At Rooted Hospitality Group, great hospitality doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built, developed, and refined from within.
That’s why we brought together our General Managers and leadership team for our 2026 Leadership Development Conference in Stratton, Vermont, a four-day experience focused on growth, alignment, and elevating how we lead, serve, and connect.
Because when we invest in our people, our guests feel the difference.
What Leadership Looks Like at Rooted
This year’s theme, “Lead with Intention. Inspire with Purpose.”, guided every conversation, session, and activity.
From navigating unexpected events to fully leaning into every moment together, our team demonstrated exactly what leadership at Rooted looks like: adaptable, committed, and people-first.
What We Focused On
Throughout the conference, we focused on strengthening both the mindset and skillset behind exceptional hospitality.
Accountability & The Value Chain
Understanding how every role impacts the guest experience, and how strong leadership creates consistency across every touchpoint.
Goal Setting & Store Focuses
Developing clear, actionable goals tied directly to performance, growth, and team alignment.
Operational Excellence
Elevating standards across FOH and BOH — from cleanliness to presentation to execution.
Hospitality
Creating genuine guest connections while anticipating guest needs and desires.
Building High-Performing Teams
Focusing on coaching, emotional intelligence, and developing future leaders.
Relationship-Driven Leadership
Because strong teams are built on trust, communication, and accountability.
Memorable Moments That Matter
Just as important as the sessions themselves, these shared moments played a key role in strengthening relationships and deepening our team culture:
Fun winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing during downtime.
Fireside dinners and informal reflections that encouraged connection beyond the classroom
A powerful Gratitude & Reflection Exercise, where leaders received meaningful feedback from their teams and peers
A closing virtual session, “Leadership That Rocks,” led by Jim Knight, bringing together the themes of energy, influence, and impact.
Because great teams aren’t just trained — they’re connected.
Why This Matters
At Rooted Hospitality Group, we believe the best guest experiences start behind the scenes.
When leaders feel supported, developed, and inspired, they show up differently for their teams — and in turn, our teams deliver a higher level of hospitality to every guest who walks through our doors.
We don’t just talk about great service. We build the people who deliver it.
This conference brought to life our values, our people, and the direction we’re moving toward.
Always learning.
Always growing.
Always raising the standard.
Because exceptional hospitality begins long before the guest ever walks through the door.