Tales of the Cocktail 2025, the foundation’s 23rd iteration, will take place at The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans from July 20-25, 2025. Through its theme of Evolve, the conference will explore the ongoing transformation and development within the cocktail industry, as well as highlight evolution and innovation that inspires growth. Tales of the Cocktail is open to everyone from cocktail enthusiasts to seasoned industry veterans and all those who fall in between. Tickets will be available on May 13th, 2025, which happens to be World Cocktail Day.
“We’re thrilled to bring Tales of the Cocktail 2025 to life with the theme Evolve,” said TOTCF CEO Eileen Wayner. “This focus demonstrates our commitment to growth and innovation in the hospitality industry, and we look forward to exploring new ideas, fostering progress, and inspiring our community to continue evolving together.”
In 2024, Tales of the Cocktail hosted over 400 unique events. 2025 attendees can attend curated educational seminars, Beyond the Bar activations, Futures Labs, networking opportunities, guided walking tours, awards programs and so much more. The official Tales of the Cocktail 2025 agenda will be released in the coming months, including seminar and presenter information.
Economic Impact to New Orleans
Tales of the Cocktail contributed a total economic impact of $24.8 million to the New Orleans economy in 2024. The event also supported 215 jobs through visitor spending, participating businesses and organizational investments. These positions are estimated to have generated an additional $7.2 million in earnings for New Orleans residents.
Sustainability Initiatives
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact in order to support its home of New Orleans. In 2024, the foundation rolled out new initiatives that allowed them to:
- Replace 60,000 single-use plastic cups with BPI-certified compostable PLA cups derived from corn and sugarcane;
- Overall significantly reduce or eliminate single-use plastics at the conference;
- Divert 21,997 pounds of waste from landfills via on-site recycling and composting efforts;
- Reduce 19,599 pounds of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent by waste diversion initiatives;
- Donate 11,550 pounds of glass to Glass Half Full, which converts it to sand and gravel used to restore coastline, aid in disaster relief, and create recycled building materials;
- Implement composting and recycling at 30 off-site events
Going forward, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation has pledged its ongoing commitment to a more sustainable cocktail conference, as well as a more sustainable hospitality and beverage industry. The Foundation will build upon these initiatives and introduce even more efforts at the 2025 conference.
Special Room Rate for Attendees at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans
For 2025, Tales of the Cocktail will partner again with The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans to offer attendees a room block and special rate during the conference. For the TOTC room block, reservations can be made either online on the TOTC website or by calling The Ritz-Carlton Central Reservations at 1.800.826.8987. Guests are invited to secure their reservations early as reservations are first come, first served, and the last day to book is June 23, 2025.
Volunteer Opportunities
Tales of the Cocktail is now accepting volunteers for the 2025 conference. For more information, please visit the TOTCF website here.
For more information about Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, visit https://talesofthecocktail.org/.