com

Associate Editor Jamie Stafford 763-383-4485 • jstafford @ epgacceleration . com

Associate Managing Art Director Nicole Siewert nsiewert @ epgacceleration . com

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Melissa Dowling Editor

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4 • BevX Issue 2022 www . cheersonline . com