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  1. Catering & Design
  2. Beverages

10 Eye-Catching Ideas for Creating Social Spaces at Conferences

Distinctly designed bars for MillerCoors beer brands set a lively tone at its annual Distributors Conference.

Ian Zelaya
May 14, 2018

B-to-B conferences aren’t necessarily known for having the flashiest bars where attendees can grab a drink. But beer distributor MillerCoors offered a different route by bringing 22 of its brands to life with a colorful, immersive showcase.

For the company’s brand showcase at its annual Distributors Conference, which took place March 27 to 29 at the Austin Convention Center, MillerCoors partnered with Chicago-based brand experience agency AgencyEA to create an exhibit for the 22 brands, with the goal of creatively capturing the spirit of each one and providing some 3,000 attendees from across the country the chance to experience each beer in a locally-inspired atmosphere. 

The booths were scattered throughout the convention center floor, which was designed to replicate downtown Austin’s Rainey Street—a popular tourist and nightlife hotspot.

The designs for each booth aimed to celebrate a specific brand by highlighting its history, flavor, or package and bottle design through eye-catching decor, live music, and lighting motifs. Standout pop-ups included a Blue Moon bar that offered a custom wall illustration of the Austin skyline rendered in the brand’s blue and orange colors, a Sol bar that aimed to evoke a street in Mexico, and a pink floral teepee at the Crispin RosĂ© hard cider bar. 

AgencyEA also is slated to partner with MillerCoors for its 2019 Distributors Conference. Here’s a look at some of the most creative booths from this year’s event.

The Sol booth recreated Mexico’s cobblestone streets and was designed to make guests feel as if they came upon a hidden gem. The bar featured a corrugated metal bar backdrop, a marquee brand sign, and custom tile work. Decor included potted agave, succulents, and marginata plants.
The Sol booth recreated Mexico’s cobblestone streets and was designed to make guests feel as if they came upon a hidden gem. The bar featured a corrugated metal bar backdrop, a marquee brand sign, and custom tile work. Decor included potted agave, succulents, and marginata plants.
Photo: Clint Brewer
MillerCoors partnered with AgencyEA to create exhibits for 22 of the beer distributor’s brands. The event at the Austin Convention Center sought to recreate the city’s nightlife hot spot Rainey Street with booths and activations for each brand. The floor also had live entertainment.
MillerCoors partnered with AgencyEA to create exhibits for 22 of the beer distributor’s brands. The event at the Austin Convention Center sought to recreate the city’s nightlife hot spot Rainey Street with booths and activations for each brand. The floor also had live entertainment.
Photo: Clint Brewer
The exhibit’s flagship booth paid homage to Miller’s family of brands, including Miller High Life. The High Life bar was designed to capture the vintage look and feel of a bar from 1855, the year that Miller Brewing Company was founded.
The exhibit’s flagship booth paid homage to Miller’s family of brands, including Miller High Life. The High Life bar was designed to capture the vintage look and feel of a bar from 1855, the year that Miller Brewing Company was founded.
Photo: Clint Brewer
The Coors Light booth was inspired by the brand’s tagline “Climb On,” featuring decor that evoked a mountain setting and motivational messaging in bold red. Stairs led guests up to a patio that offered a full view of the brand showcase. The booth offered guests Coors-branded Yeti Colsters and featured an LED wall showcasing its latest ads.
The Coors Light booth was inspired by the brand’s tagline “Climb On,” featuring decor that evoked a mountain setting and motivational messaging in bold red. Stairs led guests up to a patio that offered a full view of the brand showcase. The booth offered guests Coors-branded Yeti Colsters and featured an LED wall showcasing its latest ads.
Photo: Clint Brewer
The Blue Moon bar went literal with the brand name, displaying an illustrated backdrop in blue and orange colors that depicted downtown Austin at night. The bar showcased oranges in vases and the brand’s signature glasses. An illuminated blue moon was suspended over the bar.
The Blue Moon bar went literal with the brand name, displaying an illustrated backdrop in blue and orange colors that depicted downtown Austin at night. The bar showcased oranges in vases and the brand’s signature glasses. An illuminated blue moon was suspended over the bar.
Photo: Clint Brewer
Hamm’s Beer, which was founded in 1865, offered a nostalgic booth that had retro signage and vintage-inspired decor including restroom stickers, coasters, posters, and tin and neon signs. The booth offered old-school swag such as work shirts, buttons, hats, calendars, and coozies.
Hamm’s Beer, which was founded in 1865, offered a nostalgic booth that had retro signage and vintage-inspired decor including restroom stickers, coasters, posters, and tin and neon signs. The booth offered old-school swag such as work shirts, buttons, hats, calendars, and coozies.
Photo: Clint Brewer
The Peroni bar featured a white aesthetic that contrasted with colorful geometric lines on the floor and wall. Branding was enhanced with a blue neon sign and a marquee sign.
The Peroni bar featured a white aesthetic that contrasted with colorful geometric lines on the floor and wall. Branding was enhanced with a blue neon sign and a marquee sign.
Photo: Clint Brewer
Leinenkugel’s bar showcased the brand's red logo against a white brick wall. Cans of the light beer were displayed in mini inflated red canoes.
Leinenkugel’s bar showcased the brand's red logo against a white brick wall. Cans of the light beer were displayed in mini inflated red canoes.
Photo: Clint Brewer
The Crispin Rosé hard cider bar displayed bottles of the new cider against a backdrop of greenery with oversize hot pink letters that read 'Rosé all day.' The branded pink bar was situated under a giant teepee with pink florals.
The Crispin Rosé hard cider bar displayed bottles of the new cider against a backdrop of greenery with oversize hot pink letters that read "Rosé all day." The branded pink bar was situated under a giant teepee with pink florals.
Photo: Clint Brewer
Street sign and lamp post props enhanced the atmosphere of a bustling downtown Austin street.
Street sign and lamp post props enhanced the atmosphere of a bustling downtown Austin street.
Photo: Clint Brewer
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