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Sean Brock, David Chang, and Richard Melman Unite for 2017 Welcome Conference

This year’s event focuses on conflict

Christopher Villano
Melissa McCart is the editor for Eater New York.

On June 5, the fourth annual Welcome Conference unfurls in New York at Alice Tully Hall, the hospitality summit created by Will Guidara of Eleven Madison Park and Anthony Rudolf of Journee. Tickets go on sale today for a lineup includes Sean Brock of Husk/McCrady’s/Minero in Charleston/Nashville/Atlanta along with David Chang and Richard Melman of Lettuce Entertain You.

In the past, heavy-hitters like Mike Solomonov (Federal Donuts, Zahav), Andrew Zimmern, Gabe Stulman (Happy Cooking), and Danny Meyer have spoken, with Meyer reminding attendees that when it comes to hospitality, “being right is completely fucking irrelevant."

Apropos for the year, the theme is conflict and change: “With conflict, there is change — the changing of a mind, of a government, of a landscape. And with change, there is conflict — the nostalgia for what was, the prescription for what should be, the growing pains of what is.”

Here’s the speaker lineup:

Richard Melman, Founder/Chairman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

Melanie Whelan, CEO, SoulCycle

Mary Celeste Beall, Proprietor, Blackberry Farm

Dr. John Medina, Molecular Biologist and Author

Frank Guidara, Former CEO, Uno Chicago Grill

Charles Carter, waiter, Antoine’s Restaurant

Sam Lipp, Director of Operations/Managing Partner, Union Square Café

Sean Brock, Chef/Partner, Husk, McCrady’s, Minero

Jordyn Lexton, Founder/Executive Director, Drive Change

David Chang, Chef/Owner, Momofuku restaurant group

Gary Noesner, Former FBI Negotiator and Author

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with coffee from Joe Coffee as well as breakfast, lunch, snacks, and canapes from Restaurant Associates. Tickets go on sale today at noon on the event's homepage — they're $225.