May 16-19, 2026   |  McCormick Place, Chicago, IL  |  Booth #6600

Walk into any restaurant in America and something’s being made. Community is made here. Careers are made here. Skills are made here. Economy is made here. For 250 years, restaurants have made more than food. They’ve made us. Stop by our booth and learn how you can help celebrate the restaurant industry’s role in our Nation’s history.

SATURDAY, MAY 16TH

From “Every Shift Is Different” to Consistent Execution: Closing the Systems Gap

If your results depend on who’s working, you don’t have a food problem; you have a systems problem. This session shows where inconsistency comes from, what it costs you in guest experience and margins, and how to standardize the basics without becoming a micromanager. 

What Does It Mean to Be Beyond Compliant?

The foodservice industry is changing quickly, and just passing a health inspection is no longer enough. In the past, most operations only fixed problems after inspectors found them. Now, due to updates found in the Supplement to the 2022 FDA Food Code, there’s a greater focus on proactive measures that mitigate food safety risks.

Build a Team that Performs: Clear Expectations, Simple Training, Real Accountability

Staffing is hard and “figuring it out on the fly” is exhausting. This session gives you a practical way to set clear expectations, train faster, and create accountability that doesn’t depend on you being on the floor for every shift. 

Building Future-Ready Talent Through Apprenticeships and Training - 10-Year Anniversary

By building future-ready talent through training and apprenticeships in today’s competitive labor market, restaurant companies aren’t just vying to attract top talent; they’re working hard to retain it. The key to success? Equipping employees with the right tools, training, and career pathways. This session will highlight how our Foundation’s initiatives support workforce development across diverse talent pipelines and prepare employees for long-term success in a changing labor landscape.

Escape the Owner Bottleneck: Build a Restaurant That Runs Without You

Staffing is hard and “figuring it out on the fly” is exhausting. This session gives you a practical way to set clear expectations, train faster, and create accountability that doesn’t depend on you being on the floor for every shift. 

SUNDAY, MAY 17TH

Profit Protection: Fix the Small Leaks Driving Food and Labor Costs

Most cost problems aren't one big thing—they’re dozens of small leaks: waste, uneven portions, slow handoffs, and inconsistent execution. This session helps you find the leaks and lock in operating habits that protect margins. 

Pouring Over Responsible Alcohol Service, New Regulations and Beverage Trends in 2026

Alcohol service rules are changing rapidly, so it’s important to stay up to date to protect your business and guests. Explore key policy trends, such as digital IDs, new delivery rules and changes to legal limits. Additionally, the financial risks of liquor liability lawsuits will also be discussed. You’ll leave with tips for building strong procedures and training your team to reduce risk, stay compliant, and protect your patrons.

Opening Strong: The Real-World Systems & Training Blueprint for a Confident Launch 

A strong opening isn’t just luck—it requires preparation. This session walks through the basics you must have in place before day one: training, systems, standards, and leadership routines that prevent an expensive “soft opening that never ends.”

30-day Operations Jumpstart: Get Control of Shifts with a Few High-Impact Systems

Chaos isn’t a restaurant “personality trait.” It’s what happens when standards aren’t captured, trained, and reinforced. This session gives you a 30-day jumpstart plan to stabilize shifts, reduce daily friction, and make the operation more predictable. 

MONDAY, MAY 18TH

Smart Study Modules^TM: An Innovative, Adaptive Learning Tool in Culinary Education

Revolutionize culinary education with Smart Study Modules™, the adaptive learning solution designed to elevate student success and guide them to master essential course objectives faster and more effectively. Powered by Amplifire, Smart Study helps every student absorb and retain knowledge through cognitive science. This interactive session showcases how Smart Study creates personalized learning pathways for ProStart® and ServSafe Coursebook students, identifies knowledge gaps, and reinforces mastery through confidence-based learning techniques.

Guest Service Gold®: Building Foundational Customer Service Skills for a Future-ready Hospitality Workforce

In today’s competitive hospitality landscape, outstanding customer service isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a powerful driver of revenue, brand loyalty, and sustainable growth.  As guest expectations rise, mastering these skills is essential for building a workforce that’s adaptable and future ready. This session introduces Guest Service Gold®, AHLEI’s premier training and certification program, for both academic learners and industry professionals.