2026 HFS Summit
Your guide to all things Summit.
Main Summit Day
Wed, October 21
Location
Great Wolf Lodge, Grapevine TX
This Is Summit Week
About This Summit
The Summit brings our entire organization together — in office and remote alike, across every department. It’s a chance to connect with people you may not see day to day, and to attend sessions that will be genuinely impactful for how we work going forward.
Your personalized agenda can be found in the event app. If a session or meeting applies to you, it’ll be on your agenda.
Dress Code
Attire
Business casual, with an emphasis on dressing to impress. Smart, professional attire that is comfortable enough for a full day of sessions and networking.
Weather
It’s Texas — expect warmer weather. October temperatures typically reach the 70s–80s°F. Bring layers for indoor comfort and something for outdoor breaks.
Summit Week at a Glance
Tuesday, October 20 — Irving Office
There are breakout meetings scheduled on Tuesday. Check your personalized agenda in the event app for anything specific to you.
Wednesday, October 21 — Great Wolf Lodge
Main Summit Day. Please plan to arrive as close to 8:00 AM as possible — we’ll get started at 8:30. See the Schedule tab →
Thursday, October 22 — Irving Office
Same as Tuesday — there are breakout meetings scheduled. Check your personalized agenda in the event app for anything specific to you.
Main Summit Day
There are breakout meetings scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday — check your personalized agenda in the event app. Sessions on Wednesday, October 21 are personalized to you as well — the full breakdown, including speakers, lives in your agenda in the app.
Wednesday, October 21
Great Wolf Lodge — Main Summit Day
Arrival
Plan to arrive as close to 8:00 AM as possible. The day begins promptly at 8:30, and the expectation is that everyone is seated and ready to go right at that time.
All-Day Sessions
This year’s sessions were strategically crafted. Expect a mix of client-focused conversation, interactive collaboration, and leadership insight — session-by-session descriptions and speakers are in your personalized agenda in the app.
Lunch
Lunch served on-site.
Group Dinner
Following the conclusion of sessions, we’ll have a group dinner at Great Wolf Lodge — no need to travel to a secondary location — complete with passed hors d’oeuvres, a full buffet, and activities.
Want the Full Breakdown?
This page is a preview — the full session-by-session agenda lives in your personalized agenda inside the event app.
Travel Logistics
Irving Office
8222 N Beltline Rd, Suite 100
Irving, TX 75063
Irving, TX 75063
Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine
100 Great Wolf Drive
Grapevine, TX 76051
Grapevine, TX 76051
Check-In
Check-In
Your name will be on the guest list at the front desk. They may ask for a credit or debit card to place a hold for incidentals.
Check-In / Check-Out Times
Check-in: 4:00 PM local time | Check-out: 11:00 AM local time
Hotel Amenities
Marketplace & Starbucks
A full marketplace and a full-service Starbucks are on-site for snacks, coffee, and essentials.
Basement Level
A restaurant-and-arcade area with casual, snack-style food.
Main Level Restaurant
A full-service restaurant on the main floor for a sit-down meal.
4th Floor — Adults-Only
The 4th floor restaurant is designated adults-only. If you’re looking for a quieter spot, this is it — feel free to head up there.
A Quieter Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge is running at about 20% capacity during our dates, so don’t expect the usual crowd of kids and families running around.
What to Bring
- ✓ A credit or debit card for incidentals at check-in
- ✓ A light layer for the room and meeting spaces — hotel A/C runs cool
- ✓ Comfortable shoes
- ✓ Chargers and any devices you’ll need for note-taking and work
The items below apply to specific situations — check whether they apply to you.
Bag Valet — Irving Office
Who This Is For
Traveling attendees who can’t check in at the hotel before Tuesday’s meetings, or who need a place for luggage before departing for the airport on Thursday.
How It Works
Stop by the front desk of the Irving office — they’ll assist you with bag storage.
Parking & Carpooling
Who This Is For
Travelers renting a car.
Cost
Self-parking at Great Wolf Lodge is $5.00 per vehicle. The Lodge is cashless — debit/credit cards and touchless pay only.
Register for Your Parking Pass
The most efficient thing to do is register for your parking pass in advance — register here. This is how you ensure the cost is picked up by HFS.
Help a Fellow Traveler
If you’re renting a car, please notify us — we’re counting on our drivers to help fellow travelers get where they need to go.
Headshots
Headshots will be available on Tuesday and Thursday of Summit Week. More to come closer to Summit Week.
The Experience
Who’s Behind the Camera
Peter Szpakowski of Two MM Headshots and Event Photography will be on-site to capture updated headshots during Summit Week.
What’s Included
Sessions run about 5–10 minutes each and include a flattering studio lighting setup, facial expression coaching, multiple angles and poses, posing guidance, and on-site image viewing so you’ll know what you’re walking away with.
Where
We’re currently planning to hold sessions in Little Learning — we’ll update the app if that changes.
See It In Action
Want a peek at what the experience looks like? Watch a short clip from a recent group session.
What to Wear
- ✓ Stick to solids — they photograph cleaner than patterns
- ✓ Fit matters more than fabric cost — a well-fitted piece reads more sophisticated than an expensive one that doesn’t fit right
- ✓ Long sleeves keep your options open, even for headshots cropped above the waist
- ✓ Layer up — a blazer, cardigan, or jacket over a base layer adds depth and gives you a built-in second look
- ✓ A little texture goes a long way — a subtle knit or soft weave adds visual interest without the risk a bold pattern carries
- ✓ Go timeless over trendy — classic cuts age better in photos than anything trend-driven
- ✓ Steam or press everything the night before — a crease that’s invisible in person shows up clearly on camera
Colors That Photograph Well
Navy and charcoal are the most dependable choices across nearly every skin tone and lighting setup. Emerald and burgundy add a bit of personality without sacrificing professionalism. Camel, olive, and warm grey read as approachable and current.
Worth a Second Look
Pure white can blow out under studio lighting, pure black can lose its shape against the background, and tight patterns like small checks or fine stripes tend to shimmer on camera. None of these are off-limits — just worth considering an alternative color.
Event App
Scan to Download the Event App
This is your one-stop shop for the week — your personalized agenda, real-time updates, and everything below. No QR scanner handy? Open the app in your browser instead.
Finding the Event in the App
Once the app is installed, navigate to “Search Events” and enter the code 26HFS to join the event.
Quick Tip
When you set up the app, upload a profile photo — it makes it a lot easier for people to recognize you and connect throughout the week.
What’s In the App
Summit Experience
The holistic view — what Summit is for, what the goal of the week is, and how we’re asking you to show up. This section sets the stage for your Summit Experience.
Your Agenda
Your fully personalized schedule for the week, with session topics, descriptions, and speakers for anything you’re part of. Meal details — breakfast, lunch, dinner — are shown right on the relevant session, so you don’t have to go hunting for them.
Announcements
Download the app to get important announcements pushed to you throughout Summit Week — this is the fastest way to hear about any last-minute changes.
Speakers
Bios for everyone presenting, plus which sessions they’re part of.
Attendees
Browse who’s attending from across the organization so you can get to know people before or after a session. Pro tip: upload a photo so people can put a face to your name.
Maps
A map of the Irving office, handy for anyone who isn’t there day-to-day. A Great Wolf Lodge map is in the works too.
FAQs
Any question you have about Summit should be answered here — this is the most complete and up-to-date source, and will go further into detail than what’s in this guide.
Hotel Info
Everything about your stay at Great Wolf Lodge — check-in details, amenities, and more, all in one place.
Transportation
A list of team members offering rides — in-office volunteers along with a few travelers who’ll have rental cars — is available here. Please coordinate with them before calling an Uber or Lyft.
Safety & Security
Nearest emergency personnel, hospitals, and other safety information for the area, all in one place.
Live Polling
One of our sessions uses live interactive polling — you’ll be prompted right in the app when it’s time.
Need Help on Summit Day?
If it’s before Summit Day, reach out to Emily or Alyssa via email. If it’s on Summit Day, text us directly — see the Contact tab for numbers and emails. Please don’t try to track us down in person — a text is fastest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule & Agenda
Where do I find my full schedule?
›
Your fully personalized agenda lives in the event app, including any Tuesday or Thursday office activity you’re part of and the full Wednesday session lineup.
What time should I be in the conference room on Summit Day?
›
Plan to arrive as close to 8:00 AM as possible. The day begins promptly at 8:30, and the expectation is that everyone is seated and ready to go right at that time.
Let’s talk about the food situation…
›
Meal details are built right into the agenda — look for sessions labeled breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and you’ll know exactly what’s covered and when.
Parking & Transportation
Is parking available at the venue?
›
Yes — self-parking is available for anyone driving or renting a car, at $5.00 per vehicle. In order to ensure your parking bill is picked up by HFS, you’ll need to register for a parking pass in advance.
I’m driving to the venue — where’s the conference center?
›
The conference center is on the back side of Great Wolf Lodge. When you pull into the parking lot, don’t turn right — that leads to the hotel entrance. Follow the route around to the back, and you’ll see HUB signage guiding the way.
How do I arrange a ride or coordinate transportation?
›
A list of team members offering rides — both in-office volunteers and travelers with rental cars — is available in the event app. Please coordinate with them before booking an Uber or Lyft.
Hotel & Travel
How do I check in at the hotel?
›
The hotel will have your name on a guest list for your pre-booked room. Simply provide your name at the front desk to check in. They may ask for a credit card to place a hold for incidentals.
What amenities does the hotel have?
›
A full marketplace and Starbucks, a casual restaurant-and-arcade area in the basement, a main-level restaurant, and a 4th floor restaurant that’s adults-only. Full details are in the Travel Logistics tab.
I’ve left my hotel room and I’m lost — how do I get to the conference center?
›
Great Wolf Lodge’s hallway carpet has paw prints running through it — once you exit your room, head against the direction of the prints until you find the elevator. Take it to the conference center level, and HUB signage will guide you the rest of the way. (To get back to the lobby or anywhere else, just follow the prints forward.)
Irving Office Logistics
Where do I drop my bags at the Irving Office?
›
If you’re arriving early on Tuesday or plan to leave straight from the office on Thursday, stop by the front desk — they’ll assist you with bag storage.
What’s the Irving Office address?
›
8222 N Beltline Rd, Suite 100, Irving, TX 75063.
Dress Code & Packing
What is the dress code?
›
Business casual, with an emphasis on dressing to impress. We recommend smart, professional attire that’s comfortable enough for a full day of sessions and networking. Conference rooms run cold, so layers are a good move.
What should I expect weather-wise?
›
Late October in the Dallas area typically brings mild weather — daytime highs in the high-70s to low-80s, with overnight lows in the mid-50s. Rain is possible but not common this time of year. Bring layers for indoor comfort, since conference rooms tend to run chilly.
Event App
Where can I find the most up-to-date information?
›
All event details, including any last-minute changes, will be posted in the event app. It’s the best source for real-time information throughout the week.
Safety & Assistance
What if there’s an emergency on Summit Day?
›
The event app has a Safety & Security page with the nearest hospital and emergency contact information for the area.
I need assistance — who do I talk to?
›
If it’s before Summit Day, please reach out to Emily and Alyssa via email. If it’s on Summit Day, please text Emily and Alyssa directly — see the Contact tab for numbers and emails. Please don’t try to track us down in person on Summit Day — just send a text.
Event Contact
Got a Question?
1
Have a question before Summit Day? Check the event app first, or reach out via email — your agenda, FAQs, and real-time updates live there and are the fastest way to get an answer.
2
Something wrong on Summit Day? Text us — that’s the fastest way to get assistance, so please don’t try to track us down in person. Feel free to text us both in a group chat.
Our team will get you sorted — happy to help with anything this guide or the app doesn’t cover.
