NYSRA Leadership & Operations Symposium

9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.  Registration & Continental Breakfast

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Welcome from Melissa Fleischut, President and CEO of the NYS Restaurant Association

10:10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. State of the Restaurant Industry – Hudson Riehle, SVP, Research, National Restaurant Association
Get the latest data on current and upcoming trends critical to the industry’s growth and success.

11:05 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. Breakout Sessions
Boost Your Catering Sales – Presented by Mickey King, President of Like a King Hospitality
Mickey will share strategies on how to boost catering sales in your foodservice business, as well as give helpful hints for success.

Top 10 Legal Mistakes Made by Foodservice Operators – Presented by Amanda Fugazy, Esq., Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
Learn about the top 10 legal errors made by restaurant operators and how to avoid them.

Noon – 12:50 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Planning and Executing Off-Premise Events: Opportunities and Obstacles for Restaurant Owners – Presented by Karen DiPeri, President, HMG+
From pre-event coordination such as venue selection to communicating with numerous vendors, off premise catering can be welcome, yet challenging revenue stream. Karen will review important considerations, including legalities to be aware of, and best practices for planning a successful event.

Hospitality HR Hot Topics & Trends for 2023 & 2024 – Sarah Saracino, PHR, SHRM-CP, VP, The Pier Sixty Collection

12:50 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.  Lunch, Networking and Sponsor Visits

1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Unlocking the Full Potential of Your Restaurant Team – Presented by Nandu Awatramani, Growth Coach & Business Advisor
How to get your employees to meet their targets consistently and improve dependability and care for customers, revenues and profits.

Adopting the Luxury Mindset for Your Restaurant – Presented by Chip Klose, Restaurant Coach
This isn’t about selling luxury products, but rather applying the lessons from some of the biggest luxury brands in the world (like Hermes, Rolls Royce, and Krug) to drive more revenue and develop better loyalty with our guests. Over the course of this presentation we’ll redefine three words that are so crucial in our industry: Transactions, Value, and Price.

2:40 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Exploring the Uncharted Territory: Transforming Employee Experience for Independent Restaurants in New York
Join SpotOn for a captivating conversation on the ever-changing realm of employee experiences within New York’s independent restaurant scene. Unearth effective strategies and tried-and-true methods to not only boost the morale, engagement, and retention of your team, but also to handle labor costs efficiently and ensure compliance with regulations. Throughout this session, you’ll hear about the trends, resources, and approaches that restaurant operators have embraced to elevate employee retention, amplify productivity, and enhance overall satisfaction. Seize this chance to cultivate a culture that nurtures growth, diminishes attrition, and optimizes the full potential of your restaurant.

Become A Leading Advocate: How to Engage with Legislators When It Counts – Presented by Kathleen Reilly Irwin, NYSRA Government Affairs Manager for NYC

In this session, you’ll learn about the different avenues for engaging with elected officials — and how NYSRA works to elevate members’ voices and facilitate their advocacy. Come away with best practices and a new understanding of what to expect when you get involved in the legislative process.

3:40 p.m. – 4:30p.m. Keynote Session: A Conversation with Chip Wade, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group

4:45 p.m. -5:45 p.m. Happy Hour Sponsored by SpotOn
Rumours Irish Pub & Restaurant
933 8th Ave.