This presentation will focus on how alcohol trade practice and licensing investigations are conducted and will provide the audience strategies for how to manage the investigations.

Confounding expectations, OSHA under Pres. Trump has continued the same aggressive enforcement model that we saw during the Obama and Biden Administrations. We are continue to see high levels of inspections, higher penalties, record numbers of $100K+ citation packages, and a continuing rise in Repeat citations and worker safety criminal prosecutions. OSHA has also continued its aggressive inspection strategies that create a minefield for employers. In short, the consequences for hospitality employers being caught ill-prepared for an OSHA inspection, and making bad choices during an inspection, are more dire now than ever. This program will provide an overview of how to prepare in advance for an OSHA inspection, and once an OSHA inspection begins, to manage it to a successful outcome. Attendees will learn about: 1) Employers’ goals for managing an OSHA inspection; 2) Employers’, employees’, and OSHA’s rights during OSHA inspections; 3) Steps employers can take now to prepare in advance for an OSHA inspection; 4) Stages of OSHA inspections, with tips and strategies to manage each stage

This presentation provides a practical framework for evaluating the design, implementation, and impact of an organization's compliance efforts. It outlines why such audits are essential, not only to satisfy regulatory expectations but also to ensure that ethics programs and confidential reporting systems are functioning as intended. The content explores audit scoping, the importance of leadership's tone at the top, internal oversight structures, and the use of meaningful metrics to assess performance. It also addresses critical elements such as organizational transparency, documentation practices, and disciplinary follow-through, offering clear guidance to strengthen the integrity and accountability of internal programs.

A legal roadmap for operators preparing for a sale, joint venture, outside investment - covering entity structuring, IP protection, due diligence checklists, and how to avoid common deal-breakers.

Owning a hotel has always meant managing guests, staff, and service standards. Today it also means navigating new minefields of escalating legal threats that didn't exist a decade ago. In this eye-opening session, we'll explore how cyberattacks on guest data, EPLI claims, unionization waves. human trafficking prevention, and even retroactive "Jane Doe" trafficking cases are redrawing the map of owner liability. We'll also examine vicarious liability in franchise relationships, and the weaponization of social media in grievance escalation. If you think your biggest threat is a bad review, think again. This is a survival planning briefing for today's hospitality's legal era.

Presenting the 2025 Thomas G. Davis Loss Prevention Lifetime Achievement Award

This session will focus on the practical and legal importance of conducting investigations, pre-investigation considerations, planning, conducting, and documenting the investigation.

This session will touch upon trends and issues related to mediating hospitality disputes including: benefits of mediation vs litigation; types of hospitality disputes well-suited for mediation; alternative disputes resolution provisions in hospitality contracts; and the role of mediation in protecting brand value.

“The Deal Landscape Today”
A fast-paced overview of key market trends and goals for the morning.

Where are the deals happening now? What’s driving investor interest? Is it conversions? Get a forward-looking view from seasoned insiders.

Step-by-step discussion of hotel acquisitions and restructurings from the beginning to the end.

Exploring capital stacks, investment partners, lender expectations, and how creative structuring is getting deals done in 2025.

What can derail a deal — and how to navigate risks, contracts, and compliance in today’s regulatory environment.

Wrap up the morning with coffee, light bites, and final conversations — because the best deals start with the right introductions.