The Ontario Hospitality Conference 2025 wrapped up on a high note at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North & Suites on October 21, bringing together industry leaders, operators, suppliers, and visionaries for a day of learning, connection, and inspiration.

From the buzz in the registration hall to the last handshake at closing, attendees praised this year’s event as “insightful, practical, and full of energy.” The sessions struck the perfect balance between strategy and hands-on application — and the feedback was clear: this year’s conference delivered real value.

Session Highlights — October 21, 2025

• The State of the Industry: Hotel & Foodservice Segments
• Dr. Sylvain Charlebois (McGill University) and Nicole Nguyen (CBRE) provided a data-driven overview of economic trends, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of Ontario’s hospitality sector.
• Adapting to the Uncertain Business Environment
• Irwin Prince, Maria Michaud, Dr. Charlebois, and Nick Patience discussed how global and U.S. market factors are shaping the local landscape — urging leaders to plan with flexibility and foresight.
• Redefining Hospitality Work HR expert
• Val Upfold captivated attendees by reframing labour challenges into opportunities for innovation in culture, leadership, and retention.
• Negotiating Smarter Hospitality Agreements
• Garry Shapiro offered actionable legal and operational strategies for operators navigating leases, franchise models, and supplier contracts.
• Crime, Costs & Community
• Dean Correia emphasized practical steps to manage risk, ensure safety, and build stronger community relationships.
• Operating Foodservice Successfully in This New Environment
• Jeff Dover of fsSTRATEGY shared key insights on evolving consumer expectations and sustainable operations.
• Navigating Commercial Insurance and Group Benefits
• Marc Lipman, Dharmesh Patel, Lucy Hathaway, and Matt Friesen outlined how to build more effective coverage strategies for modern hospitality businesses.
• The Lost Art of Recognizing and Adapting to Individual Personality Traits
• Tim Magwood of 1-Degree/Shift led an interactive session and provided a memorable reminder: leadership success starts with self-awareness and human connection.

The Ontario hospitality industry continues to evolve amid economic shifts, changing guest expectations, and workforce transformation. Conferences like OHC2025 play a vital role in helping businesses stay ahead of the curve — fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and renewed optimism.

Attendees summed it up best: “It’s rare to leave a conference feeling both challenged and re-energized — but OHC2025 achieved exactly that.” Others called it “the most relevant agenda in years,” citing actionable insights they could bring back to their teams immediately.

These conversations don’t just shape the year ahead — they strengthen the entire hospitality community, uniting professionals with a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and care.

As we reflect on the success of OHC2025, one thing is clear: the spirit of Ontario hospitality is stronger than ever. Thank you to our speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and every attendee who made this event an outstanding success.

Stay tuned for next year’s conference details — and in the meantime, let’s continue to build on the momentum, apply what we’ve learned, and keep driving our industry forward.