SPEAKER BIOS
Val Upfold
Hospitality Recruitment/Food TV Casting/HR
Val Upfold has worked in the hospitality industry for several decades, including roles as Restaurant Manager, Sommelier, and HR Director, in hotels and restaurants in Canada and Australia.
Having spent 15 years at Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality– five in a Manager and Sommelier role at the acclaimed Canoe Restaurant and ten as the HR Director for the company, Val brings deep understanding across the hospitality spectrum. Starting the HR department from the ground up, she developed all of O & B's HR processes. As a recruiter in hospitality for the last 12+ years, Val also brings her HR expertise to her clients, making her a go-to for some of the industry's most known and loved brands.
She has spoken at a wide range of events across the country, and is a seasoned media commentator, including on CTV’s The Social and in the Globe and Mail.
Dr. Nick Bontis
Global Strategy and Management Expert
Dr. Nick Bontis (www.NickBontis.com) is recognized internationally as a global strategy and management expert. Over the last 30 years, he has delivered over 500 keynote presentations on every continent for leading organizations in both the private and the public sector. His dynamic, high-energy presentations provide concrete recommendations for improving individual, team and organizational effectiveness leaving audiences with the tools, inspiration, and motivation to accelerate management performance. The former editor of Harvard Business Review and Fortune Magazine, states that “Nick Bontis is not only a pioneer, but one of the world’s real experts as well.”
In addition, Dr. Bontis is an award-winning tenured professor of strategic management at McMaster University. He has won over a dozen teaching awards and several international research awards. With over 140 journal publications garnering 50,000 citations, he is ranked among the most cited business professors in the world. He is also a 3M National Teaching Fellow, an exclusive honor only bestowed upon the top university professors in the country, often referred to as the Nobel-prize of teaching.
David Butler
Director, Asset Management, InnVest Hotels
David Butler is a hospitality industry leader with more than 20 years of experience in hotel operations, asset management, and strategic performance. He is currently Director, Asset Management at InnVest Hotels, responsible for a portfolio Comfort Inn and Upper Midscale hotels. He has held leadership roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Westmont Hospitality Group, and InnVest Hotels, gaining extensive on-property and above-property experience. His balanced scorecard approach combines operational insight with financial analysis and data-driven decision-making.
David applies his expertise in financial modeling and data science to identify opportunities, enhance property performance, and drive value across hotel assets. He is also a member of Choice Hotels Canada’s Franchise Advisory Board.
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois
Senior Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Dalhousie University, Canada
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, located at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Known as “The Food Professor”, he is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. He is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. Since 2012, he has published the highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, providing an overview of food price trends for the coming year. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, now ranked as top Canadian management podcast, discussing issues in the food industries. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces, in the United States, Brazil, Austria, Italy, France, Belgium, China, Great Britain, Finland and the Netherlands.
Nicole Nguyen
Vice President, CBRE Limited
Nicole Nguyen is Senior Vice President and Practice Lead with CBRE Hotels Valuation & Advisory Services team in Canada. A trusted advisor to investors, developers, brands and operators, Nicole is recognized for her deep industry insight and ability to translate complex data into actionable recommendations.
Relying on her expertise in financial modeling and market intelligence, Nicole delivers strategic advice grounded in hands-on operational experience. She is a sought-after speaker and contributor on hospitality trends, regularly presenting at industry events and authoring thought leadership pieces.
Asif Alidina
Founder & CEO, Inntelo AI
Asif Alidina is the Founder and CEO of Inntelo AI, an AI-native hospitality platform transforming how hotels manage guest experience and operations. In 2025, Inntelo launched the UK’s first AI Concierge combining conversational and agentic AI, and secured a landmark deployment at CIEL Dubai Marina, the world’s tallest hotel. Backed by Antler, Haatch, Look AI Ventures and the British Business Bank, the company is expanding across N.America, Europe, Asia and Africa. A regular speaker at international technology and hospitality events, Asif advocates for responsible AI that empowers hotel teams, improves working conditions, and enhances the human side of hospitality.
Jamie Berryman
VP National Sales, Sysco Food Service
Jamie has a long history of food industry experience dating back well over 30 years. Prior to joining Sysco in 1995, he worked with industry pioneers Maple Leaf Foodservice and Elmira Poultry. In his role as Vice President, National Sales, Jamie leads and supports the Sysco National Sales team, who are responsible for managing the relationships with Sysco’s significant national chain and healthcare & senior living customers.
Jamie serves as the Executive Sponsor of Circle, Sysco’s Indigenous Colleague Resource Group. Circle celebrates diversity and nourishes a safe and inclusive environment for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous colleagues to learn, honour, and appreciate Indigenous history, culture, teachings, and values. In addition, Jamie serves as an Advisory Board Member of the F.C. Manning School of Business at Acadia University and the Patron’s Council for the annual Chef’s for UNICEF Gala in Halifax.
Janet Zuccarini
Founder and CEO of Gusto 54 Restaurant Group
Janet Zuccarini is the Founder and CEO of Gusto 54 Restaurant Group, an acclaimed hospitality company behind some of Toronto and Los Angeles’ most celebrated restaurants. Since opening Trattoria Nervosa in 1996, Janet has built a diverse portfolio including Gusto 101, Gusto 501, Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen, Café Zuzu, Azhar, PAI, Kiin, Chaiyo, Thai Tavern and Felix Trattoria in Los Angeles.
Recognized for her entrepreneurial leadership and passion for exceptional food, design and hospitality, Janet has received numerous industry honours, including the Pinnacle Award for Independent Restaurateur of the Year and the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship. Under her leadership, Gusto 54 has been recognized as a Deloitte Best Managed Company for eight consecutive years. A resident judge on Top Chef Canada, Janet holds an MBA from Boston University and spent eight formative years living in Rome.
Adam Mogelonsky
Partner, Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited
Adam Mogelonsky is an owner’s representative who combines expertise in development, repositioning, commercial IT, AI deployment, marketing, experiential programming and longevity sciences to derive deep value for independent hotels, small groups and new builds.
Edwin Frizzell
Regional VP, Central Canada & Puerto Rico, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and
General Manager, Fairmont Royal York
As Regional Vice President, Central Canada for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and General Manager of Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York, Edwin Frizzell is one of Canada’s most respected hospitality executives, recognized for strategic leadership, industry advocacy, and his ability to guide complex organizations through transformation.
With more than 35 years of hospitality leadership, Edwin has held senior roles with Delta, Sheraton, Westin, Hilton, and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Since joining Fairmont Royal York in 2014, he has led a landmark transformation for the hotel, including a major heritage-building carbon reduction initiative.
A respected speaker, moderator, and industry advocate, Edwin serves as Vice Chair of Destination Toronto and on the Board of Hotels Canada. His leadership has been recognized with Hotelier magazine’s prestigious Pinnacle Award for Hotelier of the Year.
Kate Engineer
Hospitality Entrepreneur, Owner of Servers Excellence Hospitality Training
Kate Engineer is a hospitality entrepreneur, trainer, and founder of Servers Excellence, a hospitality training company supporting restaurants, hotels, private member clubs, conference centres, and hospitality organizations across Canada.
Growing up in a family restaurant, hospitality has always been at the core of Kate’s career. After beginning her professional journey in marketing and communications and later owning a PR agency in the fashion industry, she shifted her focus to hospitality. In 2020, she founded Servers Excellence with a mission to improve and standardize Front of House training, develop hospitality leaders, strengthen team connection and accountability, and create more consistent guest experiences. Her hospitality expertise and advice have been published in RestoBiz Magazine and Foodservice and Hospitality.
Kate is also the owner of Butter Bar, a gourmet flavoured butter brand she launched in 2023, which has since expanded to include Canada’s first butter boutique in Port Credit, Mississauga.
Ben Haythornthwaite
Director of Market Analytics, CoStar Group
Ben Haythornthwaite joined CoStar in early 2024 as Director of Market Analytics, focusing on the Greater Toronto Area and the Greater Golden Horseshoe. He has over a decade of experience spanning residential and commercial brokerage, appraisal, investment management, advisory, and analytics. Before joining CoStar, Ben managed the global real estate analytics team at a large institutional investment manager, overseeing reporting and providing insights on over $20 billion in real estate assets worldwide. He is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, holds a degree in Property Economics from the Dublin Institute of Technology, and a Data Science in Real Estate certification from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Fernando SantaCruz
AI Strategist and Founder, Adivor Consulting
Fernando SantaCruz is an AI strategist and the founder of Adivor Consulting in Toronto. Through the Canada Digital Adoption Plan, he has delivered 1,300+ hours helping Canadian businesses build AI workflows with measurable efficiency gains.
He spent 15 years building software for hotels, golf courses, tour operators and transportation companies across Cancún, the Riviera Maya and Yucatán, and today co-owns a boutique hotel in Yucatán. He lives between Toronto and Mérida.
Robert Carter
CEO, StratonHunter Group
Robert Carter is a business growth strategist, CEO of StratonHunter Group, President of the Coffee Association of Canada, and an inductee into the Ontario Hostelry Institute Hall of Fame. For over 30 years, Robert has partnered with major foodservice brands, including McDonald’s, Tim Hortons, Starbucks, and YUM! Brands, to translate consumer behavior into actionable growth strategies. Previously spending 14 years leading consumer intelligence at The NPD Group (Circana), Robert is a trusted national media commentator and keynote speaker. Today, he advises industry executives on evolving dining habits, guest experience culture, and leveraging practical AI solutions to keep hospitality businesses competitive and consumer focused.
Beth McMahon
President & CEO, Hotels Canada
With more than 20 years of executive leadership experience, Beth McMahon has built a reputation for driving organizational growth, strengthening advocacy efforts, and leading transformational change. As President & CEO of Hotels Canada, she is focused on elevating the voice of Canada's hotel sector and advancing strategic policy priorities that support investment, workforce development, and tourism growth.
Now in her third year leading the association, Beth has broadened Hotels Canada's reach through innovative programs such as the Women's Ownership Network, the Executive Advocacy Council, and the No Room for Trafficking initiative. Her collaborative leadership style and commitment to industry advancement continue to position Hotels Canada as a leading voice in shaping the future of hospitality in Canada. Beth also serves on a number of addition boards that are related to the industry and impact workforce development, sustainability, and the long-term success of Canada's tourism industry.
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Tony Elenis
President & CEO, Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA)
Tony Elenis is the President & CEO of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA). ORHMA is the largest provincial hospitality association in Canada representing approximately 4,000 members and 11,000 establishments in the hospitality sector. As an Ontario hospitality leader he has a proven track record of positive contributions to hospitality and management, Tony Elenis is dedicated to supporting the hospitality and tourism industry of Ontario. Prior to his arrival at ORHMA, Tony managed high achieving hotels for 30 years. Tony’s other passion lies within the World of Food and Wine, its lore and history. His expertise and creativity in food and beverage operations is well recognized within the industry. Tony was awarded the 2022 Pinnacle National Award for Hospitality Industry Support. He has contributed to industry boards and is a participant with hospitality schools and government related advisory and steering committees.