With a long legacy of delivering hospitality on some of the world’s biggest stages—including 25 Olympic Games, Super Bowls, the Stanley Cup Finals, and FIFA events worldwide—Aramark lent its hospitality expertise to Visit Philadelphia’s 2025 Hospitality Symposium to help the city prepare for a monumental 2026.
Philadelphia will take center stage in 2026 as the US celebrates its 250th anniversary and the city gears up to host marquee events like FIFA World Cup matches and the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. As a trusted hospitality leader with its global headquarters in Philadelphia, and thousands of local employees, Aramark is committed to ensuring Philadelphia maximizes and benefits from this opportunity to shine on the global stage.
As presenting sponsor of the Philadelphia Hospitality Symposium—a dynamic, one-day event organized by Visit Philadelphia, Aramark was proud to help the region’s hospitality workforce prepare for a once-in-a-generation lineup of events in 2026.
Through an immersive training workshop, Aramark helped hospitality professionals grow the skills and confidence needed to showcase the best of Philadelphia and welcome the world to the City of Brotherly Love in 2026 and beyond.
“At Aramark, hospitality is more than a service—it’s a mindset designed to create meaningful experiences that uplift and inspire,” said Bart Kaericher, President and CEO of Aramark Healthcare+, who spoke at the symposium. “We’re proud to invest in the people who make Philadelphia feel like home to the millions of visitors who are expected to travel here in 2026.”
The symposium brought together hospitality professionals from across the region—including hotel staff, restaurant owners and employees, tour guides, and small business owners, as well as anyone involved in visitor services throughout the city—to sharpen their skills ahead of major global events such as the FIFA World Cup, the Semiquincentennial—America’s 250th anniversary, MLB All-Star Game, NCAA March Madness, the PGA Championship and more.
“Philadelphia is stepping into a historic moment, and our city’s hospitality workforce is on the frontlines of the visitor experience,” said Angela Val, President and CEO of Visit Philadelphia. “The Hospitality Symposium is about investing in the people who power our visitor economy, ensuring they feel equipped, empowered and proud to represent Philadelphia on the world stage. We’re grateful to Aramark for supporting this destination development effort and helping us set the tone for 2026 and beyond.”
During the afternoon session of the symposium, Aramark experts led an interactive workshop focused on elevating the guest experience. Through Aramark’s various tried and true service models, participants explored how to create meaningful first impressions, use positive language, and build trust by treating every customer as a welcomed guest. The training also introduced a service recovery framework, empowering teams to listen, empathize, and resolve issues with care and accountability.
The training also featured interactive role-playing scenarios, peer learning, networking opportunities, and insights from hospitality industry leaders, reinforcing Aramark and Visit Philadelphia’s shared commitment to delivering a premiere hospitality experience.
With a legacy built in Philadelphia and a vision focused on innovation and hospitality, Aramark is positioning itself to lead the region’s hospitality industry into a new era—one defined by creating unforgettable experiences.
