Build Your Self-Op Community
AHF's Annual Conference
The Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF) is a national nonprofit organization working to promote self-operated foodservice professionals in healthcare and senior dining. Our annual conference is chance to recharge with peers and colleagues while learning from nationally recognized speakers, networking, mingling and enjoying great meals. AHF’s Annual Conference industry-leading event for self-operated (independent) foodservice professionals exchange ideas, learn from one another, and gain valuable insight into critical topics and trends.
Frequently Asked Questions
The conference begins with pre-conference sessions on Monday August 7th and ends on Wednesday night with our closing reception and dinner. We recommend guests arrive Sunday and depart at the earliest Thursday morning. Be sure not to miss our opening reception Monday night!
Registration for the conference will open in Mid-March. While we don’t close registration, early bird rates do end on June 15th. Save $100 by registering before June 15!
Yes, AHF provides as many scholarships as possible to help Operator members attend the conference. While we don’t have enough scholarships for everyone, you can also use Real Rewards Cafe (RRC) points to pay for your registration fee thanks to a partnership between AHF and RRC. Check how many points your facility has with RRC to get yourself registered for the conference free of charge.
For groups of 5 or more full paying operator attendees (not on a scholarship), we offer a 10% discount.
Other great ways of getting assistance attending are to: submit to be a speaker (may apply best for future years), submit for an annual industry award, or submit to compete in the AHF Culinary Competition.
Scholarship applications are open now. AHF provides as much as possible to as many Operators as possible. Be sure to check back regularly and make sure you have info@healthcarefoodservice.org whitelisted on your hospital email system to get our notices about scholarships and the conference in general. You will have to submit a scholarship request within the specified dates, and take a few simple actions to support AHF if you do receive a scholarship.
Please note you will be required to register before the early bird deadline on June 15th if you receive a scholarship, otherwise your scholarship will be forfeit. This helps AHF ensure that our scholarships are utilized and you will attend. If you cannot attend and were selected as a scholarship recipient, please let us know as soon as possible so we can redistribute the funds to another Operator in need.
Yes, non-member operators can attend if they are from a self-operated facility. We’d love to have you! However operator membership for new member facilities are 50% off until May 2023, so join and then access the discounted registration rate ($200 savings!). Join here.
However, we do not allow Operator employees of contract management firms to attend AHF. AHF is a national association working to promote and further the best interested of self-operated facilities and employees.
Full conference registration covers all meal functions, breaks, educational sessions, and evening receptions. AHF provides creative menu offerings leaving attendees inspired to bring ideas back to their operations. Area activities are offered at an additional cost and are optional for those who are arriving before Tuesday. Attendees can add on guest tickets for each of the evening events, or an “All Meals” package for anyone who is accompanying them. Guest tickets are for family, friends, or partners. They should not be used for colleagues who should attend under their appropriate registration category.
No, our pre-conference education sessions are complimentary as part of your registration fee.
Yes, during registration you will select any area activities/field trips you wish to attend. If you cannot join or need to cancel your registration for any activities please let us know as soon as possible so we can provide your spot to someone else.
Yes! We have a number of activities specifically designed for first time attendees. Join us on Monday before the Opening Receiption for our annual New Member Reception where you’ll meet other first time colleagues, network with our leadership and staff, and enjoy snacks and drinks.
AHF works hard to create great, easy, networking opportunities so you walk away with new friends to come back and see next year!
Yes! We offer continuing education credits for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals (ANFP), and American Culinary Federation (ACF). The total number of credits offered has not been finalized, but we estimate up to 14+ CEUs.
Yes, we would love to have you join us. Non-exhibiting registration is a fantastic way to network with operators and make new connections. You must be a business partner member of AHF to register. Membership is a simple $595 annual fee and provides a weather of benefits year round. Conference registration as a non-exhibitor is $1,950 before June 15 and $2,050 after June 15, and includes all sessions, meals, and receptions.
Please note that in fairness to our sponsors and exhibitors, we do not allow non-exhibiting business partners into the tradeshow unaccompanied. It is a time for our sponsors and exhibitor to display their products and services to operators. However, we would be happy to provide you with a guided tour with one of our leaders or our Executive Director however if you wish to see if exhibiting with us is of interest. Email Leah Reily for a tour!
AHF Safefty Pledge
AHF is an organization that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome attendees from all walks of life and consider our conference and our organization a place for safe discussion that ensures everyone can learn and network in comfort.
To stay safe at any conference location, we recommend that attends follow some basic safety tips:
Don’t go out at night alone without a partner, friend, or colleague
Don’t wear your badge outside of AHF events when browsing through the city/area as you would be more easily identifiable as a tourist
Check with the hotel concierge about any unsafe areas of town on anything else you should be aware of when taking part in tourist activities.
Notify AHF management or the hotel of any concerns immediately.
As the world continues to make positive strides to end COVID -19, we want to do our part by continuing to aid in the reduction of the spread. We look forward to meeting safely. We are working closely with our meeting planning professionals, the hotel, and our partners/vendors to ensure we provide a safe environment that meets local, state, building, and CDC procedures.
As we get closer to the date of the conference, we will provide updates. Check back to this page for any new information or updates. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to our staff members or conference planning committee with any questions you might have.
