Welcome to the 8th installment of the Stogie Press “Last Weeks Cigar Social Media News and Questions”, where Boston Jimmie scours the world-wide web of cigars and summarizes relevant news and questions of the past week. On the following Monday, my friend Kap Kaplowitz then shreds my writing and puts his unique commentary on select news bites from today’s article, during his Kaplowitz Media radio pod cast.
Social Media Cigar News and Questions for the week ending July 6, 2018.
- Norovirus affects Westgate Hotel and Casino
- Warning Label Injunction
- Drew Estate Bundle Cigars ?
- Question of the Week
Norovirus affects Westgate Hotel and Casino
Credit: CDC
Just as we all prepare for the 86th annual International Premium Cigar and Pipe (IPCPR) Association Trade show starting next Friday in Las Vegas, news hit the wires like a lightning bolt taking out a transformer, that the host hotel, the Westgate Hotel and CAsino was infected with the norovirus. The news has been closely watched this week, as some attendees are canceling their rooms and the IPCPR put out a flash announcement stating:
Due to the illness outbreak at the Westgate, the IPCPR has decided to move the location of the pre-show events from the Westgate to the Las Vegas Convention Center. The pre-show seminars, the “Boundaries Are Made to Be Broken” party presented by CAO, and the opening breakfast will all be held in the Convention Center.
We are working through some of the final details and will update the meeting app over the next few days. As we finalize the logistics, we will send out a more detailed email early next week.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your hotel room, please contact the Westgate through the Westgate call center 888-808-7410. You may also contact the hotel front desk directly at 702-732-5111.
Thank you all for your understanding and patience as we work through this.
The virus was first detected after nearly 20 people had been sickened including 15 hotel workers. It is believed it started in the kitchen and the Westgate Resorts Chief Operating Officer Mark Waltrip noted that the resort is taking precautions that include replacing glassware with plastic and setting up stations of hand sanitizer.
The norovirus is highly contagious and causes symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea and fever. It is what we most commonly call the stomach flu. It is spread between people especially in crowded, closed places and usually the result of contaminated food and water,
As of this date there has not been any new incidence, but it would be smart to use plenty of hand sanitizer and maybe take some high doses of vitamin C.
Vegas? I will be there Friday!
Warning Label Injunction
As we reported this week, the cigar industry is slowly chipping away at the deeming regulation. This time it was a ruling from D.C. District Court Judge, Amit Mehta, who issued an injunction prohibiting the U.S. Food & Drug Administration from enforcing its warning label requirements on cigars and pipe tobacco. A small temporary victory, but a victory indeed, as we chip away at the deeming monolith regulation, and with each small victory, getting closer to the core. The hope is, there will be little foundation for the regulation to stand on based on the previous smaller victories. Keep the battle going, don’t let up, and keep recruiting voices to express their desire to have Premium Cigars exempt for the regulations.
Drew Estate Bundle Cigars ?
As we approach the big show in Las Vegas this coming Friday, my in box gets filled with press releases to push out to all my readers, keeping them informed of what new and whats coming from their favorite brands. One of those was a release from Drew Estate where they announced the company will be getting into the Bundled Cigar Line. Known as Factory Smokes by Drew Estate, they are a collection of four blends, in four different sizes at a very friendly price point.
- Factory Smokes Sweet
- Factory Smokes Maduro
- Factory Smokes Shade
- Factory Smokes Sun Grown
I am sure I will have a chance to sample these when I am at the show, but I spoke to a friend int he industry who actually did smoke a couple of them and he told, they are quite good, and for the price they are amazing. So if you are in the market perhaps for an every day cigar that will not attack your wallet or purse, then maybe this is the solution from Drew Estate.
Question of the Week
This one is easy this week. It seems everyone is preparing for the IPCPR 2018 starting Friday July 13. I have seen a number of bothers and sisters of the leaf asking the question, What do you want to see at the IPCPR? I can tell you this, I don’t want to see anybody getting ill from the norovirus….
As for me, the IPCPR is a big reunion of the industry men and women who work hard developing brands, managing and operating shops, reporting the news and reviewing cigars. So for me it starts that way. I will visit all my sponsors and spend some quality time with them, catching up on the past year and experiencing what’s new. I am personally looking to the all the Lancero line extensions so that we can have a lancero battle here in 2018 and hopefully ring in 2019 with the Stogie Press Lancero Crown to be awarded to the best lancero for 2018.
So what about you, if you are planning to attend the show, what are you looking for. If you are not going, what are you asking your local shop owner to keep an eye out for.