Join us in sunny Palm Springs to celebrate the hospitality industry and support its professionals!! Let everyone know by helping us spread the word on social media!

We believe in building a platform that focuses on community. Which is why our ultimate goal is to bring all aspects of the industry together on an even playing field, while encouraging participants to engage in a positive and professional matter.

Please note that Desert Escape is open only to members of the service and hospitality industry, and/or a directly affiliated business entity, such as a brand, distributor, consultant or agency that works within the drinks industry.

Back by popular demand, Desert Escape returns to The Ace Hotel and Swim Club! Use the link below to take advantage of our special group rate while supplies last. 

10:30am - 5pm – Registration

^{📍Ace Hotel - Clubhouse First Floor}

Come Check In & grab your wristbands with our friends at Madre Mezcal at The Clubhouse at Ace Hotel and be ready for the festivities!!

_{Sponsored by Madre Mezcal}

11am - 5pm – Clubhouse Tasting 

^{📍Ace Hotel - Clubhouse First Floor}

Join us at the Clubhouse at Ace Hotel for tastings and cocktails with multiple brands. Featuring - Garrison Bros, Underberg, Topo Chico, Tierra Cobriza Tequila, Saint Benevolence, ZBiotics, NBD Brands, Casa Lotos Sotol, and LiveWire Cocktails. 

10am - 3pm – Desert Path Cafe

^{📍Ace Hotel - Clubhouse First Floor}

The Pathfinder serves up Coffee & Cocktails from the forest of the PNW to the Desert of the West.

Sunday & Monday Morning @ The Clubhouse by Main Pool

_{Sponsored by The Pathfinder}

11am - 3pm – Education Oasis

^{📍Ace Hotel - Clubhouse Second Floor}

Join us at the Second Floor of the Clubhouse for a variety of educational seminars curated by our counterparts! 

_{Sponsored by Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch} 

• 11am-12pm – What Is Too Sweet? by Christina Mercado

The goal of “What is too Sweet?” is to bring awareness to our use of sugar in our industry. We as bartenders use sugar everyday, but in quantities that we most likely don’t even realize. Cocktails quickly add up to more than our daily recommended sugar consumption. Additionally, the majority of the type of sugar used is both unhealthy and unsustainable. Throughout this seminar I want to share what are the other sweetener options available to us in our industry, and how we can use them to create equally delicious cocktails!

• 12:30pm-1:30pm – "A Bar with No Walls" The Pop Up Playbook by Cale Brown

A Bar with No Walls: Nomadic Hospitality explores the evolution of Junglebird 504 from an Afro-Tiki, Afrobeat-inspired pop-up into a full-service hospitality creative agency. Through my entrepreneurial journey, I'll share how we built a brand rooted in Black New Orleans cocktail culture while embracing the creativity of modern craft mixology. This seminar examines how bartenders can create opportunities beyond the traditional bar model, challenge the status quo, and bring hospitality directly to communities through pop-ups, collaborations, and experiential events. It's a conversation about innovation, ownership, and what the future of bartender-led hospitality can look like.

• 2pm-3pm – How Farming Fills Our Glass: Connecting the Beverage Industry to it's Agricultural Roots by Logan Mitchell

When we talk about hospitality and sustainability, the bar is often left out of the conversation; when in fact everything that we drink starts at the farm. From wine to coffee, to that neutral grain spirit we make whiskey out of, it's all farmed. We'll learn how important farming is to more than just the food side of hospitality, how everything we consume comes from the earth, and why changing farming at it's source is the key to addressing climate change.   

12pm - 4pm – Tye-Dye Pool Party

^{📍Ace Hotel - Main Pool}

Join Mi Campo Tequila for the official Desert Escape kickoff party at the Ace Hotel’s main pool!

We’ll be tie-dying merch, sipping margaritas, and floating our way to bliss in the desert sun.

_{Sponsored by Mi Campo Tequila}

4pm - 7pm – The William Grant & Sons Summer Sunset Collective

^{📍Ace Hotel - The Commune}

Join us for the WG&S Summer Sunset Collective, a day-to-night Palm Springs experience celebrating the William Grant & Sons portfolio and the hospitality professionals who bring these brands to life. From poolside moments under the desert sun to a comfortable indoor space for cocktails, dining, and discovery, guests are invited to explore the event however they choose. Designed to be relaxed, flexible, and engaging, the experience offers the freedom to move between settings while connecting with brands, bartenders, and fellow industry professionals. Throughout the evening, guests can meet brand ambassadors, enjoy cocktails from guest bartenders, and discover standout brands from across the portfolio. Whether you're looking for fresh seasonal inspiration, practical ideas for your beverage program, or simply an opportunity to connect with others in the industry, you'll find plenty of ways to taste, learn, and share ideas at the Summer Sunset Collective.

_{Sponsored by Hendrick's Gin, Milagro Tequila, Tullamore DEW, Sailor Jerry, Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Monkey Shoulder, Reyka Vodka}

6pm - 9pm – Reposado Ranch presented by Humano Tequila

^{📍Arrive Hotel}

As the sun sets on the desert horizon, step into Reposado Ranch. Sip on Humano reposado, cozy up around the fire with s’mores, and customize your very own stitched bandana. Boots, bonfires, & bandits… with a heavy hand of tequila. Kick back, stay awhile. 

_{Sponsored by Humano Tequila}

6pm - 9pm – MY FIRST CRUSH

^{📍After Hours}

PALM SPRINGS… WHO’S YOUR CRUSH? We’re taking over After Hours Palm Springs for one seriously crush-worthy night. Join us Sunday, September 20, from 6pm to 9pm for WHO’S YOUR CRUSH? featuring Sagamore Whiskey, Liquid Alchemist and Topo Chico. The Sure Thing, Bad Idea, Desert Hookup, Vacation Fling or The High Potential… Which one are you going home thinking about? Come thirsty. Bring your crush or find one there. Crush responsibly.

_{Sponsored by Sagamore Spirit}

7pm - 10pm – Zoltar's Oasis

^{📍Boozehounds}

Step into Zoltar’s Oasis, a mystical late-night escape inside Boozehounds where the cocktails are cold, the cards hold secrets, and your future is waiting to be revealed. Join Willett Distillery for an evening of fortune telling, tarot readings, cocktails, and immaculate desert vibes, featuring original cocktails from Wesley Meyn of Thunderbolt Los Angeles, created especially for Desert Escape. Get your tarot cards read by Heather Marie of Yamashiro & The Fifth Bar, grab a cocktail, get a fortune, and settle into the oasis for a little desert magic. Come thirsty. Leave enlightened. Fortune Telling • Tarot • Willett Cocktails • Desert Magic magic.

_{Sponsored by Willet}

9pm - 12am – Asian Invasion Vol VI

^{📍Truss & Twine}

Asian Invasion Vol. VI is an immersive cocktail pop-up celebrating the bold flavors, traditions, and innovations of Asia through mixology. By reclaiming a phrase once used negatively, the event reframes it as a joyful celebration of culture, creativity, and community. Enjoy the creations from Realm of 52 Remedies, Viridian Bar, Tamba, and Truss & Twine

_{Sponsored by House of Remy Cointreau}

10pm - 1am –Mind Eraser & Chill

^{📍Chill Bar}

A low brow late night after party at the infamous Chill Bar with your friends from Mr Black. No cocktails, no guest shifts, just Desert vibes and good times. 

**Chill Bar is open for regular service, however a PS Bartenders Weekend Wristband REQUIRED to access complimentary Mr Black Mind Erasers, merch, etc.

_{Sponsored by Mr. Black}

9am - 10am – Floating Sound Healing

^{📍Ace Hotel - Main Pool}

_{Sponsored by Topo Chico & Smartwater}

10:30am - 5pm – Registration

^{📍Ace Hotel - Clubhouse First Floor}

Come Check In & grab your wristbands with our friends at Madre Mezcal at The Clubhouse at Ace Hotel and be ready for the festivities!!

_{Sponsored by Madre Mezcal}

11am - 5pm – Clubhouse Tasting 

^{📍Ace Hotel - Clubhouse First Floor}

Join us at the Clubhouse at Ace Hotel for tastings and cocktails with multiple brands. Featuring - Garrison Bros, Underberg, Topo Chico, Tierra Cobriza Tequila, Saint Benevolence, ZBiotics, NBD Brands, Casa Lotos Sotol, and LiveWire Cocktails. 

10am - 3pm – Desert Path Cafe

^{📍Ace Hotel - Clubhouse First Floor}

The Pathfinder serves up Coffee & Cocktails from the forest of the PNW to the Desert of the West.

Sunday & Monday Morning @ The Clubhouse by Main Pool

_{Sponsored by The Pathfinder}

11am-5pm – Angeleno Spritz Cart

^{📍Ace Hotel}

Start your day off with some bubbles from your friends at Ventura Spirits serving Angeleno Spritz, Limoncello Spritz and Pixie Collins.

_{Sponsored by Ventura Spirits} 

11am - 3pm – Education Oasis

^{📍Ace Hotel - Clubhouse Second Floor}

Join us at the Second Floor of the Clubhouse for a variety of educational seminars curated by our counterparts! 

_{Sponsored by Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch} 

• 11am-12pm – Whiskey and Malt: How the Malting Process Affects Whiskey Flavor by Tim Weigel

Malt...we hear this term a lot in the spirits industry and we usually glean over it when we talk about things like Single Malt Scotch. Have you ever wondered about certain flavors like chocolate, biscuit, and toffee in your favorite whiskies? How did these flavors get in there? What ingredients within the malting process give it these divine flavors and aromas?  

• 12:30pm-1:30pm – Tiki Through a Pasifika Lens by Samuel Jimenez

This seminar explores the intersection of Polynesian and broader Oceanic cultures with colonialism, imperialism, and militarism, and how those histories relate to the world of tiki today. Aimed at both hospitality professionals and consumers, it provides historical and cultural context for a genre that was born during a period when many Pacific Island communities were experiencing the lasting impacts of colonization, occupation, and war. Through that lens, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the peoples, cultures, and histories of Oceania, while examining how those realities intersect with the cocktails, imagery, and narratives that have shaped tiki culture.

• 2pm-3pm – Intentionality First, Building a Business with Purpose. A Panel with Kiowa Bryan, Amanda Gunderson, Linda Douglas and Chase Babcock 

This seminar explores how bartenders and hospitality professionals can build successful businesses rooted in intentionality, social impact, and long-term sustainability. In an industry often defined by hustle culture, burnout, and razor-thin margins, this panel offers a practical and inspiring look at how purpose can be a powerful business strategy.  

12pm - 3pm – Kaftailing 

^{📍Ace Hotel - The Commune}

Heaven Hill Brands presents: Kaftailing! Bring your kaftan—or pool attire of choice—and enjoy a delicious Heaven Hill cocktail with us poolside. Featuring a collaboration with Farmer Kelley and Rob Martinez of the LA-based, micro-seasonal pop-up series NATIVE.

RSVP HERE

_{Sponsored by Heaven Hill Brands}

2pm - 5pm – Zest Fest

^{📍Boozehounds}

Join us at Boozehounds in Palm Springs for a deep dive into California citrus with Lucas from Cool Hand Co. and CJ from Avocado Bliss Retreat. We’ll discuss biodiversity, the impact of growing practices on flavor, and utilization of local produce for ultimate cocktail flavor, all followed by a hosted “Sour Hour” with Maker’s Mark sour cocktails and tunes from DJ Papa Trebizo. RSVP required; limited space available. 

RSVP HERE

_{Sponsored by Maker's Mark}

4pm - 7pm – Three Teenie Matini Lunch 

^📍Beaton's

Join Suntory for an old school business lunch at one of Palm Springs most exclusive bars for Martinis, Light Bites, and Good Business. Don't worry appropriate Business Attire will be Provided. TWO SEATINGS, SPACE IS LIMITED, RSVP REQUIRED 

RSVP First Seating

RSVP Second Seating

_{Sponsored by Suntory Global Spirits}

5pm - 8pm – Hollywood Hideout

^{📍Melyvn's at Ingleside Estate}

Calling all glamoraties, this is your chance to lavish in luxury, to illuminate your look, to tap your toes to the tickling of keys at the go-to spot of Hollywood royalty. Please be our guest, come dressed to impress, and join us at Melvyn’s Piano Bar for a night to remember. Who knows who you’ll see but I promise it’ll be worth the envy. The theme is class, but we always welcome a little bit of sass.  

_{Sponsored by Angel's Envy}

6pm - 9pm – Babes Behind The Bar - Desert Babes V

^{📍Ace Hotel - The Commune}

BABES BEHIND THE BAR IS BACK 🌵 DESERT BABES YEAR 5!

Five years of mentoring incredible women in the desert and we're celebrating with a BABE BEHIND THE BAR PARTY to remember at The Ace Hotel Commune Pool. What started as a passion project to uplift women in hospitality has become a movement. BABES cultivates an inclusive culture that pushes back against the inequalities women face, both behind the bar and beyond. Since 2017, we've given back to women's charities across Orange County, LA, Long Beach, and Portland. Inspired by the women who paved the way, BABES is and always will be a resource for women in hospitality.

_{Sponsored by Spirlbam, Real De Valle Tequila, Gin Lane 1757 & Montelobos Mezcal}

7pm - 10pm – No Diving

^{📍Arrive Hotel}

Trade the heat for cool waters and warm grooves. As the desert sun dips below the San Jacinto Mountains, Pernod Ricard invites you to trade the cocktail den for the poolside as we groove from golden hour into the night with the Los Angeles’ beloved No Smoking Bar. Transporting the bar team’s familiar tongue-in-cheek swagger poolside, No Diving is a night swim you won’t want to miss! Expect the kind of evening that moves at its own pace: a cocktail in hand, a beat you can groove to, and a crowd that feels less like an event and more like a party at a friend's house who happens to have a really swanky pool. Come for the cocktails, stay for the company – and remember, NO DIVING!

RSVP HERE

_{Sponsored by Código, Jefferson’s, Jameson, Skrewball, and Absolut}

9pm - 12am – DESERT DISCO KARAOKE!

^{📍Ace Hotel - Amigo Room}

JOIN US INSIDE THE AMIGO ROOM AT THE ACE, where the drinks are strong, the voices are weak, and the desert gets a little dangerous. Grab the mic and see what happens when the sun goes down.

_{Sponsored by PATRÓN, ILEGAL MEZCAL & CAZADORES}

10pm-1am – La Discoteca

^{📍After Hours}

When the sun goes down, the party doesn't stop. Chase the rabbit down the hole to After Hours. You'll find Cheech Kinsway (Palm Valley Cocktails - Columbus) and Linda Douglas (Donna's - Los Angeles) shaking 400 Conejos cocktails, while DJ Shana Sarett will make you shake your ass on the dance floor. Matt Klette and James Squire will be on hand to keep the mischief alive. 

_{Sponsored by 400 Conejos}

11am-2pm – Angeleno Spritz Cart

^{📍Ace Hotel}

Start your day off with some bubbles from your friends at Ventura Spirits serving Angeleno Spritz, Limoncello Spritz and Pixie Collins.

_{Sponsored by Ventura Spirits} 

12pm - 3pm – Drag Brunch

^{📍Ace Hotel - The Nosh Pit}

Desert Escape, meet your Tuesday. Desert Chingonas is a drag brunch with a Mexican-American heartbeat, landing at the Nosh Pit at the Ace Hotel Palm Springs on September 22, noon to 3. Fierce drag artists, a host who will not let you sit quietly, a DJ keeping the room moving, guest bartenders from The Mermaid (DTLA) behind the bar, and Espolòn tequila flowing all afternoon. Included with your Desert Escape pass, so just show up, bring your people, and come thirsty. Sponsored by Campari Group. Produced by Brown Sugar Burlesque. ☀️🌵💃

_{Sponsored by Campari Brands}

1pm - 4pm – Float On

^{📍Ace Hotel - The Commune}

Come for the vibes, stay for the popsicles! Enjoy cocktails, pool floats, and bites from the True Proof Collective and Remy Cointreau Teams.

_{Sponsored by Remy Cointreau}