Asia's 50 Best Bars 2020 Cancels On-Site Ceremony in Singapore
Due to global travel restrictions placed by countries to contain the spread of covid-19, the organisers of Asia's 50 Best Bars announced today that the on-site ceremony, which was supposed to take place in Singapore on May 14 (7pm), will be streamed online via a digital countdown.
The move was made after the team behind Asia's 50 Best Bars consulted with key personalities in the community, and upon receiving their support, they decided to proceed with the 2020 list but in a different form.
Mark Sansom, content director of the awarding body, revealed that though they were disappointed not to have an on-the-ground event, they didn't really have much of a choice given that the "health and safety of our attendees and staff remain our utmost priority".
(Related: The Old Man In Hong Kong Nabs The Top Spot At The Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 Awards)
With the F&B business being one of the industries greatly affected by the pandemic, Sansom also reiterated the importance of recognising these drinking establishments. "We hope that the list will provide inspiration for guests as the bars sector prepares to recover and bars themselves reopen," he affirms, before letting on that they are very much looking forward to returning to Singapore next year for The World’s 50 Best Bars.
The main event still takes place on May 14 (7pm), where the awarding body will reveal the bars that have made it onto the prestigious list. But in the days leading up to the annual bacchanalia, they will announce the special awards first: Campari One To Watch (April 16), Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award (April 23), Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award (April 30), and Altos Bartenders’ Bartender (May 7).
As for the series of events, including the thought-leadership series #50BestTalks and the Bartenders' Feast at The Capitol Kempinski, Asia's 50 Best is planning to reschedule these to the latter part of the year, depending on factors like the pandemic situation, international travel restrictions and advice from the bar community.
(Related: These Asian Bars are Pioneering the Next Wave of the Craft Cocktail Revolution)