HENDERSON, KY — Community leaders and media gathered Thursday morning at the Henderson County Public Library for a press conference announcing the launch of the Henderson Hospitality Summit, a new collaborative community event focused on strengthening hospitality, service, and economic vitality across the region.
The Henderson Hospitality Summit will be held Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Preston Arts Center, 2660 S. Green St., Henderson, Kentucky. The Summit will feature keynote speaker Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality, along with a select group of regional and national speakers. Tickets are $50 and are available for purchase at www.hcpl.org. Sponsorship opportunities are available; those interested should contact Shannon Sandefur for additional information.
Hosted by the Henderson County Public Library, Henderson Chamber of Commerce, Henderson Economic Development, and Henderson Tourist Commission, the press conference introduced the vision behind the Summit, recognized its presenting sponsors, and unveiled the event’s keynote speaker, Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality and former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park.
The Henderson Hospitality Summit represents a major partnership among these four organizations and reflects a shared commitment to elevating the culture of hospitality throughout Henderson. The Summit will bring together local leaders, businesses, tourism partners, and hospitality professionals to celebrate service, foster collaboration, and support continued community growth.
Guidara is an internationally recognized hospitality expert, entrepreneur, and author whose work explores how going above and beyond in service can transform organizations across industries. As co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, he helped lead the restaurant to be named the World’s Best Restaurant. He currently serves as an executive producer and hospitality consultant for the FX and Hulu television series The Bear. Through his book, Unreasonable Hospitality, Guidara challenges leaders to rethink how intentional, people first service can create meaningful and lasting impact. Reflecting on the Henderson Hospitality Summit, Guidara shared “What grabbed me right away was the intention behind this summit. You can feel that the team is treating hospitality as something bigger than a theme…they’re asking how it can shape the way a community shows up for one another, and how it can become part of the place itself. That kind of curiosity is how you build something people don’t just attend, but carry with them.”
In addition to keynote speaker Will Guidara, the Henderson Hospitality Summit will feature a select group of speakers whose work spans hospitality, design, storytelling, and placemaking-each offering practical insight into how intentional experiences shape communities and culture.
Featured speakers include:
Brent Bruner, Principal at Champlin | EOP, whose design leadership includes nationally recognized hospitality and cultural projects such as the Woodford Reserve Welcome Center, Bulleit Visitor Center, and Waterfront Botanical Gardens.
Kathleen Driskell, award-winning poet, essayist, educator, and the 2025–26 Kentucky Poet Laureate, whose work explores place, voice, and the human experience.
Brooks Reitz, Kentucky-born writer and entrepreneur, owner of four restaurants, founder of Jack Rudy Cocktail Co., and publisher of A Small & Simple Thing, a newsletter celebrating food, travel, and culture.
Together, these speakers will complement the Summit’s core message by demonstrating how hospitality extends beyond industry lines to influence economic vitality, workplace culture, and a strong sense of place.
The Henderson Hospitality Summit builds on this philosophy by offering an opportunity for businesses and community organizations to learn together, share best practices, and reinforce Henderson’s reputation as a welcoming place where visitors and residents alike feel valued and eager to return.
WHO
Henderson County Public Library, Shannon Sandefur, Executive Director
Henderson Chamber of Commerce, Clay Gillham, Executive Director
Henderson Economic Development, Missy Vanderpool, Executive Director
Henderson Tourist Commission, Abby Dixon, Executive Director
Presenting Sponsors of the Henderson Hospitality Summit:
Ben Johnston
Scott Davis, Field and Main Bank
Corey Roberts, Pittsburg Tank and Tower Group
WHY
To announce a major new community collaboration, the Henderson Hospitality Summit, which will bring together local leaders, businesses, and hospitality professionals to celebrate and strengthen the spirit of service, collaboration, and growth in Henderson.
This press release was distributed at the conclusion of the press conference and shared with media as a follow up to the event.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Shannon Sandefur
Executive Director, Henderson County Public Library
[email protected]
(270)827-1924
Clay Gillham
Executive Director, Henderson Chamber of Commerce
[email protected]
(270)826-7505
Missy Vanderpool
Executive Director, Henderson Economic Development
[email protected]
(270)854-9455
Abby Dixon
Executive Director, Henderson Tourist Commission
[email protected]
(270)826-3128
Book your stay