Hospitality, Food & the Front Line of Service in 2026

Featuring Daniel Klim, CEO – New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association In this episode of Field Notes: Insights and Observations for the Travel Marketer, Eric Hultgren sits down with Daniel Klim, CEO of the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association, live from Atlantic City during the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association Conference. With 2026 on the horizon—including the FIFA World Cup, America’s 250th Anniversary, Sail250, and a wave of global visitors—this conversation goes straight to the front lines of the visitor experience: restaurants, hospitality, and the people who create unforgettable moments. Daniel shares how New Jersey’s 20,000+ restaurants are preparing to welcome the world, why “okay” is the real enemy of hospitality, and how restaurants—especially mom-and-pop operators—can scale for massive demand without losing their soul. This episode is a must-listen for travel marketers, destination leaders, hospitality professionals, and anyone thinking beyond 2026. 🧠 Key Topics Covered Why food and hospitality define travel memories Preparing restaurants for World Cup-level global tourism Training for cultural awareness, tipping norms, and guest expectations Balancing local flavor with international audiences Workforce readiness, menu planning, and supplier coordination Turning once-in-a-lifetime events into long-term growth Why conferences still matter—and how ideas turn into action Hospitality as a tool for empathy, connection, and repeat visitation ⏱️ Episode Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to Field Notes 00:45 – Introducing Daniel Klein & NJ’s hospitality ecosystem 01:30 – Preparing restaurants for the World Cup & America 250 02:45 – Cultural awareness, guest expectations & service autonomy 04:10 – Why “okay” is worse than bad in hospitality 05:00 – Thinking beyond 2026: repeat visitation & legacy planning 06:00 – Helping small restaurants scale for massive demand 07:30 – Workforce, menus & communication as success drivers 08:30 – What Daniel looks for at industry conferences 09:30 – Food, empathy & shared experiences 10:15 – What else is coming to New Jersey in 2026 11:00 – Closing thoughts & a Trenton pizza plan 🎧 About the Guest Daniel Klim is the CEO of the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association, representing more than 20,000 restaurants and hospitality businesses across the state. His work sits at the intersection of economic development, tourism, workforce strategy, and guest experience. 🌍 About the Podcast Field Notes explores the ideas, strategies, and observations shaping the future of travel marketing—from AI and storytelling to hospitality, culture, and experience design. If you’re a destination marketer, tourism leader, or hospitality professional, this podcast is built for you. 👍 Like, Subscribe & Share If you found value in this episode, hit Like, subscribe to the channel, and share it with someone shaping the future of travel. 📌 Recorded live at the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association Conference 🎤 Hosted by Eric Hultgren