18TH HABANOS FESTIVAL, AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENT

FEBRUARY 29 TO MARCH 4, 2016, HAVANA, CUBA

MONDAY, FEB. 29
09:00 - 16:00 hrs  
Registration  

10:00 - 11:00 hrs  
Press conference. Delivery of the press dossier and other communication materials. Intl. Conference Center.* ( hall 3)  

11:00 - 17:00 hrs  
Preliminary round of the Intl. Habanosommelier Contest. ** ( hall 5)

14:00 hrs
Opening of the Trade Fair and Habanos Gallery.

19:00 hrs
Opening night dedicated to Hoyo de Monterrey Reserva Cosecha 2012
Cocktail party at the Former Tobacco & Wood Warehouse, Habana Harbor.


TUESDAY MARCH 1
07:00 hrs - 16:00 hrs
Visit to the Vuelta Abajo tobacco plantations in Pinar del Río.
15:00 - 17:00 hrs
Special tasting session (invitation only)
Intl. Conference Center.


WEDNESDAY MARCH 2
09:30 -09:45 hrs
Opening of the International Seminar. Intl. Conference Center. (hall 4)

09.45 -10:30 hrs
Master Lecture. (hall 4)

10:30 -11:00 hrs
Coffee Break

11:00 -12:15 hrs
Master Class on rolling a cigar completely by hand. The making of a double torpedo. (hall 1)

12:30 -14:00 hrs
LUNCH.  “EL BUCÁN“ RESTAURANT“.

14:15 -15:45 hrs
Master Lecture: “Two pleasures from Paradise: Habanos & Chocolate”.
By Dr. María Cristina Jorge, Director of the Latin America Chocolate & Confectionery Institute. (hall 4)

16.00 -17:00 hrs
Habanos – Havana Club Rum Alliances* (hall 1)**
19:00 hrs
Cigar Roller Tribute Night. Protocol Lounge at El Laguito.


THURSDAY MARCH 3
09:00 - 12:30 hrs
Visit to the El Laguito Cigar Factory.

INTL. CONFERENCE CENTER  
13:00 - 14:30 hrs
LUNCH.  “EL BUCÁN“ RESTAURANT“.
14:30 - 15:30 hrs
Master Lecture: “Cohiba Atmosphere: a case of success”. By Lic. Daylí Torres, Director of Brand Diversification with Habanos S.A. and Norio Hattori-Paris. Regional. (hall 4)

15:45 -16:45 hrs
The Perfect Smoke. Contest to get the longest burning ash.** (hall 1)

16:45 -17:45 hrs
Habanos  Moments.** ( DIFFERENT HALLS)


FRIDAY MARCH 4
INTL. CONFERENCE CENTER
 09:30 - 11:00 hrs
Finale of the Intl. Habanosommelier Contest. ( hall 1)

11:00 - 11:30 hrs Coffee break

11:30-12:30 hrs
“Cohiba in its 50th Anniversary: Half a Century of a Myth”. By Zoe Nocedo Primo, Director del Tobacco Museum; Emilia Tamayo, Antigua Director of the El Laguito Cigar Factory; Roberto Delgado Pérez, Intl. Market Supervisor for Habanos S.A. (hall 4)

12:30 -13:30 hrs
Closing of the Seminar and the Tradeshow. (hall 4)
Award Presentation: Best stand by categories and winner of the Intl. Habanosommelier Contest.

13:00 hrs
FAREWELL LUNCH. “EL BUCÁN” RESTAURANT.

19:30hrs
Gala Night dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Cohiba. Traditional humidor auction. PABEXPO (hall C)

*    For registered press members and exclusive distributors
**     Invitation only

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Due to actual capacities in the halls where activities will unfold (pairings, cigar hand-rolling lessons and others) access will be limited. People must present their corresponding tickets at the door.

This program might be subjected to changes