We had the exclusive opportunity to attend the Bar & Restaurant Expo, the highly anticipated yearly B2B event for bar and restaurant owners. The 2024 venue in Las Vegas was a stunning backdrop, offering a unique setting to immerse ourselves in the excitement of new trends, products and technologies that are shaping the hospitality industry today.
Elevating the Drink Experience
At the expo, we witnessed live demonstrations of cutting-edge technology designed to elevate the bar experience. The Breville Commercial “The Smoke Bubble™ Kit,” was a standout, allowing bartenders to create food-safe bubbles that burst with natural wood smoke. This unique method of garnishing cocktails with aromas like hickory, applewood and cherrywood is sure to intrigue your guests. Another fascinating technology we encountered was the Roxi-Ice dry ice on-demand machine, a fun and functional addition to any bar.
Robots
We’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about robots. Yes, robots that are almost reminiscent of the Jetsons’ loyal servant, Rosie. You might have had to do a double-take if you saw Plato, United Robotics Group’s “Cobiot” rolling around the floor show! This robot is meant to support your restaurant staff by serving your guests’ food directly, dynamically adapting to changing environments. There was even a Chicken Fried Rice robot from RobotLAB that could create this complex dish on its own with built-in compartments that store, measure, and dispense cooking oil and seasonings. All the operator needs to do is toss in egg, chicken, veggies, and rice with a touch screen to modify and start the cooking.
Beyond the restaurant, robots like these have many applications for room service, beach bars, beach clubs, bowling alleys, and even health care facilities.
Check out more photos and videos from the expo:
