Join Southern Smoke Foundation for a day filled with interactive panels that will tackle industry challenges, explore effective growth strategies, and discuss ways to keep your business thriving in an ever-changing economy. Save the date for January 25, 2027.
Monday, November 17, 2025
9:00am–6:00pm
Hotel Saint Vincent
1507 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
The Southern Smoke Symposium isn’t just another industry conference — it’s a day built by and for the food and beverage community. Join us for a full day of conversations designed to dig into the real challenges facing our industry today, from scaling with soul to navigating modern media, mastering new technologies, and staying ahead in a constantly changing economy.
Expect interactive panels with some of the brightest minds in hospitality, including chefs, operators, journalists, attorneys, and innovators who are reshaping the way restaurants and bars run. You’ll hear firsthand stories, practical advice, and forward-looking strategies you can take back to your own business.
Your ticket includes breakfast, lunch, and a post-event happy hour, making it a true community gathering — not just a conference. This is your chance to connect with industry leaders, ask questions, and walk away with tools, ideas, and inspiration to strengthen your business and your team.
At Southern Smoke, we believe in building a stronger future for food and beverage workers, and the Symposium is one way we bring the industry together to share knowledge, collaborate, and keep moving forward — together.
The Southern Smoke Symposium isn’t just another industry conference — it’s a day built by and for the food and beverage community. Join us for a full day of conversations designed to dig into the real challenges facing our industry today, from scaling with soul to navigating modern media, mastering new technologies, and staying ahead in a constantly changing economy.
Expect interactive panels with some of the brightest minds in hospitality, including chefs, operators, journalists, attorneys, and innovators who are reshaping the way restaurants and bars run. You’ll hear firsthand stories, practical advice, and forward-looking strategies you can take back to your own business.
Your ticket includes breakfast, lunch, and a post-event happy hour, making it a true community gathering. This is your chance to connect with industry leaders, ask questions, and walk away with tools, ideas, and inspiration to strengthen your business and your team.
At Southern Smoke, we believe in building a stronger future for food and beverage workers, and the Symposium is one way we bring the industry together to share knowledge, collaborate, and keep moving forward — together.
The event will take place at Evangeline Hall in Hotel Saint Vincent on Monday, November 17th. Doors open at 9:00 AM for breakfast, and programming runs until 6:00 PM. Full schedules will be sent to ticket holders prior to the event.
Stay steps from the event at Hotel Saint Vincent in the Lower Garden District with a special Southern Smoke Symposium rate of $279/night. We’ve also curated a list of additional hotels if you’d like to explore more of New Orleans.
Your ticket priced at $150 provides full access to all four panels throughout the day, plus a chef-driven breakfast, lunch, and happy hour by the Hotel Saint Vincent team.
Yes! On-site parking is available in the venue lot on a first-come, first-served basis. Rideshares and carpooling are also encouraged.
We keep it casual here at Southern Smoke. Dress comfortably and bring a light layer as room temperatures may vary.
No need to bring anything: we will provide guests with notebooks, pens, Southern Smoke info cards, and some gifts from our sponsors. Bring business cards if you want to connect and network with folks in the room.
Yes! Breakfast begins at 9:00 AM, followed by lunch and refreshments throughout the day and a happy hour to close out the day.
You can transfer your ticket to someone else, or donate the ticket price to Southern Smoke Foundation.
We’d love to hear from you. Our team will be at the event if you would like to set up a time in person. Contact us at behindyou@southernsmoke.org.
Hotel Saint Vincent
1507 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
Your ticket includes breakfast, lunch, and a post-event happy hour, making it a true community gathering — not just a conference. This is your chance to connect with industry leaders, ask questions, and walk away with tools, ideas, and inspiration to strengthen your business and your team.
Hotel Saint Vincent
1507 Magazine St. New Orleans, LA 70130
Stay steps from the event in the heart of the Lower Garden District with a special Southern Smoke Symposium rate of $279/night.
Huge thanks to our incredible partners who make the Southern Smoke Symposium possible. Your generosity fuels the conversations, connections, and ideas that help strengthen the food and beverage industry. Special thanks to our presenting supporter OpenTable for keeping the energy high and the day running smoothly.
Seeing this community rally around big ideas and bold discussions never fails to inspire us at Southern Smoke. Proceeds from the Symposium support our mission to provide emergency relief and mental health services to food and beverage workers nationwide.
Please reach out to our development director Caroline Nabors at caroline@southernsmoke.org.
