IFA 2019 Preview: Together Like Family

By Liam Brown

The franchising community is like a large extended family. We help each other, share best practices and foster a sense of camaraderie largely unseen in traditional business models. While we may only catch up in person once a year, we always pick up right where we left off. Binding us together is respect and admiration for the franchise business model that has brought us prosperity. Franchising has the power to turn competitors into friends and strengthen bonds among franchise owners working toward a common goal.

Don’t believe me? Then come to the 2019 IFA Annual Convention armed with questions, and we’ll prove it to you. Searching for a new way to recruit top talent? Want to scale your concept as an emerging franchiser? New to franchising and looking to learn anything and everything you can? The answers to these questions, and many more, are all available in Las Vegas from Feb. 24-27, 2019.

The IFA Convention Committee is busy at work bringing the most relevant information to Las Vegas. As Chair of the Committee, it’s been amazing to witness all the behind-the-scenes action that goes into producing franchising’s biggest event. IFA 2019 is where business starts and partnerships are celebrated. It’s a place where you’ll learn how to think about your business in new ways. Here’s a few things that we’ve already booked on the schedule.

Highlights

While some of the regular favorites will return in 2019 such as the Annual Leadership Conference, the Prayer Breakfast and summits on finance, franchise development, international, labor issues and operations summits, there are also some new events and twists on some well-liked themes. We’ve developed breakout sessions to provide a personalized experience for a variety of fields, including franchise development, operations, marketing, C-suite and more. One of the goals of the Convention Committee is to create a personal experience for each attendee.

Speakers

The keynote speaker at IFA 2019 is Gary Vaynerchuk, Chairman of VaynerX and CEO and co-founder of VaynerMedia. Just what will GaryVee say? Find out in February. Also in the lineup for the Mini-Super Sessions are Todd Davis, Chief People Officer at FranklinCovey, and Levy Innovation Founder Mark Levy. Davis will share his expertise with 15 proven practices for building better relationships at work, and Levy will teach you how to talk about your business so others care.

Emerging Franchisor Bootcamp

You asked, and we listened! The Emerging Franchisor Bootcamp, which is for growing franchisors with 100 units or less, is scheduled at the start of the convention instead of the end for 2019. We made this adjustment after hearing feedback from past attendees of the bootcamp, which some have described as the “best part” of the convention. Attendance is limited to the first 500 franchisors who sign up, so booking early is a good idea.

Roundtables & Sessions

Don’t worry, we’ve heard your feedback and the Business Solution Roundtables are here to stay and continually getting better. Talking directly with others who have faced the same challenges will be some of the most productive moments of your convention experience. We’ve incorporated your comments from last year to bring the most relevant topics to the roundtables, which take place over two days.

Set your personal lineup by attending one of the topic-themed tracks during IFA 2019’s Concurrent Sessions, which are a series of workshops tailored to the specific themes such as emerging brands, field support, franchise relations, franchisees, marketing, finance and operations. Not sure where to go? There’s a general track as well.

Also returning this year is a series consist of rapid-fire sessions featuring different speakers that will talk about disruptive trends in technology and innovation.

The Diversity Institute will host a special seminar, “Diversity on the Rise,” which will examine how the rise in minority demographics should be considered an opportunity for franchising. Another important seminar developed by the VetFran Committee will focus on integrating veterans and their skillsets into your corporate culture.

CFE Special Sessions

The Institute of Certified Franchise Executives has added new programing to the CFE Special Sessions, which take place Feb. 23 and 24 at the start of IFA 2019. There are 10 sessions available this year, including FRAN-GUARD, which is mandatory to achieve your CFE. Interested in attending, or looking to find out more about getting your franchising certification? Visit franchise.org/cfe-home.

NextGen in Franchising

What would an IFA Convention be without the next generation of young franchise concepts competing for the crown of NextGen in Franchising winner? The NextGen Global Competition returns to IFA 2019. Finalists are selected from hundreds of applications to square off during the convention, with the top three receiving a chance to pitch their concept before a panel of judges and large audience.

Connecting

Searching for your next business partner? The IFA Exhibit Hall gives you access to numerous franchising specialists, from accounting, legal, insurance, public relations, software, human resources, event services – you name it. Have some fun while you’re doing business and put your name in for door prize drawings of $1,000 during exhibit hall hours.

Looking to socialize? Kick off your IFA Convention at The Buzz, featuring live music and the first chance to network with your peers. Meet new people and hang out with good friends at franchising’s night out, The Bash. The last official networking event of the Convention takes place at Mandalay Bay’s nightclub, LIGHT.

Advice for First-Timers

For all first-time attendees, we offer a roadmap with the key places to be. What sessions best meet your business needs? Where can you meet people and network? Follow these three simple steps:

1. Study the convention program schedule at franchise.org/convention.

2. Download the IFA 2019 Convention mobile app.

3. Stop by the IFA registration desk to pick up your badge, final show guide and first-time attendee roadmap, and get your questions answered.

Together, We Are Franchising

The IFA Convention offers so many benefits to first-time attendees all the way up to longtime veterans of the franchising community. Perhaps the greatest among these is the sense of togetherness that comes from having an extended franchising family to help you along the way. Together, we can achieve more.

Liam Brown is Chair of the IFA Board of Directors and President of Franchising, Owner Services and MxM Select Brands, North America for Marriott International.