ASOCIACIÓN DE BARES

What ASOCIACIÓN DE BARES does

ASOBARES – Asociación de Bares y restaurantes de Colombia is a non-profit trade association (gremio) founded in 2005 and headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia. It represents bar, gastropub, discotheque, and restaurant entrepreneurs across the country through 19 regional chapters and an affiliated base of approximately 3,500 establishments (with broader sector representation of over 100,000 venues). Its core products and programs include the Mi Destino Tu Noche digital marketplace (1,500+ plans across 14 regions), the EXPOBAR annual trade fair (6,000+ attendees, 100+ brand partners, 150+ speakers), the Clúster DJ network of 2,700+ DJs, Círculo Gastro (sustainable gastronomy initiative), Área en Vivo Lab (live music circulation), emPRENDE TU BAR (entrepreneurship support), the Biblioteca Asobares digital training library, Ecobares (sustainability), Red de Cuidado Asobares (safety network), and the Decálogo del Autocuidado program. The underlying technology stack centers on digital platforms for member services, training delivery, and industry promotion.

The business model is member-funded: bars, gastrobares, discotheques, and restaurants pay recurring annual affiliation fees (aportes) to access programs, training, certifications, advocacy, networking, and the Mi Destino Tu Noche platform. Additional revenue comes from FONTUR co-funding (up to COP 200M/year for bilingualism and NTC 6496 quality standard implementation across 50 establishments), EXPOBAR sponsorships, paid international missions (e.g., €3,200–€4,200 per participant for the Ibiza & Madrid mission), and partnerships with over 30 beverage and supplier brands including Bavaria, Diageo, and Pernod Ricard. ASOBARES is the exclusive Colombian member of the International Nightlife Association (INA) and sits on the Colombian Tourism Council (CTUR), with its President also serving as President of Nightlife Iberoamérica within the INA.

Name

ASOCIACIÓN DE BARES

Legal name

ASOCIACIÓN DE BARES DE COLOMBIA

Website

https://asobares.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ASOBARES is a Colombian non-profit trade association representing approximately 3,500 affiliated bars, restaurants, gastrobars, and discotheques across 19 regional chapters, providing advocacy, training, certification, and tourism promotion through programs including the Mi Destino Tu Noche marketplace and the annual EXPOBAR trade fair.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services (Hospitality & Nightlife)

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages) (MPAGALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Shows & Industry Expos (B2B) (MPAGAHAB), Certification & Training Providers (Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard, Guide Training) (THAAAOAF), Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM)

Keywords

• Trade association services
• Nightlife industry advocacy
• Bar restaurant training
• Gastronomy tourism promotion
• Hospitality sector representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Afiliados / Member Contributions: Bars, gastrobares, discotheques, and restaurants pay membership fees (aportes) to belong to the association. The affiliation provides access to programs, training, certifications, advocacy, networking, and the Mi Destino Tu Noche platform. Fees fund the association's operations and member services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

ASOBARES is a non-profit trade association that represents, trains, and promotes Colombia's bar, restaurant, gastrobar, discotheque, and nightlife entertainment sector across 19 regional chapters covering approximately 3,500 affiliated establishments. Its core offerings include regulatory advocacy with municipal, district, and national government bodies; training and certifications through the Biblioteca Asobares digital library; industry events (EXPOBAR, ANATO, FITUR, SXSW); tourism promotion through the Mi Destino Tu Noche marketplace (1,500+ plans across 14 regions); and specialized programs covering safety, sustainability (Ecobares), entrepreneurship (emPRENDE TU BAR), live music (Área en Vivo Lab, DJ Cluster), and quality standards (NTC 6496).

Product overview

ASOBARES Colombia is a national trade association (gremio) for bars and restaurants, operating as a unified association rather than a platform-with-modules architecture. The organization offers member services through multiple programs including Mi Destino Tu Noche (a digital marketplace with 1500+ plans across 14 regions), Área en Vivo (live music platform), Círculo Gastro (gastronomic entertainment initiative), Clúster DJ (DJ industry cluster), emPRENDE TU BAR (entrepreneurship support), and Tardeo en la Ciudad (afternoon entertainment program). Additional offerings include Ecobares (sustainability), Decálogo del Autocuidado (safety), the annual EXPOBAR trade fair, international missions like Misión Empresarial Ibiza, and a digital training library. The association also supports quality standards implementation (NTC 6496) and bilingualism training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mi Destino Tu Noche: Marketplace platform showcasing nightlife and gastro-entertainment experiences across 14+ regions of Colombia with over 1500 plans
• Círculo Gastro
• Área en Vivo Lab
• emPRENDE TU BAR
• Ecobares
• Red de Cuidado Asobares Bogotá
• Clúster DJ

Products and services

• Asociación de Bares (ASOBARES) Member Affiliation Annual subscription membership (aportes) for bars, gastrobars, discotheques, and restaurants in Colombia, providing access to advocacy, training, certifications, networking, and the Mi Destino Tu Noche platform across 19 regional chapters.
• Mi Destino Tu Noche Marketplace Digital marketplace platform aggregating 1,500+ Tardeo (afternoon) and nighttime plans and experiences from affiliated establishments across 14 regions of Colombia, organized into 4 categories, designed to position nightlife as a structured tourism product for tourists and consumers.
• EXPOBAR Annual Trade Fair Flagship annual trade fair of the Colombian bar, gastro, and nightlife sector, held in Bogotá and Santa Marta with 6,000+ attendees, 100+ exhibiting brands, 150+ speakers, and programming across thematic spaces including Mix & Shake, Círculo Gastro, ExpoDj, Área en Vivo Lab, and the Main Stage.
• Misión Empresarial Ibiza 2026 Priced international business mission to Ibiza and Madrid connecting Colombian hospitality entrepreneurs with global nightlife venues and operators including Palladium Group, Pacha, Ushuaïa, Hï Ibiza, Lío Ibiza, UNVRS, and DbC Group; €3,200–€4,200 per participant for affiliated members with a 20% surcharge for non-affiliates.
• Biblioteca Asobares Digital Training Library Online library of Capacitaciones (training materials) for member establishments covering topics such as reservations management, sales strategies, labor law compliance, menu optimization, food safety, strategic menus, and hospitality management.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• International Nightlife Association (INA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsobares is an exclusive member of the International Nightlife Association in Colombia. Through this affiliation, Asobares participates in the global nightlife safety certification (International Nightlife Safety Checked — INSC), the International Fire Prevention Guide initiative, and the prestigious World's 100 Best Clubs ranking. Asobares President Camilo Ospina Guzmán also serves as President of Nightlife Iberoamérica within the INA.
• CTUR (Consejo Turístico Colombiano)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsobares is a member of the Colombian Tourism Council (CTUR), a coalition of the most important tourism guilds in Colombia including ACOLAP, ACOLTÉS, ADITT, ANATO, ASTIEMPO, ACOTUR, and COTELCO. CTUR engages with national government on tourism policy and represents the sector in national political dialogue.
• ProColombiamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAsobares participates in international tourism promotion events alongside ProColombia, including FITUR 2026, where it presented the Mi Destino Tu Noche platform and promoted Colombian nightlife and gastronomy as tourism assets in the 'Colombia: El País de la Belleza' stand.
• Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá (CCB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá partnered with Asobares and the DJ Cluster to organize Área en Vivo Lab events (e.g., at Antenna Modulada venue), and invited Asobares to participate in SXSW 2026 as part of its internationalization strategy.
• SLS (Specialized Language School)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSLS partnered with Asobares to deliver specialized English training for service staff in bars and restaurants nationwide. The program uses practical, dynamic methodology focused on customer service, covering basic, intermediate, and advanced levels through role-play, simulations, and real conversations.
• Diageo Bar AcademyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDiageo Bar Academy partnered with Asobares to provide professional bartender training and certification programs under the 'Pregunta por Ángela' initiative, promoting responsible service and cocktail knowledge.
• Industria Licorera de Caldas (ILC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe state-owned liquor company partnered with Asobares at FITUR 2026 to showcase Aguardiente Amarillo de Manzanares (recipe from 1885) and artisanal viche brands (Viche Sur and Viche Najavi) as part of Colombian cultural and gastronomic heritage promotion.
• Alcaldía de Bogotá (Mayor's Office of Bogotá)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bogotá Mayor's Office and relevant Secretariats partnered with Asobares to establish 19 'Zonas Focalizadas' (focalized zones) where establishments can operate until 5:00 AM, under Resolución Conjunta 001 of 2025. The partnership also includes safety initiatives, C4 camera integration, and secure corridor programs.
• Palladium Hotel GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPalladium Hotel Group (operator of Ushuaïa Ibiza, Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, TRS Ibiza) partnered with Asobares for the 2026 International Mission to Ibiza, providing site visits, technical sessions on integrated hotel-club-entertainment-gastronomy operations, and discounted accommodation for mission participants.
• RCN TelevisiónmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAsobares and RCN joined forces for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, publishing a transmission calendar and promoting affiliated establishments as destinations to watch matches, creating a joint marketing campaign to convert every match into a consumer experience.
• Sector Brands and Suppliers (Bavaria, Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Postobón, Ron Medellín, Licorera de Caldas, among 30+ allies)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 30 beverage brands and hospitality suppliers are listed as allies of Asobares, providing commercial partnerships, sponsorships, and product supply to member establishments. These include major liquor and beverage companies such as Bavaria, Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Postobón, Ron Medellín, and the Industria Licorera de Caldas.
• SENA (Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsobares participates in sectoral tables at SENA, contributing to vocational training standards for hospitality and nightlife workers in Colombia.
• VisitBogotáminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAsobares partners with VisitBogotá to promote the city's nightlife and gastronomy as part of the overall tourism offering, featured on the Mi Destino Tu Noche platform.
• EXPOBARcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEXPOBAR is the flagship annual trade fair of the Colombian bar, gastronomy, and nightlife sector, organized by Asobares. Held in Bogotá and Santa Marta, it is the largest industry event with over 6,000 attendees, 100+ brands, and 150+ speakers across multiple thematic spaces.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Asociación Colombiana de la Industria Gastronómica (Acodrés): Colombian restaurant industry association. Closest in-country peer representing the broader restaurant sector in Colombia, with overlapping HORECA advocacy, training, and event agenda alongside ASOBARES.
• National Restaurant Association (US): The largest US foodservice trade association, representing over 500,000 restaurant businesses. Directly comparable to ASOBARES as a national trade association providing advocacy, training, and an annual trade show (the NRA Show), serving the same 'restaurant + bar' constituency with similar advocacy, training, and event-based value proposition.
• Night Time Industries Association (NTIA): UK trade body representing nightclubs, live music venues, and the late-night economy. Directly comparable to ASOBARES on the nightlife-versus-hospitality axis, with shared regulatory focus on operating hours, Ley Seca-style restrictions, and safety certifications.
• UK Hospitality: UK trade association representing hotels, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, and leisure venues. Comparable to ASOBARES in its mix of HORECA and nightlife advocacy, government representation, training programs, and sectoral data publications.
• Federación Española de Hostelería (FEHR): Spanish national hospitality trade federation representing bars, restaurants, and cafés. Comparable given ASOBARES's Mision Empresarial Ibiza partnership with Spanish nightlife groups and the federation's similar structure of regional associations, advocacy, and training programs.

Broad incumbents

• International Nightlife Association (INA): Global industry body of which ASOBARES is the exclusive Colombian member. ASOBARES's President leads INA's Iberoamérica chapter. Comparable as the global umbrella for the same nightlife constituency, providing safety certifications (INSC) and the World's 100 Best Clubs ranking.
• American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA): US lodging industry trade association. Comparable as a HORECA trade body with similar advocacy, member services, and event structures, although focused on lodging rather than the bar/restaurant/nightlife core of ASOBARES.

Others

• Confederación de Organizaciones Turísticas de América Latina (COTAL): Latin American tourism confederation. Comparable given ASOBARES's positioning of Colombian nightlife as a tourism product through Mi Destino Tu Noche and its membership in CTUR, though focused on broader tourism rather than bars/restaurants specifically.
• ProColombia: Colombian government tourism promotion agency. ASOBARES co-presents with ProColombia at international fairs including FITUR and SXSW. Comparable as a co-marketing partner and stakeholder in the national tourism narrative, though not a competitor.

Emerging players

• Diageo Bar Academy: Industry-funded bartender training and certification program. ASOBARES partners with Diageo Bar Academy for the 'Pregunta por Ángela' responsible-service campaign, creating a partial-overlap capability that competes with the Asociación's own Biblioteca Asobares and Comunidad de Bartending training offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/asobares
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@asobarescolombia6424
• Facebookfacebook.com/Asobarescolombia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asobares-colombia
• Instagraminstagram.com/asobares.colombia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ASOCIACIÓN DE BARES