About this Event
Date: Tuesday, January 7
Time: 3:00–6:30 p.m.
Who?: Bartenders, bar managers, venue operators, and industry partners
Join us for the official kickoff of the Austin 2026 Railz Relay season.
This SpeedRailz Industry Happy Hour and Onboarding Day is designed to bring bartenders, venue leaders, and partners together to walk through the full Railz Relay format, explain how the 60-day community campaign works, and help teams understand what it takes to compete or host this season.
Whether you are actively applying or just exploring what the campaign looks like, this event gives you clarity, access, and real tools you can use immediately.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- How the Railz Relay competition works across craft, speed, and community
- What the 60-day community campaign looks like in real terms
- How scoring works and what judges and guests are actually evaluating
- How events, menus, and content tie together to drive traffic and sales
- What is expected from competitors and partner venues in 2026
WHAT ATTENDEES GET
- A clear playbook for the Railz Relay season and competition format
- Onboarding to our partner tools used throughout the campaign
- Guided gin tasting and education led by Waterloo Gin, with a focus on Prickly Pear for the Austin craft round
- Media guidance, content prompts, and event frameworks designed to convert attention into attendance
PARTNER TOOLS YOU WILL BE ONBOARDED TO
- for guest check-ins and verified event ratings
- for plug-and-play speed networking inside your events
- for ticketing, payouts, and clean reporting
These tools power scoring, guest feedback, and revenue tracking throughout the season.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- Bartenders interested in competing in Railz Relay 2026
- Bar managers and beverage directors exploring team entry
- Venue operators interested in hosting events or future activations
- Industry partners and collaborators supporting the campaign
You do not need to be officially selected to attend.
If you have not applied yet and would like to compete please fill out you application here >> CLICK HERE TO APPLY
EVENT AGENDA
3:00–3:15
Check-in and networking
QR access to the Railz Hospitality online network, Disgo, Reuneo, and Posh Intros
3:15–3:30
Welcome and overview
What Railz Relay is, why it exists, and how the Austin season is structured
3:30–3:45
Partners and tools walkthrough
Spirit partners, technology platforms, and how they integrate into the campaign
3:45–4:20
Community competition deep dive
Event formats, marketing strategy, content expectations, and scoring explained clearly
4:20–4:45
Live partner demos
Disgo check-ins and ratings
Reunio speed networking preview
Posh ticketing setup and payouts
4:45–5:10
Q&A and onboarding moments
Team timelines, event windows, venue details, and next steps
5:10–6:10
Waterloo Gin guided tasting
Portfolio overview, service notes, and Prickly Pear focus for Austin
6:10–6:30
Wrap and next steps
What to submit, what goes live next, and how communication will flow
IMPORTANT NOTES
- This event is educational and industry focused
- Attendance does not guarantee selection, but it does provide clarity and early access
- Applying and participating in Railz Relay is free if selected
READY TO LEARN MORE?
If you are interested in competing, hosting, or partnering for the 2026 season, this is the best place to start.
Register to attend and come ready with questions.
Austin kicks it off first.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Cabana Club, 5012 East 7th Street, Austin, United States
USD 0.00
