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SCALE

Taking businesses to the next level by cultivating strategic partnerships
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Design Award-Winning Cooking Competition Within Major Community Festival

AYO Hospitality partnered with Navigate Foundation and the City of Chamblee to design and execute a youth culinary competition embedded within the annual Taste of Chamblee festival. This transformed an annual community event into a strategic experiential platform that drove visibility, sponsorship acquisition, and long-term growth.

Opportunity

Navigate Foundation sought to expand its brand visibility and media exposure​ in order to create a new avenue for fundraising. Navigate also wanted to create a way for high-school culinary talent to train in a competitive environment.

Results

  • Awarded “Best Event Within an Event” by Southeast Festival & Events Association (Year 1)​

  • Secured Paid Title Sponsorship by Talpa Supermercados (Year 2)

  • Received Regional Media Coverage — Atlanta News First

Strategy

AYO Hospitality collaborated with City of Chamblee officials to create unique programming by designing their first-ever "kiddie cooking competition" for the 8th annual Taste of Chamblee Festival. AYO Hospitality was responsible for all venue planning, budget oversight, and media & brand positioning.

Impact

  • Elevated Navigate Foundation’s regional profile

  • Created repeatable sponsorship opportunities

  • Delivered professional-grade experiential learning for youth participants

  • Positioned the program for long-term growth and replication

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Expanding Culinary Access Through Diverse Talent Integration & Operational Solutions

AYO Hospitality partnered with Atlanta Food & Wine Festival to strengthen talent integration, address pandemic-era operational challenges, and expand culinary participation through a strategic approach to staffing, partnerships, and experiential execution.
 

Opportunity

Atlanta Food & Wine Festival was looking to incorporate new local and diverse culinary talent into festival programming. Additionally, AFWF was faced with COVID-related shortages and needed assistance with staffing and kitchen prep space.

Results

  • 4,000+ Festival Attendees Engaged

  • Expanded Chef Participant Pool 

  • Fostered meaningful mentor relationships between chefs and student participants

  • Addressed COVID staffing challenges through scalable staffing and prep infrastructure solutions

Strategy

AYO Hospitality activated their  industry network to recruit chefs beyond traditional free-standing restaurants. AYO secured private chefs, caterers, and emerging culinary entrepreneurs for festival programming​. Additionally, AYO brokered a partnership with shared commercial kitchen space to serve as centralized prep facility for 10+ chefs.​
AYO sourced and scheduled student volunteers across 3 event days and created mentorship opportunities between emerging chefs and students.​​​ Lastly, AYO managed budget and staffing responsibilities for live cooking demos.

Impact

AYO Hospitality helped Atlanta Food & Wine Festival broaden representation within culinary programming and strengthen talent pipelines. Helped maintain high-quality production despite staffing challenges and expanded revenue opportunities for emerging and independent chefs.

Reimagining a Legacy Fundraiser Through Strategic Venue Placement & Experiential Design

AYO Hospitality was hired by Les Dames d'Escoffier to curate a wine tasting fundraiser to raise money for scholarships for women seeking further studies in culinary and agriculture

Opportunity

Les Dames d'Escoffier was looking for a way to engage with a more youthful and "in-town" audience for their annual fundraiser.

Results

  • 60+ Attendees Engaged Through Curated Experiential Format

  • Scholarship Funds Raised Supporting Future Culinary Leaders

  • Secured donated venue and wine sponsorships

  •  Featured on 11Alive News

  • Expanded audience reach through refreshed brand positioning and modern event concept

Strategy

AYO Hospitality conceptualized and launched Sips of the Summer, a wine tasting and dine-around format meant to appeal to a younger audience. AYO also leveraged their hospitality network to minimize cost outflows with reduced cost space, while securing high-value silent auction items meant for fundraising. Items included donated wine  and 8-course dining experience .​​

Impact

By combining strategic partnerships, experiential design, and operational leadership, AYO Hospitality helped Les Dames d’Escoffier Atlanta reintroduce their signature fundraiser to a new generation of attendees which in turn increased brand visibility within Atlanta’s culinary community.​​

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Expanding Industry Access Through Strategic Travel Programming & Culinary Partnerships

AYO Hospitality partnered with Navigate Foundation to expand experiential learning opportunities for student interns through participation in the inaugural Shef Food + Wine Festival in North Texas, a premier culinary event created by Top Chef finalist Chef Tiffany Derry.

Opportunity

Navigate Foundation sought to provide student interns with exposure to high-level culinary events and facilitate mentorship opportunities with James Beard and Michelin-recognized chefs. Expand organizational visibility beyond local markets.
 

Results

  • ​Participants Gained Hands-On Experience with Michelin-Awarded and Nationally Recognized Chefs

  • Navigate Foundation returned as brand activation partner in Year 2 

  • Navigate Foundation Executive Director invited to speak on keynote panel

  • Expanded Digital Reach — Media personalities with 100K+ Instagram followers included Navigate in festival recaps

  • Built Industry Credibility and Strategic Relationships with Festival Organizers

Strategy

Partnership & Industry Integration

  • Secured Navigate Foundation’s participation in the inaugural Shef Food + Wine Festival

  • Leveraged industry relationships to integrate students into professional culinary environments

  • Positioned Navigate as a workforce development partner aligned with festival's mission

Travel & Operational Logistics

  • Managed end-to-end travel coordination from Atlanta to North Texas

  • Oversaw booking logistics, scheduling, and operational planning

  • Ensured seamless execution, allowing students and leadership to focus on industry engagement
     

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Impact

Through strategic planning, operational execution, and industry relationship development, AYO Hospitality helped Navigate Foundation:

  • Expand student access to national culinary platforms

  • Strengthen industry credibility through high-level partnerships

  • Increase brand exposure across digital and live audiences

  • Establish a repeatable model for travel-based experiential learning programs

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