Bar & Restaurant Expo 2025: Full Schedule

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1:00pm PDT

WS7 Building a Profitable Brand Identity: Telling Your Hospitality Story to Drive Revenue, Customer Loyalty and Success

Wednesday March 26, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

In this dynamic workshop, participants will learn how to craft a compelling and flexible brand story that aligns their hospitality project with community values and supports sustainable growth. Through interactive activities, we’ll guide you in defining core brand values, refining your messaging, and ensuring consistent communication with employees, partners, and customers.

Identify and define core brand values for long-term success.
Develop a compelling brand story that resonates with your community.
Learn how to communicate consistently across all stakeholder groups.
Build a brand story that remains adaptable as your project grows.
Gain practical tools to structure and discipline your brand messaging efforts.

Speakers

Judy Bennett

Co-owner, American 35

Judy Bennett is a physical therapist, certified wellness consultant, and bartender. She now co-owns a single-location Neapolitan pizza restaurant with her husband in a small rural Washington town. She has traveled the country delivering workshops to groups large and small on the topic... Read More →

Thomas Bennett

Owner, American 35

Thomas Bennett is co-owner of American 35 restaurant in Waitsburg WA. Along with his wife, Judy, he renovated an 1895 historic building and is now pursuing awards for hospitality and quality in a wine-tourism region. He also runs a catering company using a mobile wood-fired oven on... Read More →

Wednesday March 26, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
TBA

Workshop

Registration Pass Deluxe Pass
Audience Owner/Operator, GM, Bar Manager
Experience Level Fundamentals
Track Guest Experience
Item Code WKSP7

2:00pm PDT

Acing the Bar Exam: A Legal Survival Guide for Bar and Restaurant Operators.

Wednesday March 26, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Join a veteran bar operator and lawyer for a concise overview of the legal factors that can shape the long-term success of your business. This session covers critical topics like business formation, property acquisition, licensing, and compliance, offering actionable insights for navigating the complex legal challenges of the hospitality industry.
Session participants will:

Understand the key legal considerations for starting and structuring a hospitality business.
Learn strategies for property acquisition and lease negotiations.
Gain insights into licensing and compliance requirements for bar and restaurant operations.
Identify common legal pitfalls and how to mitigate risks effectively.
Equip yourself with practical knowledge to address legal challenges at any stage of business growth.

Speakers

George Qualley

Operating Partner/ Partner, Nightingale Cocktail /Qualley Law, P.L.C.

George Qualley is a distinguished attorney and entrepreneur based in Des Moines, Iowa. He studied Political Science and swam competitively at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln before earning his Juris Doctorate and MBA from Drake University and Drake Law School. Licensed to practice... Read More →

Wednesday March 26, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Conference Session

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

2:00pm PDT

The Impact of People-First Leadership on the Restaurant Business Model

Wednesday March 26, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

TBA

Explore how adopting a people-first approach can transform your restaurant's business model by fostering loyalty, increasing productivity, and enhancing customer experiences. This session dives into actionable strategies that link employee satisfaction with financial success, paving the way for long-term growth in the industry.
Participants will learn to:

Empower employees by creating a supportive environment that encourages ownership and excellence in their roles.
Build trust to form a foundation for team resilience and long-term business stability.
Understand the connection between employee well-being and customer experience, focusing on mutual benefits.
Gain insights on structuring training programs that increase competency, reduce turnover, and align with company values.
Learn to achieve profitability through people-centric practices that improve morale, retention, and revenue.

Speakers

Jim Taylor

Managing Partner/Founder, Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie/Benchmark Sixty Restaurant Services

Over the last 20+ years, Jim has helped to fuel the growth of a leading national restaurant brand, consulted with hundreds of other restaurants to navigate the ever changing restaurant industry, and is the managing partner at Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie, a french fine dining restaurant... Read More →

Wednesday March 26, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
TBA

Conference Session

Registration Pass Deluxe Pass, Conference Pass
Experience Level Fundamentals
Track People & Staffing