Branded Hospitality draws 350-plus leaders to Prosper Forum networking event

Branded Hospitality hosted its annual Cocktails & Connections event at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes during Prosper Forum 2026, bringing together more than 350 operators, founders, investors and technology leaders. The gathering underscores how foodservice and hospitality companies are using in-person networking to build partnerships and surface new business opportunities.

Why it matters: - The event put operators, investors, founders and technology vendors in one room during a major industry forum. - More than 350 people attended, signaling continued demand for high-touch networking in foodservice and hospitality. - The sponsor lineup included Olo, DIRECTV for Business, Adyen, DailyPay and DoorDash, showing the category’s draw for infrastructure and tech providers.

What happened: - Branded Hospitality hosted its annual Cocktails & Connections event alongside Prosper Forum 2026. - The gathering took place at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, during Prosper Forum’s Aug. 16-19 run. - Branded Hospitality is a New York-based hospitality media and investment platform spanning Ventures, Solutions and Media. - The event brought together top operators, founders, investors and technology leaders from foodservice and hospitality. - The event was co-sponsored by Olo, DIRECTV for Business, Adyen, DailyPay and DoorDash.

The details: - Prosper Forum says it convenes more than 750 C-suite executives each year at a 3:1 operator-to-supplier ratio. - This year’s forum included leaders from Yum! Brands, Inspire Brands, PepsiCo, Sysco Corporation, Golden Corral, Taco John’s International, Union Square Hospitality Group, The Cheesecake Factory, Craveworthy Brands, Yadav Enterprises and Jersey Mike’s. - Michael "Schatzy" Schatzberg, co-founder and co-managing partner of Branded Hospitality, said Cocktails & Connections is designed to create real relationships, not just card exchanges. - Schatzberg said Prosper Forum brings together leaders shaping where the industry goes next. - The company described the turnout as one of its best yet.

Between the lines: - The event reflects how restaurant and hospitality businesses are pairing conference attendance with curated, lower-friction networking formats. - The sponsor mix suggests fintech, payments, delivery and media companies see value in direct access to senior operators. - Prosper Forum’s operator-heavy format likely makes the event more attractive to brands and suppliers seeking decision-makers.

What's next: - Branded Hospitality is likely to keep using Cocktails & Connections as a recurring relationship-building platform. - Prosper Forum will continue to serve as a venue for senior-level industry networking each year. - Branded Hospitality directs readers to learn more about the company.

The bottom line: - Branded Hospitality used Prosper Forum 2026 to turn a conference side event into a high-density meeting point for the foodservice and hospitality ecosystem.