NEW YORK—Internationally recognized culinary innovator, author, educator, and humanitarian José Andrés has been announced as the opening keynote-session speaker for the second iteration of The Hospitality Show, produced by Questex and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). Additional speakers and programming updates will be announced in the coming months.
In this lively discussion on Monday, October 28 titled, “Changing the World Through the Power of Food,” Andrés will share his passion for affecting positive change, along with his belief in the principle that “food is a basic human right.”
Andrés is a committed advocate of food and hunger issues and has championed the role of chefs in the national debate on food policy. In 2010, Andrés formed World Central Kitchen, a non-profit specializing in delivering food relief in the wake of natural and humanitarian disasters. The organization has since delivered over 350 million meals worldwide.
In his culinary pursuits, Andrés is known for being a pioneer of Spanish tapas in the United States, as well as his groundbreaking avant-garde cuisine. He created the award-winning group of nearly three dozen restaurant concepts, José Andrés Group, which includes the two-Michelin-starred minibar by José Andrés in Washington, D.C., the acclaimed New York City food hall Mercado Little Spain, and multiple locations of the Bazaar by José Andrés.
A Highly Influential Entrepreneur
Andrés has been named one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People” in both 2012 and 2018, was a recipient of the 2015 National Humanities Medal, and has been celebrated by the James Beard Foundation as both an “Outstanding Chef” and “Humanitarian of the Year.” As a naturalized citizen originally from Spain, Andrés was named by President Barack Obama as the 2014 “Outstanding American by Choice” for his tireless advocacy supporting immigration reform.
Through The Hospitality Show’s 2024 conference program, attendees will learn from over 100 industry heavyweights, who will provide attendees with tangible takeaways for more profitable and efficient operations. Industry professionals can customize their learning experience across three stages, each supplying various insights into the most pressing issues hoteliers are facing, including: shifting customer expectations, increasing profitability through sustainability, brand differentiation best practices, workforce and stakeholder alignment, franchising, the latest in technology disruption, and more.
In addition to a robust conference program, The Hospitality Show will feature an expo floor filled with over 400 vendors offering the latest operations and technology solutions to streamline performance and drive profitability.
The Hospitality Show will take place October 28 to 30 in San Antonio, Texas. For more information and to register, visit the website at www.thehospitalityshow.com. For program updates as they are announced, sign up here to receive the show newsletter, and follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
