The business side of the conference normally consists of some very interesting and talented speakers. Our chairman, Dr Nido Qubein, does a show for us every year. This year we also were entertained by Giovanni Livera and were treated to an inspiring talk by Scott McKain regarding excellence in business.
Giovanni Livera and Scott McKain
But year in and year out what our owners get the most out of is personal interaction. With each other. With the office team. With our guests. The ability to have free flowing discussions with one another is a hallmark of our gatherings. This year we brought back a series of formal round table discussions on various topics. Next year we hope to do more.
Each location is different. Each year has its own vibe. I never get it right when trying to 
predict what the topic of the week will be. But, they are always good. This year was particularly positive for everyone I spoke with. Are their gripes? Of course. Is there dialogue that works through things with mutual respect and admiration? Yep. Convention 2012 was cold, wet and gloomy. The mood reflected that. This year was mostly warm, bright and sunny. I think that most of the mind set reflected that as well. All in all, a great experience.
Speaking of next year, we are headed to Florida to reinvent ourselves in the warm sun while it snows up north. We also plan to take a different approach with our speakers. I have to start thinking about these things way in advance and given how important, and rapidly changing, food trends have become, I want to bring a recognized food expert in to talk about the way markets are changing so we can better understand how to work within those parameters. If you can recommend anyone to consider, please leave me a comment below.
Thanks for reading.
