2026 Hospitality Trends Report Presented by af&co. and Carbonate

Thursday, November 6 | 3 p.m. PT

In-person at Convene (San Francisco, CA)

Get ready for the big reveal! Andrew Freeman (Founder of af&co. / Co-Founder of Carbonate), Candace MacDonald (Co-Founder & Managing Director of Carbonate), and Leith Steel (Director of Insights at Carbonate) will take the stage at Convene in San Francisco to debut the 2026 Hospitality Trends Report—our 18th annual deep dive into what’s next in food, beverage, travel, and beyond. Expect bold predictions, behind-the-scenes insights, and a few surprises along the way.

Join us after the presentation for a networking reception co-hosted by our wonderful client Chotto Matte for mixing, mingling, and swapping takeaways with the report’s authors and fellow leaders shaping hospitality’s future. Enjoy a complimentary signature drink and bites from their elevated Japanese–Peruvian menu, with additional beverages available for purchase at the bar. This event also kicks off af&co.’s 20th anniversary celebration, and we’ll raise a glass with the team to mark the milestone.

Tickets are $30 and include:

• Admission to the live presentation
• Networking happy hour co-hosted by Chotto Matte, including one beverage and small bites 
• A complimentary digital copy of the full report (a $50 value.)

A percentage of ticket sales will be donated to Foodwise, which operates farmers markets and education programs to connect the San Francisco Bay Area community with fresh, local food and sustainable family farms, and La Soupe, an innovative Ohio-based non-profit organization bridging the gap between food waste and food insecurity.

Convene 100 Stockton

40 O'Farrell St

San Francisco, CA 94108

Convene is a global hospitality company that manages a growing portfolio of lifestyle brands focused on revolutionizing the way people meet, work, and gather. Convene 100 Stockton is located in the heart of San Francisco's Union Square neighborhood.

Thank you to our partners: SF Travel, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, and The Oakland Restaurant Collective

Can't make the live report? Join us Via Live Stream

Join us for an engaging, interactive livestream presentation of the af&co. + Carbonate 2026 Hospitality Trends Report, where you’ll have the opportunity to ask the authors all of your burning questions about what they're forecasting as the next big trends in food, beverage, travel, and all things hospitality. Attendees will also receive a complimentary summary of the report.

• Tuesday, November 11 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. PT / 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. ET | Register Now
• Wednesday, December 3 | 10:30 - Noon PT / 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET | Register Now

The full report will be available for purchase after November 6.

Learn more at afandco.com/whats-trending and carbonategroup.com/trend-report

ABOUT af&co.

af&co. is an award-winning lifestyle marketing and public relations agency headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in Los Angeles and clients spanning coast to coast. Known for its forward-thinking approach, the agency combines creative and strategic consulting, marketing, and public relations to deliver results that go far beyond the traditional agency model. With more than 500 successful hospitality and lifestyle concept launches and ongoing marketing services for hundreds more, af&co. has built a reputation as a trusted leader in the industry, leading to the agency’s 20th Anniversary in 2025. af&co. focuses on what it is most passionate about - hotels & resorts, restaurants & chefs, lifestyle brands, wine & spirits, and travel & destinations - helping clients bring bold ideas to life while driving lasting impact. Follow along @afandco.

ABOUT Carbonate

Carbonate is a creative agency that builds, reinvigorates, and grows brands and hospitality concepts. Specializing in food, beverage, restaurants, hotels & hospitality tech/B2B, Carbonate’s services include brand strategy, identity development, trend insights, design, and integrated brand communications. Prior to launching as an independent company, Carbonate was a division of San Francisco-based af&co. Together af&co. and Carbonate produce an annual Hospitality Trends Report, with insights consistently cited by outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, and more. Carbonate also produces Insight Out, a weekly insights publication dedicated to emerging hospitality & branding trends. Carbonate was ranked #45 on the 2025 Inc. Regionals: Midwest list—the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the Midwest. Follow along @carbonategroup.