American Express and Resy are partnering with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation to create a four-month Restaurant Academy for 30 restaurant leaders, aiming to strengthen teams, improve profitability, and help operators manage hiring, f
The pressure on restaurant operators doesn’t come only from the kitchen. For many owners and managers, the harder fight is building teams that can last—while keeping the books steady in a year when nearly every business decision feels more complicated than it used to.
On Monday, American Express and Resy announced a new national Restaurant Academy built to tackle that second problem directly: the leadership and management skills that help restaurants turn great food into reliable performance.
The program will bring together 30 restaurant leaders from across the country for a four-month leadership development effort beginning this fall. It launches in partnership with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and is scheduled to run from September through December. combining virtual sessions. peer networking opportunities. and an in-person gathering with industry leaders.
Organizers say the timing is deliberate. Restaurant operators are contending with elevated food costs. ongoing difficulty finding labor in many markets. and consumers who are becoming more selective about where they spend their dining dollars. For independent restaurants in particular. success depends as much on managing people and finances as it does on serving great food.
Culinary training exists. Business leadership doesn’t.
Amex’s Restaurant Academy is designed to fill a gap the founders say is often overlooked. While culinary schools teach aspiring chefs how to cook, there are far fewer opportunities for restaurant owners and managers to learn the business skills needed to run a successful operation.
The curriculum is built around everyday challenges that operators deal with directly. including hiring and retaining employees. improving the guest experience. and strengthening financial performance. Participants will receive training on onboarding and employee development, cash flow management, labor costs, vendor relationships, and profit-and-loss statements.
Future-focused topics will also be included. The curriculum will cover artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in restaurant operations.
Jennifer Skyler. chief corporate affairs officer at American Express. framed the academy as a continuation of Amex’s work developing leaders. “The Restaurant Academy extends American Express’ long-standing investment in developing leaders—building on the impact of our Leadership Academy and bringing that model to one of the most dynamic and essential sectors of the economy. ” she said in a statement.
For American Express, the move is also about staying close to the dining ecosystem it serves. The company positions restaurants as a key category within its broader network. including Resy. premium card benefits. dining experiences. and merchant partnerships. In that ecosystem, restaurants function both as merchants and destinations that help drive value for card members.
Pablo Rivero. CEO of Resy and senior vice president of American Express Global Dining. said the academy is meant to support the operators behind dining experiences. “At Resy. we have a front-row seat to how great restaurants evolve—and it always starts with strong teams. ” Rivero said. “Restaurant Academy is an opportunity to support the operators behind those experiences. helping them build resilient teams and continue delivering standout dining for their guests.”.
High-profile hospitality leaders will help shape the first class
The inaugural program will also lean on recognizable names to attract applicants and enrich instruction. Participants will have opportunities to learn from James Beard Award-winning chefs Mashama Bailey. Gregory Gourdet. and Nok Suntaranon. along with acclaimed sommelier and restaurateur Victoria James.
Bailey is chef and co-owner of The Grey in Savannah. Gourdet is the chef behind Portland’s Kann. Suntaranon is the owner of Philadelphia’s Kalaya. Organizers say each has built nationally recognized restaurants while navigating many of the same challenges facing operators today.
Michelle Korsmo, the nonprofit’s CEO, described the academy as part of a wider push to strengthen career pathways. “Restaurants are one of the most powerful leadership incubators in America,” Korsmo said. “This program creates new opportunities to strengthen leadership at every level. equipping today’s managers and owners and powering the next generation of restaurant leaders.”.
Applications are now open for the inaugural class. With the program set to run from September through December. organizers are effectively betting that better leadership—especially in hiring. retention. and financial management—could become one of the most valuable ingredients for long-term success in an industry defined by long hours. tight margins. and constant turnover.
American Express Resy Restaurant Academy National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation restaurant leadership hospitality industry cash flow management labor costs profit-and-loss AI in restaurants dining ecosystem
So basically Amex is teaching restaurants how to run better? Cool I guess.
Honestly restaurants don’t need another academy, they need cheaper food and staff that actually shows up. But I’m glad it’s September-Dec so maybe it lines up with tax season??
I saw “30 restaurant leaders” and thought it was only for high rollers with Amex cards lol. Like if you don’t have Amex you can’t join. Also hiring/retaining is just wages, right? Don’t need a class for that.
This is weird because Resy already has reservations, so why is it a leadership thing? I mean maybe it’s good, but half the problem is restaurants being understaffed and then the managers pretend it’s a “team building” issue. Virtual sessions and networking sounds nice though, wish someone would teach these places how to price menu items without losing money.