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Meet One-on-One with Commercial Specialists through our complimentary Franchising Global Chat program at the International Franchise Expo.
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Diverse people sitting at a table with two women shaking hands with text: Global Franchise Connections, Miami 2023
Global Franchise Connections
Global Franchise Connections is a curated franchise business conference providing industry franchisors and prospective franchisees the opportunity to meet through vetted matchmaking, and interact through conference presentations and seminars.

Global Franchising Connections

Global Franchising Connections, Miami 2023

Global Franchise Connections is a 3-day franchise development event featuring up to 15 franchisors that have been curated based on attending investors and prospective franchisees from a global reach.   Attendees have the opportunity to meet with executives of exhibiting franchisors, and to learn from an in-depth conference program. The U.S. Commercial Service Franchising team will be organizing a Global Chat program at IFE to provide franchisees an opportunity to meet one-on-one with our Commercial Specialists at the show.

Information on the inaugural Global Franchise Connections, including the concept, curated brands, the business conference, registration links, and additional assistance can be found below.  

Event Details

View detailed information on Global Franchise Connections, Miami, 2023. 

Event Details

Date: September 12 – 14, 2023

Time: Formal program commences at 8:00 a.m. EST on 09/12/2023, and concludes at 1:30 p.m. EST on 09/14/2023.  Matchmaking session conclude by 5:00 p.m. EST on 09/14/2023.

Location: Akerman LLP,  Three Brickell City Centre, 98 Southeast Seventh Street, Suite 1100, Miami, FL 33131
 

About the Conference

Details will be forthcoming.

Preliminary Agenda

September 12 – 14, 2023
 

Location – Akerman LLP, Three Brickell City Centre, 98 Southeast Seventh Street, Suite 1100, Miami, FL 33131

Security – Please bring a government issued photo id to check in.

Dress – Business casual.

Attendees – A curated grouping of U.S. franchisors, investors/prospective franchisees, and selected staff from the USCS will meet in Miami, Florida across a three-day event aimed at connecting opportunities and deals with global franchise markets.    

Preliminary Agenda:

12 September 2023 (Day One)

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. – Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.  – Welcome – All attendees will meet at the Akerman offices for a formal welcome.

9:30 – 5:00 p.m. – Discovery Day – International attendees will board chartered buses to travel to franchisor business units in the Miami area to gain a better understanding of concepts and opportunities.  U.S. Franchisors will have development executives and operations staff join in segments in advance of stops to introduce their brands before tours of the facilities. 

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  – Dinner event TBD 

13 September 2023 (Day Two)

8:00 – 8:45 a.m. – Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 a.m. – Welcome – US&FCS; Akerman; Summa Franchise Consulting; & IFA.    

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. – Keynote Address:  Future of Franchising (or some primary interest topic) – Facilitated by Robert Stidham, Summa Franchise Consulting; Trish MacAskill, Akerman, LLP

9:45 – 10:00 a.m. – Break  

10:00 – 1:00 p.m.  – Meet the Brands – U.S. based franchisors present their value propositions (pitch sessions) in open forum.  Each brand has ten minutes to pith their opportunity.     

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.  – Lunch - Speaker to be identified.

2:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Breakout Sessions
 

          (Matchmaking & Presentation, Tracks 1 & 2)

Track 1 (Franchisors/Candidates) 1-on-1 break out meetings between brands and prospective franchise candidates. 

Held in private rooms with tables and chairs.

Track 2 (Investors & US&FCS Staff) (Kevin, Robert, Aaron, Eric)

 

 

Franchisors have the opportunity to meet up to six prospective candidates over the course of six, 30-minutes breakout sessions during Day Two.   

2:00 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

 

Prospective franchisees and franchisors without meetings scheduled at a certain duration may attend the educational breakout sessions during Day Two.

2:00 – 2:45 p.m.

What to consider in buying a US brand and bringing it back to your country

Focus:  Identifying & Working with Franchisors.

2:45 – 3:30 p.m.  

What to consider in buying a US brand and bringing it back to your country

Focus:  Legal & Regulatory, Contracting

3:30 – 4:15 p.m.

What to consider in buying a US brand and bringing it back to your country

Focus:  Preparing Operations

4:15 – 5:00 p.m.

What to consider in buying a US brand and bringing it back to your country

Focus:  Expanding & Scaling Under the License

5:30 – 7:00 p.m. - Networking Reception – Drinks & Light Fare

14 September 2023 (Day Three)

8:30 – 9:00 a.m. – Continental Breakfast

9:00 – 9:10 a.m. – Welcome – US&FCS; Akerman; Summa Franchise Consulting; & IFA.    

9:15 – 10:00 a.m.  – Keynote Address:  (topic of interest TBD) – Facilitated by Robert Stidham, Summa Franchise Consulting; Trish MacAskill, Akerman, LLP

10:00 – 1:30 p.m.– Final Break-out Sessions
 

           (Matchmaking & Presentation, Track 1 & 2)

Track 1 (Franchisors/Candidates) 1-on-1 break out meetings between brands and prospective franchise candidates. 

Held in private rooms with tables and chairs.

Track 2 (Investors & US&FCS Staff) (Kevin, Robert, Aaron, Eric)

Four sessions that are either repeats from Day Two, or Fresh Topics

Franchisors have the opportunity to meet up to twelve prospective candidates over the course of twelve, 30-minutes breakout sessions during Day Three.   

10:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

Special note:  Should there be need for additional meeting times, the afternoon slots will be available, although the formal agenda concludes at 1:30 p.m.  

2:00 p.m. – as required.

2:30 p.m. – as required.

3:00 p.m. – as required.

3:30 p.m. – as required.

4:00 p.m. – as required.

4:30 p.m. – as required.

10:00 – 10:45 a.m.

What to consider in buying a US brand and bringing it back to your country

Focus:  Identifying & Working with Franchisors.

10:45 – 11:30 a.m.  

What to consider in buying a US brand and bringing it back to your country

Focus:  Legal & Regulatory, Contracting

11:30 – 12:15 p.m.

What to consider in buying a US brand and bringing it back to your country

Focus:  Preparing Operations

12:15  – 1:00 p.m.

What to consider in buying a US brand and bringing it back to your country

Focus:  Expanding & Scaling Under the License

 

1:00 p.m. - Boxed Lunch & Farewell Messages

1:30 p.m. – Adjourn

Questions?

Franchisors, please contact Eric Johnson with any questions about the programs planned at the show.  

Prospective franchises, please contact your local U.S. & Foreign Commercial trade specialist for more details in you home country.  If your country is not yet listed, please contact Eric Johnson. 

Registration

Franchisors & Prospective Franchisees must complete respective registration and applications.  Details will be forthcoming.