An illness, an accident or a hurricane is enough to leave a bartender without tips and without shifts. For those moments there is the Tip Jar, the fund that Puerto Rico Cocktail Week (PRCW) created after the pandemic to support hospitality workers when they face financial hardship.
This year, the eighth edition of the event, which will be held Nov. 8-14 with its seminars at Hotel Rumbao in Old San Juan, puts that fund at the center of the celebration.
"That idea came out of the pandemic. We were one of the most affected industries in the world, and all of this was born from the idea of helping in that moment, something quick to get through it," Roberto Berdecía, co-founder of PRCW alongside Deliana Olmo, told Platea.
Learn more about the Tip Jar and the events within Puerto Rico Cocktail Week.
🫙💵 What is the Tip Jar?
The Tip Jar offers financial and psychological assistance to professionals facing illness, accidents, natural disasters or other unforeseen circumstances.
"It is designed for the entire hospitality and service industry, not just bartenders: servers, barbacks, bus boys, valet parking, security, dishwashers, cooks, basically everyone who works in hotels, restaurants and bars," Berdecía clarified.
According to the latest count, the fund has provided a little more than 300 grants, and not all of them have been for emergencies.
"We have had people who simply went through maternity leave. Our industry has no structure for maternity, so we support that too," he said.
📄 How do you apply for assistance?
Anyone working in the industry in Puerto Rico who needs support can apply on its website.
How can you contribute?
The most direct way to contribute to the Tip Jar is by attending the Bartender's Face Off Competition, which will be held Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 9:00 p.m. to midnight at La Factoría in Old San Juan.
Bartenders go head to head preparing cocktails, and speed and flavor decide who advances to the next round.
"We designed the Face Off this year for the Tip Jar. We cover the expenses, which are minimal, and the rest will go to the Tip Jar," Berdecía said.
A week to talk about well-being
Care for those who work behind the bar also runs through the Industry Day seminars, on Nov. 9 and 10 at Hotel Rumbao. Among the talks:
"Sin vergüenza, sin miedo": Tara Fougner will speak about asking for help and the value of vulnerability.
"Detrás del servicio": Ivanna Ortiz will address well-being and emotional intelligence in hospitality.
Alquímico: Jean Trinh, founder of the Cartagena, Colombia bar that holds the No. 3 spot on The World's 50 Best Bars, will present a documentary about the bar's 10 years of building community.
"This year we're bringing some different things," Berdecía said. The main draw, he added, is the guests.
🍸 Participating bars
During the week of Nov. 11-14, the 60 Official Bars of PRCW, from Old San Juan to Ponce, Mayagüez and Isabela, will host guest bartenders for guest shifts and special activations. Find the full list.
🗓️ Schedule
Sunday, Nov. 8
4:00-9:00 p.m. · Opening Party · ILA San Juan, avenida Kennedy
Monday, Nov. 9 · Industry Day (Salón Fortaleza, Hotel Rumbao)
9:30 a.m. · Industry Breakfast
11:00 a.m. · Juan David Zapata (Medellín Cocktail Week): "Agitamos ideas, no solo cócteles"
12:15 p.m. · Steven de Jesús Santiago: "AI for your Bar"
2:00 p.m. · Jean Trinh (Alquímico): "Cómo conectar un menú con proyectos sostenibles"
3:15 p.m. · Luis Pagán: "The Art & Science of Flavor"
4:45 p.m. · Tara Fougner: "Sin vergüenza, sin miedo: El arte de pedir ayuda y el poder de la vulnerabilidad"
Tuesday, Nov. 10 · Industry Day (Salón Fortaleza, Hotel Rumbao)
9:30 a.m. · Industry Breakfast
11:00 a.m. · Mohammad Aljaff (Schmuck NYC): "Don't Be a Schmuck"
2:00 p.m. · Jean Trinh: "Documental Alquímico: 10 años creando comunidad"
3:15 p.m. · Ivanna Ortiz: "Detrás del servicio: bienestar e inteligencia emocional en la hospitalidad"
4:45 p.m. · Alex Smith (Tales of the Cocktail Foundation): "The Tales Playbook: Getting Involved & Getting Noticed"
9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. · Bartender's Face Off Competition at La Factoría, Old San Juan
Wednesday, Nov. 11 through Saturday, Nov. 14
Guest shifts and special activations at the Official Bars
Thursday, Nov. 12 · Visit to SJ Artisan Distillers, in Vega Alta
🎟️ Ticket prices
Tickets range from $45 for a one-day seminar pass to $135 for the All Access pass. There are also $65 tickets for the opening party and $80 tickets for both seminar days. All prices are plus sales tax, and tickets are available on the event page.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
