Bar & Restaurant Expo 2025

In this advanced workshop, bar and restaurant owners will learn how to elevate their operations by fostering a true hospitality mindset within their teams. Going beyond basic customer service, this session focuses on creating a guest-first culture that drives loyalty, satisfaction, and long-term business success. Learn how to instill a sense of purpose in every interaction, empowering your staff to exceed guest expectations and deliver memorable experiences. This workshop will provide actionable strategies to build a culture that prioritizes genuine hospitality at every touchpoint.
• Develop and communicate core values that emphasize hospitality in every aspect of your business.
• Train staff to anticipate guest needs and personalize service accordingly.
• Implement regular feedback loops to ensure continuous improvement in guest interactions.
• Foster a culture of empathy and empowerment, enabling your team to handle challenging situations gracefully.
• Create recognition programs that reward employees for embodying the hospitality mindset and going above and beyond for guests.

In today's hospitality industry, the old ways of recruiting and leading teams aren't enough. This session will equip you with strategies to attract top talent, foster loyalty, and become the kind of leader people want to work for. Learn how to move beyond outdated practices and create a culture that retains the best of the best.
Participants will: 

• Discover nearly free methods that have kept teams fully staffed for over a decade.
• Learn how to inspire team members to stay long-term and build a lasting bond with your brand.
• Identify personal triggers and learn techniques to prevent small issues from disrupting your leadership.
• Uncover the key traits that will make you a leader employees want to follow, driving success and engagement.

Join industry experts to explore the challenges and best practices of running a successful beverage program while managing your bar staff efficiently.

• Balance beverage costs and quality to maximize profits.
• Discover staff management techniques to improve performance.
• Ensure your beverage program aligns with guest expectations.
• Reduce waste and streamline inventory management.
• Keep your team engaged while maintaining operational efficiency.

Successfully manage and motivate a diverse workforce by understanding different generations' communication and training needs. This session will help you create harmony and high performance across your team.
Session participants will learn how to:

• Tailor communication styles to suit different generations.
• Implement training programs that engage all age groups.
• Foster collaboration and reduce generational tension.
• Motivate and energize employees across the board.
• Develop leadership skills that bridge generational gaps.

In the face of rapid change in the hospitality industry, maintaining a legacy mindset is crucial for long-term success. This panel features experienced operators discussing how to define and communicate your unique core values, instill them during onboarding, and leverage them to foster customer loyalty. Additionally, we will explore the influence of artificial intelligence, immersive learning technologies, and Generation Z on the future of hospitality, providing actionable strategies for attracting and retaining top talent.
Participants will: 

• Learn how to identify and articulate the unique values that differentiate your business.
• Discover methods to instill these values in your team from the very beginning.
• Understand how a legacy mindset can cultivate long-term customer relationships.
• Explore how AI and immersive learning can enhance training and operations.
• Gain strategies for attracting and retaining top talent from the emerging workforce.

Discover the five essential traits every leader needs to rebuild their team and reclaim their time. This session focuses on overcoming the soft skill regression many managers experienced during the pandemic, helping you create a culture of not just goal setting, but goal achieving. By the end, you'll have actionable steps to transform your team into a high-performing, cohesive unit.
Participants will learn to: 

• Build a productive team through the power of relationships.
• Identify and develop the unique strengths of each team member.
• Overcome fears and concerns that hinder leadership effectiveness.
• Create a management pattern that fosters continuous team growth.
• Implement actionable steps to turn business goals into achieved results from Day 1.

This session highlights the vital role front-of-house staff play in crafting memorable guest experiences. Gain actionable strategies to energize and empower your team, ensuring they deliver exceptional service that transforms first-time visitors into loyal patrons.
Participants will know how to: 

• Empower staff to make on-the-spot decisions that enhance guest experiences.
• Build a culture of recognition that celebrates outstanding service and teamwork.
• Enhance training focusing on soft skills like empathy and conflict resolution.
• Personalize guest interactions by remembering preferences and special occasions.
• Foster a feedback-driven environment to encourage continuous improvement.

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.