Reflections on Denver: The More Things Change…

Last week saw me return to Denver for the TAB Global Conference, for the first time in two years.

Last year, we'd sampled the delights of New Orleans. And whilst that was a lot of fun (possibly too much fun in some cases…), it was great to be back on familiar territory. Denver is, of course, the home of TAB International. And by my reckoning, this was my 12th visit. Which makes me feel rather old.

I still remember my first trip there, back in November 2009, when I travelled over for my initial TAB training. It snowed. A lot. And I mean a lot.

Fast forward nearly 17 years, and there I was last week, chatting to North American franchisees about how much has changed since those early days. It was one of those conversations that made me realise I've become something of a TAB veteran. Not that I feel like one, of course. Well, most mornings anyway. But as I reflected on the week, something struck me.

It wasn't so much how much has changed. It was how much hasn't.

Because let's face it, the business world of 2026 bears very little resemblance to the one I first encountered as part of TAB in 2009.

Technology has transformed the way we work. The economic landscape has shifted repeatedly. The challenges facing business owners have evolved, and the pace of change seems to accelerate with every passing year.

And that's before we even mention AI. But despite all of that, I came away from Denver reminded that some things really don't change. And, in the world of TAB at least, I'm very glad they haven't.

The power of community

The first is the incredible camaraderie that exists within our international TAB community. It's something I've always valued, but spending a week with colleagues from around the world brings it home in a way that a Teams call never quite can.

There's a genuine willingness to help each other succeed. Sometimes that's as simple as sharing an experience, an idea or something that's worked particularly well in one market. Other times, it's rolling up our sleeves and getting into the weeds of someone's specific challenge, working together to find a solution.

There's no sense of guarding secrets or protecting territory. Just a group of people who genuinely want to see each other do well. And in a business world that can sometimes feel relentlessly competitive, that's a pretty special thing.

Different approaches. Shared ambition.

The second constant is our willingness to remain open-minded. In theory, every TAB franchisee around the world is running the same business. In practice? Well, it's not quite that simple.

One of the great strengths of the TAB model is its flexibility. There's no single, rigid formula for success. What works brilliantly in Colorado might need adapting for Yorkshire, Germany or New Zealand. And that's absolutely fine. In fact, it's more than fine. It's one of the things that makes us stronger.

There's a real curiosity within our community about how others do things. A willingness to challenge our own assumptions, consider different approaches and occasionally admit that someone else might have come up with a better idea.

Even if we'd rather not tell them that too often. It's a reminder that having a proven model doesn't mean standing still. The principles remain consistent. How we apply them can, and should, continue to evolve.

Never forgetting who it's all about

Perhaps the most important constant of all is our relentless focus on the people who matter most... Our members.

The business owners who are the real heroes of their local economies, creating jobs, taking risks, supporting communities and dealing with the daily realities of running a business.

TAB now operates in 25 countries. Different cultures, different economies, different business environments. But wherever you go, those business owners share many of the same ambitions, frustrations and challenges.

One of the highlights of the conference for me was hearing from a panel of TAB members from Colorado. They spoke with real honesty about their business journeys. The highs, the lows, the difficult decisions, and the role TAB has played in helping them navigate it all. It was utterly inspiring. And it was a timely reminder of why we do what we do.

It's easy, when you're running a business yourself, to become consumed by targets, plans, processes and performance. All important, of course. But ultimately, our success is measured by the difference we make to the business owners we support. Hearing those stories brought that home more powerfully than any presentation or set of figures ever could.

And then there's the fun…

I couldn't reflect on Denver without mentioning one other constant... The laughter.

I genuinely can't remember a week in which I've laughed quite so much. And I mean the sort of laughter where you're struggling to breathe and wondering whether you're ever going to regain your composure.

My international colleagues who run TAB in markets around the world are, without exception, a fantastic bunch of people. Well, almost without exception. They're talented, passionate, committed and hugely supportive. But they're also a lot of fun. And I wouldn't swap them for anything. Well, most of them.

There's something wonderful about being surrounded by people who take what they do incredibly seriously, but don't take themselves too seriously. It's a balance I think more businesses could benefit from. Because whilst we're all working hard to build successful businesses and make a positive difference, surely we're allowed to enjoy ourselves along the way?

Some things are worth holding on to

So, after another memorable week in Colorado, I've returned home feeling two things in roughly equal measure.

Inspired. And slightly exhausted. The latter will pass. Hopefully fairly quickly. But the inspiration will stay with me.

I'm reminded how fortunate I am to be part of a community that stretches across 25 countries, united by a shared belief in the power of business owners helping other business owners.

I'm reminded how much we can learn when we're willing to listen, share and challenge our own thinking. And I'm reminded that, however quickly the world changes, the fundamentals of building a great business — trust, relationships, collaboration and a genuine desire to help others succeed — remain remarkably consistent.

Nearly 17 years after that first snowy trip to Denver, I still feel incredibly lucky to be part of it all.

The world has changed enormously since 2009. And so has TAB.

But the things that made me want to be part of this organisation in the first place?They're still very much alive and well. And long may that continue.

- Ed Reid