Every championship team needs a game plan, and at the 2025 International Franchise Association (IFA) Convention in Las Vegas, Team Franchising took center stage to strategize, innovate, and celebrate the franchise business model.

With thousands of franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers coming together for the largest annual gathering of the year, IFA 2025 left it all on the field — powerful insights, game-changing strategies, and a renewed commitment to grow and protect franchising.

The Power of Coming Together: Learning, Networking & Connecting

The magic of the IFA Annual Convention lies in bringing all of franchising together under one roof.  With so many of us spending time on the road, in home offices or just working in our silos, sometimes we get disconnected from all the good that comes from face-to-face time with friends, customers and peers. In Las Vegas this year, Team Franchising filled the halls, eager to engage in high-impact sessions, thought-provoking discussions, and invaluable networking opportunities. From first-time attendees to seasoned franchise leaders, the Convention reaffirmed the importance of face-to-face interactions, knowledge-sharing, and community building — critical elements for long-term franchise success.

Pre-Gaming with a Party and Poker

Before the official sessions began, Team Franchising warmed up with some unforgettable pre-game action. The Convention kicked off with an incredible Super Bowl Watch Party, where attendees gathered to enjoy the biggest football game of the year while reconnecting with industry friends and colleagues.

For those who wanted to up the stakes, the IFA Poker Tournament provided an electrifying experience, bringing together franchising professionals in a fun, high-energy setting. These first-time events set the tone for an exciting, engaging Convention, allowing new connections to be made and old friendships to be rekindled — all in a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere.

A Historic Kickoff: 2025 Declared the Year of Franchising

IFA President and CEO, Matt Haller, kicked off the event with a bold vision, declaring 2025 as the Year of Franchising. In a rallying call to attendees, Haller outlined IFA’s strategic roadmap to amplify the positive impact of franchising on the economy, workforce development, and local communities. The message was clear: Franchising is a powerful driver of opportunity, and IFA is “Going Big” to ensure that policymakers and the public recognize its value.

IFA’s Reimagined Brand: A New Look for a Bold Future

To match its ambitious vision, IFA unveiled a complete brand refresh — including a new logo, an upgraded website, and a refined strategic mission. This transformation signals IFA’s unwavering commitment to protecting and growing franchising while providing results-driven education, world-class events, and effective advocacy. The upgraded Franchise.org website now serves as a central hub for members, streamlining access to essential resources, news, and opportunities to connect.

Inspiration from Franchise Icons & Thought Leaders

No game is complete without star players, and this year’s Convention featured some of the most influential voices in the industry. Franchise veterans Mary Kennedy Thompson (2025 IFA Chair), Steve Hockett (2024 IFA Chair) and Patrick Doyle (newly inducted into IFA’s Hall of Fame) shared their insights on leadership, operational excellence, and innovation.

The keynote spotlight shone on James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, who broke down how small, incremental changes can lead to massive long-term success. His guidance for building better habits struck a chord with franchise leaders looking to drive sustainable growth in their businesses.

Learning Franchising’s Playbook

It wouldn’t be an IFA Convention without powerful Super Sessions, and this year Team Franchising had the opportunity for deep learning on AI-powered franchising, sales mastery, and succession planning. Attendees also had the chance to dive into expert-led discussions on economic trends, real estate negotiations, and development strategies.

The Annual Leadership Conference, hosted by the Women’s Franchise Committee, held another sold out event focused on leading through growth and celebrated Robin Gagnon as the 2025 Crystal Compass Winner.

This year’s Emerging Franchisor Bootcamp provided a unique setting for newer franchisor brand leaders to learn and network with more experienced founders and executives.

And back on the main stage, a standout moment came during the Day 2 General Session, where Danny Hughes, President of Americas for Hilton, delivered a keynote on leadership and resilience. Industry leaders Liz Gehringer of Anywhere Franchise Brands and Anand Gala of Gala Capital Partners tackled franchise innovation, diversification, and economic shifts.

At IFA 2025, we also honored franchise champions, Javier Solis, CFE, with the Ron Harrison Diversity Award, and Dawn Kane with the Bonny LeVine Award — recognizing their contributions to making franchising more inclusive and impactful.

And the learning happened all day, every day. There were 77 education sessions in eight different tracks, attended by all players and skill levels.

IFA Roundtables: Franchising’s Best Huddles

No team wins without a great huddle, and at IFA 2025, the industry’s best gathered for powerful roundtable discussions.

With 95 roundtables spread across four packed sessions over two days, attendees had the chance to deep-dive into pressing industry topics with their peers. These interactive discussions fostered an environment of shared learning, sparking fresh ideas, new collaborations, and actionable takeaways.

Each roundtable was led by franchise experts, offering firsthand insights on topics ranging from franchisee engagement and AI-powered marketing to scaling operations and advocacy strategies. The energy in the rooms was electric, as franchise leaders huddled together to tackle real-world challenges and brainstorm innovative solutions.

Unparalleled Networking: So Many Team Franchising Huddles!

Beyond the mainstage, the Exhibit Hall buzzed with energy as attendees explored cutting-edge solutions from suppliers and franchise service providers. Lively evenings closed with powerhouse networking receptions, including gatherings for the Diversity Institute, International, Private Equity, and VetFran communities.

IFA celebrated 116 Franchisees of the Year, recognizing top-performing operators who exemplify the best of franchising. And over 100 attendees took to the stage as they graduated with their Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) designation.

Get Involved: The Year of Franchising Has Just Begun

This issue of Franchising World magazine serves as your post-game highlights, capturing the key moments, insights, and takeaways from IFA 2025. But the momentum doesn’t stop here. IFA’s commitment to advocating for franchising, delivering education, and fostering industry connections continues year-round.

To stay engaged and stay connected to Team Franchising all year, visit our newly launched Get Involved page on the upgraded Franchise.org.

The game may be over, but Team Franchising is just getting started. Let’s make 2025 franchising’s biggest year yet!