Bar & Restaurant Expo 2025: Full Schedule

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1:00pm PDT

Elevating Guest Service: Unlocking Sales and Profit Potential

Tuesday March 25, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Guest service is the backbone of any successful food and beverage operation. Learn how exceptional service impacts sales, profitability, and customer loyalty. This session will cover key strategies for fostering a service-driven culture that enhances guest satisfaction and drives long-term success.
Participants will learn:

The direct link between guest service and increased sales/profitability
How high-quality service builds trust, loyalty, and repeat business
Strategies for creating personalized guest experiences that drive upselling
The role of a positive service environment in improving operational efficiency
Best practices for training and empowering teams to deliver exceptional service

Speakers

Timura Jackson

Director of Hospitality Operations, Highway West Vacations

With over two decades of distinguished leadership in hospitality, Timura Jackson is renowned for his strategic vision and transformative impact across diverse operational landscapes. His career reflects an unwavering commitment to excellence in guest experiences, team development... Read More →

Tuesday March 25, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Room #226/227

Conference Session

Registration Pass Add Separate, Deluxe Pass, Conference Pass
Audience Start-Up, Owner/Operator, GM, Bar Manager
Experience Level Start Up, Mastery
Track BootCamp, Guest Experience

2:00pm PDT

Transformational Hospitality- Transforming Transactions Into Human Connection

Tuesday March 25, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Room #226/227

This session delves into the art of crafting world-class guest experiences by fostering genuine human connections. Industry expert Monte Silva will share strategies to elevate guest interactions, followed by an interactive Q&A where he’ll coach attendees on implementing practical solutions to real-life challenges. Leave with actionable insights to create memorable, loyalty-building guest experiences.
Participants will learn to:

Define your business’s unique approach to guest interactions and hospitality.
Understand and exceed guest expectations to create standout experiences.
Build and motivate a high-performance team dedicated to delivering exceptional service.
Implement strategies that enhance guest satisfaction and foster repeat visits.
Develop a culture of meaningful connection that turns guests into loyal advocates.

Speakers

Monte Silva

CEO, Ten Tables Hospitality

Monte has 25 years of executive leadership experience in the Hospitality industry. Prior to that, he started his career like many, as a dishwasher. He worked through all of the front of house and back of house hourly positions and into management. 2 years into his restaurant management... Read More →

Tuesday March 25, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Room #226/227

Conference Session

Registration Pass Add Separate, Deluxe Pass, Conference Pass
Audience Owner/Operator, GM, Bar Manager
Experience Level All Levels
Track Guest Experience

3:00pm PDT

Digital Dining: The Social-First Blueprint for Modern Hospitality Marketing

Tuesday March 25, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Room #226/227

The digital marketing landscape is complex, and it's time to simplify. Join Alexa Pence—serial entrepreneur, CEO of Saltshine Creative, and former hospitality global director—for a dynamic crash course on building a holistic digital strategy that propels your brand into a league of its own. Explore the key tools and common pitfalls that differentiate brands that make noise from those that generate hype.
In this session you will:

Uncover how digital marketing in hospitality has evolved and where it's headed.
Engage in exercises to re-position your unique selling proposition and define what makes your brand shine.
Explore The Saltshine Framework—a holistic, social-first strategy to propel your commercial initiatives.
Learn the psychology behind effective influencer campaigns and how to optimize ROI.
Identify the key elements of partnerships that amplify impact and drive growth.

Speakers

Alexa Pence

CEO & Co-Founder, Saltshine Creative

With a career that began in traditional print magazine and evolved into cutting-edge digital marketing in Honolulu, Alexa Pence embodies the spirit of innovation and adaptability. As a young serial entrepreneur, she has built a long and diverse career, blending her passion for storytelling... Read More →

Tuesday March 25, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Room #226/227

Conference Session

Registration Pass Conference Pass, Deluxe Pass
Audience GM, Owner/Operator, Start-Up
Experience Level Fundamentals
Track Marketing

4:00pm PDT

Visual Bites: How Great Photos Drive Revenue for Bars and Restaurants

Tuesday March 25, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT

Room #226/227

Great photography isn't just eye-catching—it’s a powerful tool to attract customers and boost revenue. This session explores how bars and restaurants can use professional-quality images to highlight their offerings, create an emotional connection with guests, and maximize marketing efforts. Learn actionable tips to ensure your photos resonate across platforms and drive tangible results.

Discover how to choose a photographer who aligns with your brand vision.
Plan for impactful photos that showcase your menu, atmosphere, and unique offerings.
Learn techniques to enhance the appeal of your dishes and venue through lighting and angles.
Get tips on incorporating movement, props, and human elements for dynamic visuals.
Strategize how to use your photos effectively on social media, websites, and promotional materials.

Speakers

Melanie Blair

Marketing + PR Strategist, Beacon & Brand

Melanie Blair has spent the past 20 years perfecting brand strategy, creative vision and a critical eye. She knows the genius behind how chefs think, understand the nuances of how hotels and restaurants function and uses that to create a compelling synergy leading to meaningful campaigns... Read More →

Tuesday March 25, 2025 4:00pm - 4:45pm PDT
Room #226/227

Conference Session

Registration Pass Deluxe Pass, Conference Pass
Audience Owner/Operator, GM
Experience Level Fundamentals
Track Marketing