Founders Ann and Paul Tuennerman have
reportedly entered into an agreement with two local entrepreneurs to sell
annual drinks festival Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Gary Solomon Jr, head of the Solomon Group,
and Neal Bodenheimer, co-owner of cocktail bar Cure, have signed a letter of
intent to purchase TOTC’s parent company Mojo911 LLC from founder Ann
Tuennerman and her husband Paul Tuennerman.
According to Neat Pour, the
deal will see the company restructured as a not-for-profit. Paul Tuennerman previously announced
his resignation as TOTC’s Chief business officer last year following a row over
a ‘blackface’ video of his wife, Ann. Both later apologized for the content. This was followed by the Tuennermans
announcement that they were stepping down from the company effective
immediately in September 2017. Co-Founders, Ann and Paul Tuennerman, will be transitioning away
from their roles in producing the world’s renowned cocktail event, Tales of the
Cocktail, effective immediately. Melissa
Young, who has served as Director of Operations for the past nine years will
assume the reins of the operating company behind the event as President.
"We have
devoted our professional careers to the hospitality industry even before the
formation of Tales of the Cocktail and the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural
Preservation Society. Our goal has always been to create something lasting that
can benefit the industry and the people of New Orleans well beyond our years.
This allows that to continue," said Ann R. Tuennerman. “It has been an honor to spend the last
fifteen years working within the industry to create something extraordinary. I
am fortunate in that I have had the opportunity to work alongside some amazing
bartenders, spirit producers, authors, and educators, from around the globe.
While Ann and I have mixed emotions, we are excited about the next chapter in
our lives, and look forward to watching the event continue to evolve and
flourish,” said Paul G. Tuennerman.
Founded
in 2002, Tales of the Cocktail has grown from a small gathering of cocktail
lovers into the world’s premier cocktail festival. Each
year the international spirits industry is welcomed to New Orleans for a week
of seminars, tastings, networking events and much more. With 200+ annual events
developed specifically for bartenders, distillers and other spirits
professionals. Tales of the Cocktail is
the industry’s annual meeting place for exchange of new ideas, products and
techniques.
Tales of
the Cocktail® is produced by the New Orleans Culinary & Cultural
Preservation Society, a non-profit organization committed to supporting,
promoting and growing the cocktail industry in New Orleans and around the
world. In addition to offering opportunities to learn and acquire new skills
through Tales of the Cocktail® events and Tales 365®, for which the proceeds go
back into the spirits industry. Since 2008, there has been more than $886,000 invested
into programs like the Cocktail Apprentice Program, a tuition reimbursement
program, the Apprentice medical aid fund, educational scholarships and a new
health and wellness program for members of the hospitality industry. According to
a report from the University of New Orleans Research Department, Tales of the
Cocktail 2017 generated a total economic impact of US$18.9 million for the
city.
