The 2019 CLM Retail, Restaurant, and Hospitality (RR&H) Conference opens its doors on Feb. 6, 2019, for three days of education and learning in Grapevine, Texas. We chat with Julie Price, board member of CLM’s RR&H Community and vice president, risk management, for Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, to see what’s in store for attendees.
How did you decide on session topics, and what trends are reflected in the program?
Our team spent a lot of time reviewing the great submissions we received from CLM’s membership—we had many group planning conference calls to discuss the topics that we thought would be best for the show. It was important to us to ensure that the sessions and topics offered were relevant and timely for today’s world, and that they highlighted the real issues and concerns that we deal with in the RR&H industry. I think there is nice blend of “evergreen” topics as well as newer topics, such as how surveillance technology is being used in litigation defense. It wasn’t easy to choose, but we were able to narrow down the topics to the dozen or so that we believe will be of greatest value.
Were there any other sessions or topics that stood out to you?
I am particularly interested in the session, “Active Shooter Coverage and Lessons Learned After an Active Shooter Event,” which will discuss high-profile active shooter claims and litigation and the lessons learned from those claims. As a risk manager for a major restaurant company, I think about how to prepare our team in the event that something like this happens. All of the restaurant risk managers I speak with have similar concerns, and we all want to ensure that we are as ready as we possibly can be.
What challenges do insurers face in 2019 and beyond?
The challenges for a risk manager are ever changing, so it’s important to keep up with current trends and tools that can help manage those challenges. Groups like CLM are invaluable in keeping up with this information, and I really appreciate the contacts that I have made through CLM, who assist me with my daily job challenges.
Is there one thing you hope attendees leave Texas having learned?
I think the most important aspect of any conference is the networking and the “Who did you meet?” factor. If you leave this conference with some knowledge gained and a few new contacts who could help you in your position later, then it should be considered a successful event. As a native Texan who still lives in Texas, I also hope attendees from out of state will appreciate our fabulous state, wonderful weather, the BEST Tex-Mex food, and the super friendly Texans who will welcome them here!