Empowering Self-Operated Foodservice Professionals
The Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF) is a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting self-operated foodservice professionals in healthcare and senior dining. Our National Conference provides an opportunity to connect with peers, gain inspiration, and learn from nationally renowned speakers. Attendees can network, share ideas, and enjoy great meals with one another. As the premier event for independent foodservice professionals, AHF’s National Conference delivers valuable insights and real world solutions on key topics and emerging trends in the industry.
FOR SELF-OPERATORS, BY SELF-OPERATORS
Sessions, speakers, and vendors that leave you new knowledge, skills, and efficiencies to improves your operations and stay self-operated.
NEXT LEVEL TRADE SHOW
Discover the future of healthcare and community excellence at our tradeshow, featuring 100+ innovative exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge technology, services, and solutions designed to enhance your facilities and enrich resident experiences—see it all firsthand!
ALL INCLUSIVE
Have you noticed that many conferences today offer food at separate pricing or not at all? AHF provides breakfast, lunch, snack breaks, and dinner throughout the conference. Meaning once on site, you don’t need to worry about extra expenses.
LEAVE PREPARED FOR WHAT COMES NEXT
Feel inspired and head back to your operations with the tangible new skills and information needed to prepare your team and healthcare facilities and resident communities to overcome future disruptions, challenges, and opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should attend?
Healthcare Operators
Healthcare foodservice and nutritional professionals including foodservice directors, dining directors, managers, administrators, dietitians, culinary professionals and other leaders and aspiring leaders.
Senior Dining Operators
Senior dining foodservice and nutritional professionals including foodservice directors, dining directors, managers, administrators, dietitians, culinary professionals and other leaders and aspiring leaders.
Chefs, Culinary Professionals, Dietitians
AHF’s conference isn’t just for foodservice directors. Our content provides critical learnings for chefs and dietitians and those aspiring to move into higher level leadership positions.
Aspiring Leaders
Foodservice operators and professionals looking to gain training with the aim of growing their career NEED to attend. AHF provides training, leadership experience, and critical network growth that will help you achieve your goals and find mentors.
System, Regional, and Administrative Leaders
Senior level leaders from healthcare and senior dining operations are encouraged to attend. AHF provides high-level networking and education with actionable takeaways to improve operations.
What days do I need to be there?
The conference begins with pre-conference sessions on Thursday, August 21, with an opening reception that evening, and ends on Saturday night with our closing reception and dinner. We recommend guests arrive Wednesday and depart at the earliest Sunday morning.
When does registration open?
Registration will open in March and while we don’t close registration, early bird rates allow you to save$100. Check the registration page for more details.
Does the registration fee cover the cost of the hotel?
No, hotel reservations and fees are separate from registration. However, unlike many conferences where meals are not included, AHF’s registration fees include all sessions, receptions, and activities except area activities. So once you get onsite, all your meals and evenings are covered!
What does the registration fee cover?
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.
Are there ways to get assistance to attend?
Yes, AHF provides as many scholarships as possible to help Operator members attend the conference. Scholarships typically provide a significant portion of the cost of your registration.
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.
When do scholarship applications open?
Scholarship applications open in February. AHF provides as much as possible to as many Operators as we can. 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 by a specified deadline if you receive a scholarship, otherwise your scholarship will be forfeited. 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.
Can non-members attend?
Yes, non-member operators can attend if they are from a self-operated facility. We’d love to have you! However, becoming an operator member will provide access to the discounted registration rate ($200 savings!). Learn more about the benefits of becoming a member and join here.
We do not allow Operator employees of contract management firms to attend AHF. AHF is a national association working to promote and further the interests of self-operated facilities and their employees.
Will it still be beneficial for me to attend as a non-member? What things are for members-only at the conference?
Yes, non-member operators can attend if they are from a self-operated facility. We’d love to have you! However, becoming an operator member will provide access to the discounted registration rate ($200 savings!). Learn more about the benefits of becoming a member and join here.
We do not allow Operator employees of contract management firms to attend AHF. AHF is a national association working to promote and further the interests of self-operated facilities and their employees.
Do I need to pay extra to attend pre-conference workshops/sessions?
Yes, of course! There are no member-only sessions or activities at the conference, so you’ll still be able to participate in all of the education sessions and earn CEU credits and attend all of the networking events and receptions. That being said, we would definitely encourage you to consider becoming a member of AHF if you work at a self-operated facility. Not only would you receive discounted registration fees as a member, but you would also have access to all of the resources and tools AHF has to offer our members.
Do I need to pay extra to attend area activities?
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.
I’ve never attended an AHF conference before—are there resources or support available for first-time attendees?
Yes! We have a number of activities specifically designed for first time attendees. Join us on Thursday before the Opening Reception 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!
Do you offer Continuing Education Credits (CEUs)?
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 12+ CEUs.
Can I attend as a Business Partner, but NOT exhibit or sponsor?
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 $735 per year for the company and first contact, and $235 for additional members of your team to join your company membership account.
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 exhibitors 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 if you wish to see if exhibiting with us is of interest. Email Leah Reily for a tour!
What costs apart from the registration fee are there, if any?
We will have a pre-conference activity that includes an additional fee, but that is completely optional. One of the great and unique things about our conference is that once you’re onsite and the conference has started, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included.
What should I be aware of as a first time attendee?
AHF and our member-leaders make an effort to get to know and include first-time attendees throughout the entire conference. At the start of the conference, we have a “First-Time Attendee Reception” where you’ll have the chance to get to know other first-time attendees, as well as member-leaders, which really helps to make a great conference experience. Regardless of what stage you are at in your career, AHF’s conference is a great way to connect with your colleagues and peers in the industry as well as help foster relationships with business partner vendors.
AHF Safety 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.
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. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to our staff members or conference planning committee with any questions you might have.
Our Diamond Sponsors
“AHF conference is time we’ll spent. Great opportunities for refreshing my perspective to daily operational challenges with innovative ideas and solutions. Always appreciate this opportunity!”
2022
“I personally loved this opportunity! There is much information and help that is required for someone like me to grow as a foodservice individual. I was able to learn so much, and meet so many different people. I even made a few new friends. This was an amazing time for myself, and I would love to attend next year!”
2022
“The AHF National Conference never disappoints! If you can dream it, an operator or business partner at the conference is willing to share their wisdom and help you succeed.”
2022
“The 2023 AHF Conference: The Great Journey. Such a fitting theme to encompass the experiences I had during this conference. This was the first professional conference I have attended and the bar has been set high. I left feeling inspired and validated-with many great ideas to implement. My confidence as a leader was restored and the networking experience was outstanding. I cannot wait to attend the next AHF National Conference!”
2023
“Best Conference Ever!!!”
2023