John Haggai is Chief Executive Officer and President of Burtons Grill, LLC, a growing Boston-based restaurant group with two concepts: Burtons Grill & Bar and Red Heat American Tavern. He joined the company in 2020 as COO and was named to his current position in 2022. With over 30 years in hospitality, John began his career in hourly roles at Outback Steakhouse and advanced to Joint Venture Partner. He later co-founded Tazza Kitchen in Richmond (VA) and scaled it to seven locations.
Long-term retention starts with who you bring in and how you set them up to thrive. This session explores how top operators hire for alignment, onboard with intention, and create clear paths for growth so team members feel supported long before they hit the floor. We’ll connect the dots between employee experience and guest experience, unpack why satisfaction can’t exceed what your team feels internally, and share practical ways to build hospitality from the inside out.
