7:30am - 11:30am

Two different hikes will be offered by our professional guides: one for the more fitness-oriented hiker seeking a unique outdoor workout and one for the more leisurely hiker looking for an up close and personal tour of the desert's beauty. 

7:30am - 11:30am

Climb on board in an open-air Jeep and experience the beauty and serenity of Arizona's Sonoran Desert on this guided tour. Learn about the spectacular trails from a genuine cowboy guide.

7:30am - 11:00am

How is your competitive energy? Test it out with pickleball, one of America’s fastest growing sports. Participate in a tournament on the new pickleball courts at the JW Marriott. Winners will take home a cash prize!

A Think Tank, Round Table style discussion with executive leaders from top FSR brands.  Hear key insights and solutions around hot industry topics like 3rd Party delivery, New Technologies, Supply Chain Updates, New Markets and Developments, Labor Challenges (possible effects of AB 1228) and how each of these areas are impacting this sector.  

Join Restaurant Business Executive Editor, Lisa Jennings, and Nancy Kruse, President of The Kruse Company for an engaging think tank style session as they dive into a lunch time discussion all about the menu!  In an era where a menu is more than a list of signature dishes but a strategic (brand) tool to maximize profitability, it is important for every operator to understand how to navigate the evolving culinary landscape and the pivotal role technology will play in this space as we move forward.  Hear key insights from top operator leaders on how they are leveraging menu trends and tech advancements to catapult their business.  Leave this session with new ideas and actionable takeaways to drive greater profitability from your greatest restaurant tool!  

This social impact mini session will highlight the extraordinary partnership the restaurant industry has had with No Kid Hungry over the years and their mission to end childhood hunger. Together our industry has raised nearly $120 million to feed kids in need!  Hear from Sara Jamshidi and Barry McGowan as they share exciting news and details about some pivotal and transformational initiatives on the horizon. 

Technomic will discuss its outlook for the market, how the current operating environment represents return to a new normal and how menu pricing and other trends could impact the growth outlook for the year.

Restaurant Business presents the award to the 2024 Restaurant Leader of the Year and hosts a fireside chat.

Ready to uncover “hot off the press” digital buying secrets from over 1,000 quick-service consumers that can make or break your success in the QSR world? Join us for an electrifying session where we peel back the curtain on digital consumer shifts shaping the future of QSR survival.

Led by Tillster’s CMO, Hope Neiman, we’re diving headfirst into the heart of consumer behavior, revealing the digital buying preferences from pre-Covid to now that hold the key to your QSR's survival.

From mobile ordering and loyalty to the demand for seamless digital experiences, we'll shine a spotlight on the trends and insights driving today's consumers to click "order now." But we won't stop there. We're here to arm you with the knowledge and strategies you need to thrive in this digital jungle.

Whether you're a seasoned QSR pro or a fresh-faced newcomer, buckle up for an informative session through the world of digital consumer preferences. Because in today's fast-paced digital landscape, it's adapt or become yesterday's news. Don't miss out on your chance to transform your QSR and secure your spot in the digital future.

See you there!

**Disclaimer – This session will be hosted by a real live human.**

There’s a lot of hullabaloo about how ChatGPT, Natural Language Processing and Generative AI is changing the way we conduct our daily work lives. But how many of you have actually experienced that in your day-to-day? Have you really used the tool to add efficiency to your workday, or just played around with it as a tool to write Snoop Dogg lyrics? 

If you’ve been meaning to check out ChatGPT or to start using it at work – this is your invitation to the future. This session will break down what ChatGPT is (and isn’t), explain how to use the tool most effectively (with specific restaurant leadership use cases), and send you home motivated to start integrating the tool into your daily work-life.

Technology has influenced loyalty programs to continuously focus on selling to customers with a reliance on offers, and discounts. However, as technology has been increasing, humanity has been decreasing. That shif has placed a new imperative on using relationship marketing capabilities in your technology to enhance customer experiences and build stronger connections.

Understanding the differences between loyalty program design and relationship marketing program design will enable you to tailor your strategies to really engage customers, drive loyalty, and maximize long-term success.

Restaurants are sitting on a wealth of data, and they're now turning to AI to unlock its full potential. Recent studies reveal that the industry is gearing up for increased investment in AI this year. But what specific areas and use cases are in focus? What’s the return on investment and reliability? Our expert panelists will tackle these questions, offering practical applications and insights into how AI will make hospitality businesses smarter, more productive, and more guest-centric.

What trends became a reality, and which didn't pan out? In this interactive forum a panel of food service leaders and the audience will look at past and future trends and influences to vote on which trends impacted the restaurant and hospitality industry. The audience will participate in a live feedback and survey responding to the topics to help decide how restaurant leaders can affect or improve changing trend of all. In the end the audience will decide what are the most impactful trends defining the food service industry from the categories: Workforce, Supply Chain/Procurement, and Culinary/Operations.

The restaurant industry has witnessed a substantial transformation, with a growing emphasis on leveraging guest insights to drive growth. Data has emerged as the lifeline and the bridge between restaurant brands and their guests. With the right data (zero-party, first-party, third-party), restaurant brands can analyze and strategize on how to effectively reach all their in-market customers. This, coupled with identity and activation solutions, allows brands to personalize experiences across channels, tailoring them to guest interactions and ultimately fostering long-term engagement. Join us alongside McDonald's to explore how they've utilized their data to guide omnichannel and loyalty activities, cultivating lasting relationships with their fans. 

Talk Track: 
•    Personalization: Applying data to enhance segmentation and deliver personalized, omnichannel experiences; Enhancing data to unlock deeper understanding of guests
•    Fulfillment: Expanding data and channel strategy for engagement growth; Integrating emerging digital channels (e.g., digital ordering experience & delivery apps) that aligns w/ KPIs
•    Loyalty/Engagement: Exploring and utilizing new initiatives like gamification and tiering for increased program engagement. 

While the media hypes shiny objects (AI, automation, robotics etc.), the smartest of brands know that one thing is key to increasing efficiency, sales, and loyalty—the data. 

Hear why two of the industry’s most savvy technology trailblazers—Doug Cook, CTO at Jack in the Box & Nandu Gandhi, CTO at GoTo Foods—have rooted their digital transformation strategy in a unified commerce platform that prioritizes data. Key takeaways will include:

• True definition of a unified platform 
• How to transition your organization and teams to platform thinking
• Economic benefits of unified omni-channel management

4:30pm - 5:30pm