A promising Antiguan hospitality professional has earned a spot among the beverage industry’s most exciting emerging talents, after securing a prestigious international scholarship that will open doors to global learning and professional development. Auslando Davis, who currently serves as assistant food and beverage manager at the renowned Curtain Bluff resort, beat out hundreds of high-caliber applicants from across the globe to claim the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Global Beverage Scholarship.
The award marks a major milestone for Davis, granting him full access to the 24th annual Tales of the Cocktail Conference, one of the beverage industry’s most influential professional gatherings, set to take place in New Orleans from July 19 to 26. During the week-long event, Davis will have the unparalleled chance to connect with leading beverage innovators, master distillers, award-winning bartenders and industry executives from every corner of the world. Through immersive workshops, panel discussions, hands-on demonstrations and networking sessions, he will deepen his expertise, learn cutting-edge industry practices and expand his professional network on a global scale.
For Davis, the opportunity is far more than a personal career boost—it is a chance to lift up the entire hospitality sector of his home nation. In remarks following the announcement of his selection, Davis emphasized his commitment to bringing the knowledge and insights he gains back to Antigua and Barbuda. “This is a tremendous opportunity to learn from some of the best in the global beverage industry and bring that knowledge and experience back home,” he said. He went on to share his plan to use his new skills to mentor emerging local bartenders and beverage professionals, working collectively to raise the overall service standard of Antigua and Barbuda’s thriving hospitality industry, which is a core pillar of the nation’s economy.
Davis’s inclusion in the scholarship program also puts Antigua and Barbuda front and center on the international beverage stage, joining a diverse roster of nations represented at the annual conference. The event, which draws thousands of beverage professionals each year, serves as a global hub for sharing innovation, celebrating cultural cocktail traditions and shaping the future of the international hospitality and beverage sector. For the small Caribbean nation, Davis’s participation opens new opportunities to showcase its growing hospitality talent and build stronger connections with global industry partners.