Speaker lineup announced for 2025 Ontario Hospitality Conference

Top speakers and what they bring

• Dr. Sylvain Charlebois (Dalhousie University)
  Known as “The Food Professor,” Charlebois is an expert in food supply chains, traceability and food-price forecasting. He will address food value chains, policy and the economic pressures on hospitality businesses.
• Dean Correia (Correia Security Resources)
  Brings three decades of experience in security, operations and event safety. His roles have included leadership positions with Walmart Canada and oversight of security at major events such as the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and G8/G20 summit.
• Jeff Dover (fsSTRATEGY)
  Specializes in consulting for foodservice and hospitality sectors. His work addresses guest satisfaction, cost control and operational efficiency.
• Tony Elenis (ORHMA)
  The current President & CEO of ORHMA, with more than 35 years in hospitality and hotel operations. He also holds leadership roles in related boards and advisory committees.
• Matt Friesen (Western Financial Group)
  Leads national sales strategy for commercial, employee benefits and insurance products. He joins the panel with a focus on risk management and financial protection for hospitality operators.
• Lucy Hathaway (Wawanesa Mutual Insurance)
  Vice-president of commercial lines and national programs at Wawanesa. She has international experience in underwriting, marketing, business development and brokering.
• Chef John Higgins (George Brown College)
  Recently retired as Director of Hospitality and Culinary Enterprises at George Brown. He has taught thousands of hospitality professionals, appeared on Chopped Canada, and will be offering insights on where hospitality is headed.
• Marc Lipman (Lloyd’s Underwriters)
  President, Americas, with experience across the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. He will speak to regulatory, insurance, property and casualty risk issues.
• Tim Magwood (1-Degree/Shift)
  Leadership coach who has led culture transformation in hospitality. He will share tools for leadership, behaviour change, innovation and cultural growth.
• Beth McMahon (Hotel Association of Canada)
  Brings expertise in advocacy, policy and organizational leadership. She will speak to industry trends, national policy issues and what hospitality operators need to know from a regulatory and association perspective.
• Nicole Nguyen (CBRE Hotels Valuation & Advisory)
  Provides insight on valuation, market intelligence and financial modelling. Useful for operators, developers and investors monitoring market moves.
• Dharmesh Patel (Infinity Hospitality Group)
  Brings over 20 years of experience managing guest experience and operations at major brands such as Choice, Wyndham, IHG and Hilton. He will address operational excellence and scaling guest satisfaction.
• Irwin Prince (Realstar Hospitality)
  A long-standing figure in the hotel sector who franchises over 145 hotels in Canada. He is also a vocal advocate for combating human trafficking in hospitality.
• Garry Shapiro (Shapiro Real Estate & Business Lawyers)
  Brings legal expertise in real estate, mortgages and commercial property, with over 45 years in practice.
• Val Upfold (executive recruiter and HR specialist)
  Specialist in recruiting for high-profile hospitality brands. She has experience ranging from restaurant operations to talent development and will speak to people strategy in hospitality.

What to expect from the conference

The event opens October 20 with a reception and the induction of 10 recipients into the 2025 Ontario Hospitality Industry Hall of Fame. October 21 features full-day programming, with sessions offering actionable takeaways across business operation, leadership, risk, culture and finance. More than 50 industry suppliers will also be on site, providing networking opportunities and exposure to vendors and suppliers.