Ascent Hospitality Management Hosts First All Brands Conference
Ascent Hospitality Management focuses on brand trust and franchisee success at landmark conference.
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Ascent Hospitality Management recently hosted its first all brands conference with over 500 attendees, including franchisees and corporate teams. The gathering emphasized the importance of brand trust and guest sentiment as critical differentiators in the competitive family dining sector. Executive Paul Damico and keynote speaker Greg Creed discussed achieving long-term performance through a focus on culture and operational excellence.
Why It Matters
This conference reinforces the importance of brand trust and operational excellence, which may influence franchisee performance and attractiveness in securing territories. Enhanced focus on multi-unit franchisee achievements suggests a collaborative environment that could strengthen brand loyalty and unit economics.
Ascent Hospitality Management, the parent company of Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and Huddle House, hosted its inaugural all brands conference, named Ascent Together, which brought together over 500 franchisees, vendors, corporate teams, and key partners. Paul Damico, President & CEO of Ascent, highlighted the importance of brand longevity in a competitive market driven by newer concepts, stating, “Bringing our teams together let us celebrate shared and individual achievements while setting the course for a strong future." He emphasized that the distinction between operating “old brands” and “trusted brands” guides their operational strategy.
The conference featured keynote speaker Greg Creed, the former CEO of Yum! Brands, who underscored the correlation between company culture and long-term performance, emphasizing that brand trust is essential for sustainable results. This message comes at a time when the family dining sector is experiencing significant pressure, making brand trust and consumer sentiment crucial for differentiation. According to Black Box Intelligence data, Perkins and Huddle House surpass their competitors—Denny’s, IHOP, and Cracker Barrel—in consumer net sentiment, indicating a robust guest experience and strengthening the value proposition for current and future franchisees.
During the conference, Ascent Hospitality Management recognized exceptional achievements within its franchise community, presenting various awards to franchise teams. For Perkins, highlights included Kevin Jones of A&A Food Systems being named Franchisee of the Year and a notable donation of $25,972 by the Danville, PA Perkins to Give Kids The World, contributing to over $3 million over the past four years. Huddle House honored Terry Wingfield and Daniel Potts as Franchisees of the Year and recognized a 17.5% sales growth at its Douglas, GA location.
The event not only celebrated individual and brand accomplishments but also reinforced the commitment to strengthening the network of franchisees and partners. As the family dining sector grapples with evolving consumer preferences, Ascent Hospitality Management's successful convening and recognition efforts may suggest an ongoing emphasis on franchisee support and brand development. Observers may want to note how these initiatives influence brand performance and franchisee engagement in the coming quarters.
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