No industry has changed more during the pandemic than the restaurants and hospitality. It looks like many of these changes are here to stay, from some brands offering curb-side pickup to ordering apps being a major revenue source. Attending restaurant events is a great way to keep up with the latest trends.
Here is a list of the best B2B restaurant conventions you should attend in 2023. Note that we also have a collection of the best retail events in a companion article.
Restaurant events are held by many different organizations, from professional convention companies to individual brands and industry groups. They are places for professionals in the restaurant industry to come together for networking, business, and camaraderie.
What is it like at a restaurant convention?
Restaurant events are often big, loud, and busy. There is usually a full slate of keynotes, panel discussions, and speakers, a tradeshow floor, and many exhibitors host outside cocktail hours for less formal networking.
Why should you attend a restaurant expo?
There is a lot of value to be gained by going to restaurant events in 2023. If you are a salesperson, you can often find yourself speaking with decision makers and upper management. Those looking for new vendors, business partners, or suppliers can usually make great connections. New franchising opportunities are also sometimes available.
The innovative technology on display at some booths can be fun and informative to demo, while there is something to learn at every presentation, even for veterans of the restaurant industry.
What types of restaurant events are there?
The restaurant and hospitality industry is diverse, from quick service restaurants (QSR) to full service restaurants (FSR) and single location restaurateurs to chains with >10,000 locations. With that diversity comes many different needs. Aside from a few big restaurant events, it is impossible to have everything under one roof. That’s why restaurant conventions tend to have a specific theme and focus on only one part of the food business.
Here are just two of the restaurant event themes.
Technology expos
Restaurant technology is evolving rapidly as consumers change their service demands and food preferences. Outside ordering apps, for example, have gone from non-existent to a major revenue stream in under five years.
Large businesses are using the latest technologies to improve their customer experience, efficiency, and profitability. Small businesses are adopting the same technologies to compete on a more even playing field.
There are many restaurant events dedicated to showing off the newest restaurant technologies, with the most famous being MURTEC.
Brand-specific conferences
Since most major restaurant chains operate under a franchising model, either entirely or in addition to corporate locations, brand conferences are popular in the restaurant industry.
These events are hosted by the brand corporation so that all of their franchise partners can come together, learn from each other, hear from motivational speakers, and see what tools and services other franchise owners are using at their locations.
Several of the restaurant conventions mentioned below are brand-specific events.
Where are restaurant security and loss prevention conferences usually held?
Restaurant events can be found across Canada and America. However, many of the biggest restaurant conferences can be found in Las Vegas and New York City. In addition, there tend to be more restaurant conventions in warm climate destinations during the winter, for example in Florida, Arizona, Texas, and California.
List of retail events in 2023
Here is a list of every restaurant event in 2023. (If you are the host of a restaurant convention and don’t see it on this list, please contact Timothy Ware, Solink’s Content Manager, to have it added.)
January 2023
Event: The Franchise Expo
When and where: 14-15 January at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (Hall C), Toronto, CA
About: This is Canada’s largest “Own Your Own Business” event and is a place where you can learn about multi-unit restaurant ownership. In 2023, there are Franchise Expos in 25 cities across Canada and America.
February 2023
Event: Solink Secure Summit
When and where: 6-8 February at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, Scottsdale, Arizona
About: This is the first ever event for Solink customers. Guests will learn a great deal from top notch speakers with decades of experience in asset protection and loss prevention, operations management, sales, and IT transformation.
Event: 2023 Anual AKFCF Convention
When and where: 26 February-1 March at the JW Marriott Austin, Austin, TX
March 2023
Event: International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York
When and where: 5-7 March at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, NYC, NY
Event: Coffee Fest New York
When and where: 5-7 March at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, NYC, NY
Event: MURTEC
When and where: 6-8 March at the Paris Las Vegas, LV, NV
Event: Bar & Restaurant Expo
When and where: 27-29 March at the Las Vegas Convention Center, LV, NV
Event: International Pizza Expo & Conference
When and where: 28-30 March at the Las Vegas Convention Center, LV, NV
April 2023
Event: RLPSA Annual Conference
When and where: 2-4 April at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, Denver, CO
Event: Northwest Food Show
When and where: 16-17 April at the Portland Expo Center, Portland, OR
Event: Restaurant Leadership Conference
When and where: 16-19 April at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, Phoenix, AZ
Event: Jack in the Box Foundation Golf Tournament
When and where: 19-20 April at the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa, Indian Wells, CA
Event: Freddy’s Family Reunion 2023
When and where: 24-26 April at the TBD
May 2023
Event: Restaurant Point West
When and where: 7-10 May at the JW Marriott Austin, Austin, TX
Event: Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America
When and where: 7-10 May at the Music City Center, Nashville, TN
Event: National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Expert Exchange Spring Conference
When and where: 18-19 May at the Swissotel Chicago, Chicago, IL
Event: The National Restaurant Association, Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show
When and where: 20-23 May at the McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
Event: NFA LEAD Conference
When and where: 22-25 May at the Gaylord Texan, Dallas, TX
June 2023
Event: Coffee Fest Louisville
When and where: 2-3 June at the Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville, KY
July 2023
Event: Texas Restaurant Show 2023
When and where: 8-10 July at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX
Event: JIB-NFA Franchise Conference
When and where: 10-14 July at The Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, CO
August 2023
Event: Coffee Fest Anaheim
When and where: 6-8 August at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
September 2023
Event: FSTEC
When and where: 13-15 September at the Hilton Anatole, Dallas, TX
October 2023
Event: Restaurant Point West
When and where: 1-4 October at the Marriott Chicago Magnificent Mile, Chicago, IL
Event: FRANMAC 2023
When and where: 16-18 October in Hollywood, FL
November 2023
No restaurant events scheduled for November 2023 have been found yet. Please reach out if you are hosting a restaurant conference in November 2023.
December 2023
No restaurant events scheduled for December 2023 have been found yet. Please reach out if you are hosting a restaurant conference in December 2023.
Summary
There is a lot to learn at restaurant conventions. New customers, vendors, suppliers, and business partners can all be found during the many networking opportunities. Whether you are looking for the latest technology or just want to see what’s available, there’s something for everyone in the restaurant industry at the next convention.
If you can’t wait to visit a Solink booth at a restaurant event, sign up for a demo today.
Timothy Ware | 
Timothy Ware is Solink’s Content Manager. He brings over ten years of writing and editing experience to the job. When he isn’t writing about security, loss prevention, and asset protection, he’s enjoying his newest board game. His work has appeared on many B2B SaaS websites including Baremetrics, Security Today, TeamPassword, Cova, and SignTime.
