Bar & Restaurant Expo 2025

You’ve done the hard work, opened your business, and successfully promoted it and the sales are coming in.  But how do you make it profitable?  This seminar will take a deep dive into basic and advanced restaurant accounting helping to ensure you run a profitable business.  Participants will learn the art of calculating, controlling, recording, and profiting from the numbers that every successful operation needs to know.  The purpose of this seminar will be to familiarize operators not only with the three most important costs affecting an operation (the Prime Numbers: Food Cost, Labor Cost, and Beverage Cost) but also with the entire P & L statement, balance sheets, and budgeting.  All operators know (or should know) the importance of these numbers, yet few understand how to derive them accurately, let alone interpret them and put them to use.  With this knowledge, participants will unlock the profit potential within their operations.  This will be an intensive, hands-on, in-depth seminar in which participants will learn to:

• Budget the Prime numbers, both for start-ups and established operations, as well as techniques for easily adhering to these budgets
• Accurately calculate food, beverage, and labor costs (including advance formulae for detecting, budgeting, and pricing for waste)
• Create, analyze, and interpret a P&L and Balance Sheet
• Create annual and declining budgets
• How to define controllable figures
• Deliver consistent profitability through properly budgeted and managed Prime Numbers

There will be numerous hand-outs from which the attendees can follow along. Interactive Q&A throughout the seminar will be encouraged. Participants will engage in real-time problem-solving and be guided through a step-by-step process in which they will learn the topic easily.
Seminar participants will be fully prepared to utilize the information learned upon leaving the seminar, being able to action their knowledge at their own establishments immediately.

**SESSION AVAILABLE ONLY WITH DELUXE PASS**

Build or rebrand your venue into a guest experience destination with this hands-on workshop—your yellow brick road to success. Led by Michael Tipps and the Maverick Theory team, you’ll discover how to create a unique concept, optimize your design, and elevate your service to craft unforgettable guest experiences that keep customers coming back.

• Learn how to create or rebrand your venue concept from scratch.
• Master the key elements of design that impact guest perception.
• Dive into the fundamentals of service and hospitality for all staff levels.
• Control every aspect of your guests’ sensory experience.
• Ensure your vision is reflected in every touchpoint, from ownership to staff execution.

**SESSION AVAILABLE ONLY WITH DELUXE PASS**

In an ever-changing economic landscape, it's crucial to balance cutting costs with delivering a premium guest experience. Join me as I share strategies that not only meet but exceed guest expectations while driving profitability.

• Create perceived value through memorable guest experiences.
• Define and strengthen your brand identity.
• Assess and manage risks to optimize menu offerings.
• Implement cost-saving strategies without compromising quality.

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.

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.

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.

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.

**SESSION AVAILABLE ONLY WITH DELUXE PASS**

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.

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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.