Our time together is about building stronger relationships, sharing bold ideas, and looking ahead to what’s next for our business. Centered around the theme "Strong Ties," the agenda blends meaningful content, real conversations, and genuine opportunities to connect.

The Summit officially begins with lunch on Wednesday, September 3 at 11:30 AM, and wraps up on the morning of Friday, September 5, following a relaxed breakfast at your leisure.

Here’s what we’ll be focusing on:

  • Innovation: Exploring fresh strategies, new technologies, and creative thinking to stay ahead in a fast-moving world.

  • Growth: Learning from leadership insights and success stories, while uncovering new ways to grow and evolve.

  • Networking: Making space to connect—deepening existing partnerships, starting new ones, and celebrating what we can accomplish together.

With Nashville’s energy and warmth setting the tone, our time together goes beyond just a schedule. It’s a chance to come together with purpose, build momentum, and strengthen the ties that move us forward.

Will Guidara is an American restaurateur, author, and hospitality visionary renowned for co-owning Eleven Madison Park (EMP), which was named the world’s best restaurant in 2017. Will Guidara started working in restaurants at age 13 and later graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. His early career included stints at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago and Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group.


Guidara became general manager of EMP in 2006 and, alongside chef Daniel Humm, purchased the restaurant in 2011. Together, they transformed it into a global fine dining destination, earning three Michelin stars and multiple James Beard Awards. Their approach emphasized not just culinary excellence but also a radical rethinking of service, which Guidara later termed “unreasonable hospitality.” This philosophy—delivering personalized, over-the-top guest experiences—was detailed in his 2022 best-selling book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect.

After parting ways with Humm in 2019, Guidara launched new ventures, including plans to convert a historic New York castle into a luxury hotel and dining destination. He also co-founded the Welcome Conference, an annual event focused on hospitality leadership, and serves as a consultant and speaker across industries, advocating for the transformative power of genuine human connection in business.

Sean Evans is an American interviewer, producer, and YouTube personality, best known as the co-creator and host of the popular YouTube series Hot Ones. Sean graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 2008 with a degree in broadcast journalism. 

Evans began his career as a copywriter for the Chicago tourism board before transitioning to freelance work for Complex Magazine, where he conducted on-screen interviews with celebrities. His engaging style and thorough research caught the attention of Complex, leading to a full-time position and the eventual co-creation of Hot Ones in 2015 with Chris Schonberger. 

Hot Ones features Evans interviewing celebrities as they eat progressively spicier chicken wings, a format that has garnered over 4 billion views and 14 million subscribers. Evans is known for his meticulous preparation and calm demeanor, often downplaying his persona to spotlight guests while subtly orchestrating engaging conversations. The show's unique approach has been praised for breaking down guests' inhibitions, leading to candid and entertaining conversations. Evans values a "sweet heat" hot sauce, preferring flat chicken wings over drums for their tenderness and flavor.