A world-renowned mixologist, spirits industry educator, and icon of cocktail culture, Francesco Lafranconi is the Founder and Managing Partner of MR. COCO, Eater’s 2019 Las Vegas Bar of the Year. Francesco’s creative career also includes tenures at the helm of The Gleneagles in Scotland; The Palace Hotel in Gstaadt, Switzerland; The Intercontinental Hotel in Cologne, Germany; and Harry’s Bar and Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy. Francesco has been honored by numerous spirits organizations and publications with awards such as Mixologist of the Year, Bartender Hall of Fame, Spirit Professional of the Year, and Golden Spirit Award. Francesco founded the Academy of Spirits and Fine Service a 12-week program that has trained over 1,000 beverage professionals and is the inventor of the Racetrack, a revolutionary bar workstation.