2026 SESSIONS

Check-in and collect your badge to attend the sessions and visit the Sponsor tables.

SALON TODAY 200 Dinner tickets are sold separately - you must check-in and pick-up your wristband before the dinner starts.

Location: TBD

Join us early to grab a bite to eat and start networking with other data-hungry owners and managers.

Location: Grand Ballroom (lobby level)

Join us as we welcome you to DDSS 2026 and share some information to help you get the most out of Data-Driven Salon Summit.

Emcee/Speaker:
Stacey Soble, SALON TODAY and BARBERING TODAY

Location: Grand Ballroom (lobby level)

As AI rapidly reshapes how clients discover, book, experience, and stay loyal to salons, owners face a critical design challenge: what should be automated, what should be augmented, and what must remain deeply human?

In this mainstage session, Ameet walks through the evolution of the salon client journey and breaks down where AI can meaningfully improve efficiency, personalization, acquisition, and retention, and where over-automation can quietly damage trust, culture, and long-term growth.

You’ll leave with a clear framework for evaluating every stage of your customer journey, practical examples of AI done right, and a roadmap for building a modern, purpose-driven salon that scales revenue and relationships.

Session Sponsor: Glammatic

Speaker: Ameet Kallarackal, Glammatic

Location: Grand Ballroom (lobby level)

Most salons don’t have a lead problem. Salons have a follow-up and conversion problem. In this session, you’ll learn how to use AI, automation, and smart marketing systems to turn cold leads into consistent revenue, rebookings, and raving fans. Walk away with proven scripts, automation workflows, and a clear framework to finally fix the marketing leaks that are costing your business thousands every month—plus a new mindset on how modern technology can help you grow faster with less effort. 

Speaker: Jennifer Alvarez, Refined Beauty

Location: Grand Ballroom (lobby level)

Grab your shears and help us cut the ribbon! Join us as we officially open the Partner & Solutions Pavilion, your go-to space for discovering products, services, and solutions designed for salon success.

Location: Rio Grande (lower level)

The Partner & Solutions Pavilion is open from 10:40 AM – 4:00 PM. Stop by throughout the day to connect with industry partners, explore tools and services designed for salon success, and discover solutions to support your business and team.

Location: Rio Grande (lower level)

Explore innovative products, services, and solutions while engaging with key representatives to learn how they can benefit your business. This is also the perfect opportunity to network with fellow professionals and expand your connections!

Beverage Sponsor: Boulevard

Graffiti Donuts Sponsor: Lightheart Sanders and Associates

Espresso Bar Sponsor: SalonCentric

Location: Rio Grande (lower level)

Session Sponsor: DermapenWorld

Location: San Antonio (lower level)

Session Sponsor: Meevo

Location: San Marcos (lower level)

Behind every struggling team is an overextended leader unknowingly operating from burnout, perfectionism, or people-pleasing. In this session, Brigette Sobus teaches salon owners how to become emotionally agile, set powerful boundaries, and lead without losing themselves—using trauma-informed coaching and NLP techniques. Attendees will discover how healing their leadership style unlocks retention, culture, and high performance. 

Speaker: Brigette Sobus, Power and Joy Coaching Academy

Location: Sabine (lower level)

Grab your lunch and stroll the Partner & Solutions Pavilion while discovering new tools, trends, and solutions for your salon.

Lunch Sponsor: DermapenWorld

Location: Rio Grande (lower level)

Session Sponsor: Boulevard

Location: San Antonio (lower level)

Discover how to transform the raw data from your salon's daily operations into a powerful engine for unprecedented revenue growth. This session will reveal the secrets of client segmentation and Lifetime Value (LTV) analysis, showing you how to identify your most valuable clients and unlock hidden profit opportunities. Prepare to leave with a clear, actionable blueprint to boost your salon's bottom line by truly understanding and leveraging your client base. 

Speaker: Amy Pal, Whip Salons

Location: San Marcos (lower level)

This session digs into what really sets each generation apart and why it matters when you’re trying to get people rowing together. You’ll learn how to talk to them in ways that actually land, what motivates each group, and how to use those differences instead of fighting them. Walk out with practical moves that boost performance no matter what decade. 

Speaker: Allyson Hurley King, Beauty 360° Consulting

Location: Sabine (lower level)

Sponsor: Strata Salon Systems

Location: Grand Ballroom (lobby level)

Pretty and Profitable is a strategic reset for salon owners who are tired of being busy but not better off. In this session, we’ll break down the three biggest profit traps quietly holding salons back: scaling too fast, poor cash flow management, and underperforming service providers. You’ll learn why growth often creates cash-flow pressure instead of freedom. This class is about seeing your business clearly, what’s really working, what’s leaking profit, and what needs to change now.

More importantly, we’ll show you how to fix it. You’ll walk away with simple, intentional strategies to increase revenue without increasing expenses, manage cash flow day-to-day with confidence, and lead high-performance service providers who can actually reach $100K+ without burnout. This isn’t about scaling for ego or expansion for the sake of growth, it’s about building a salon that is both beautiful and financially strong. If you want to grow with intention, protect your profit, and finally feel in control of your business, this session will change how you scale moving forward.

Speakers:
Lia Hakim, Hott Salons
Danielle Cherewyck, The Headroom
Celene Dupuis, Revamp Salon

Location: Grand Ballroom (lobby level)

Session Sponsor: L’OREAL

Location: Grand Ballroom (lobby level)

Explore innovative products, services, and solutions while engaging with key representatives to learn how they can benefit your business. This is also the perfect opportunity to network with fellow professionals and expand your connections!

Beverage Sponsor: Boulevard

Espresso Bar Sponsor: SalonCentric

Location: Rio Grande (lower level)

From accounting to insurance to financial planning, bring your biggest management challenges to our panel of expert pros who serve the beauty industry for this fast-fire round of Q&A.

Moderator: Stacey Soble, SALON TODAY and BARBERING TODAY

Location: Grand Ballroom (lobby level)

Get ready to shine at the SALON TODAY 200 Celebratory Dinner & Awards Presentation! It’s time to glam up and celebrate the incredible achievements of the SALON TODAY 200 and your business success in style. (Please note: This is a separate ticketed event.)

Recommended Attire: Festive or Cocktail

SEPARATE TICKETED EVENT

Get ready for an unforgettable evening! Join us for a lively cocktail reception where you can mingle with industry leaders, share stories, and celebrate achievements.

Separate ticketed event, you must purchase a SALON TODAY 200 Celebratory Dinner Ticket to attend. (2) Complimentary Drink tickets are included with your dinner ticket.

Recommended Attire: Festive or Cocktail

Location: Arbor (lobby level)

SEPARATE TICKETED EVENT

Join us as we recognize the 2026 Salon Today 200 Winners and Celebrate Excellence in salon leadership and management. 2 Complimentary Drink Tickets are included with your dinner ticket!

Recommended Attire: Festive or Cocktail

Location: Grand Ballroom (lobby level)