58
TOBACCO BUSINESS
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013
T
his summer’s IPCPR show had
its serious “legislative fight” side. It
also had its playful “let’s party and
puff ” side. And of course, there was the
passionate “learn what makes us burn”side.
The“workhard,play hard”mentalitywas
all rolled up into one at the 81st Annual
IPCPR Convention & International
Trade Show, held in Las Vegas at The
Venetian & Sands Expo Convention
Center in mid-July. The world’s largest
premium tobacco trade show, which took
place for five days, boasted more than
1,400 booths and 300-plus exhibitors.
Serious session topics covered possible
FDA regulation, social media best
practices, and credit card processing and
issues. At the IPCPR Annual Meeting
and Breakfast, the association’s continuing
efforts to support the industry through
programs and legislative advocacy was
discussed.
Since January, the IPCPR has been
promoting two bills to help distinguish
premium cigars apart from other regulated
tobacco: H.R. 792, which was announced
as having 120 co-sponsors in the U.S.
House of Representatives at show time,
and S. 772, which had 10 co-sponsors in
the senate. While this is strong support,
the IPCPR urged that it needs more help
from its membership and that “slackers
need to get with the program.” Those
members that haven’t yet done so were
reminded to contact local senators and
house members of congress to let them
Huffing and Puffing
with IPCPR
The 81st Annual IPCPR Convention & International Trade Show,
held in Las Vegas in July, had strong elements of both
“work hard” and “play hard.”
By Renee M. Covino
IPCPR President Curt Diebel encouraging attendees to join
or help form local state premium tobacco/cigar associations.
Mike Ditka urged his audience to get “excited
about life” because “you have the venue for it.”
Toraño’s Carlos Llaca-Toraño, director of operations (on left),
and Charlie Toraño, president, are cousins.
Drew Estate’s distinct ACID cigars are
handmade in Nicaragua where the
tobaccos are cured in “aroma rooms.”
The IPCPR show is the world’s largest
premium tobacco trade show.
