Event Program

Tuesday, April 13th

Wednesday, April 14th

1:00 PM - 1:05 PM (EDT)
MURTEC Lobby

Join is in the MURTEC event lobby for brief Day 2 welcome remarks from Abigail Lorden, VP & Publisher of HT & Co-founder of RTN.

1:10 PM - 1:30 PM (EDT)
Auditorium

Join us for a journey to the future, as we talk tech with Phil Crawford, CTO of CKE. We’ll explore key trends driving QSR and the industry at large, from drive-thru and AI to ghost kitchens, voice and robotics. Which technologies are here to stay, and which trends are DOA? Phil breaks it down, while sharing his next moves at this mammoth QSR powerhouse brand.

1:35 PM - 1:55 PM (EDT)
Auditorium

For breakfast concepts, Covid hit especially hard, and pivoting was key to survival. Another Broken Egg Cafe made it work, increasing off-prem from 2% to more than 15% - while creating here-to-stay incremental revenue streams. We sit down with industry vet, president and CEO Paul Macaluso to chat about how he's tackling technical challenges and tapping system upgrades to deliver a sunnyside-up road ahead for this beloved brand.

2:00 PM - 2:25 PM (EDT)
Auditorium

HT's robust research data fuels a lively roundtable discussion about IT strategies and investments, consumer sentiment, and more, focusing on the brand-new 2021 Restaurant Technology Study, POS Software Trends, and Customer Engagement Technology Study.

2:30 PM - 2:55 PM (EDT)
UGO Global

Check out MURTEC's two Education Zones for on-demand content, plus visit the Solution Chat Rooms to connect with sponsors.

3:00 PM - 3:25 PM (EDT)
Auditorium

As our industry pivots once again to the "next normal," innovative solutions providers share strategic insights into the guest journey, payments, personalization and loyalty, and data security.

3:35 PM - 4:10 PM (EDT)
Workshops & Reception Lounge

Join RTN and key contributors, as we showcase tangible tools, road-tested and ready for mission-critical restaurant operational efficiency, including the Open API Framework, Menu Synchronization Standard, Fast Match Tools for sourcing contactless technologies, Guidance for RFPs, TCO Calculator for Native Delivery, and much more. Find out what's next for RTN, and join us in bringing the industry's top technology talent to the table to tackle critical challenges and continue churning out tools restaurant operators can use.

4:15 PM - 5:00 PM (EDT)
Workshops & Reception Lounge

BYOB, and join your industry friends for an interactive video-based networking reception. We will celebrate top innovators in the industry as we recognize the winners of HT's Top Women in Restaurant Technology Award and Industry Heroes Award. Click on the "Workshops & Receptions" icon in the event navigation to access the Happy Hour reception.

What's Next - Universal

How will 2020 restaurant wins point the way to 2021 growth and beyond? We take a look at how universal solutions can support innovative initiatives such as personalization, IoT, robotics, autonomus vehicles, drones, voice recognition, and more.

What's Next - FOH

Joe Guith, president of McAlister's Deli, explains how the fast-casual brand is flexing its technology muscle to power its contactless tableside ordering and payment.

Industry Wins - Universal

 

When San Diego’s Portside Pier opened last year, its four waterfront eateries reimagined restaurant processes using automation technologies that provide for control and scheduling of daily operations, allowing staff to focus on enhancing the customer experience.

What's Next - FOH

Titan Hospitality leveraged loyalty and augmented reality to keep restaurant guests in their digital ecosystem during the pandemic, including "virtual gifting" and immersive experiences.

What's Next - BOH

RTN's Menu Synchronization Software Specification was created by restaurant operators and technology solution providers, who defined the need for a single, comprehensive solution to deliver multiple, complex menu systems to various systems, partners, and distributors that consume this information. This standard is critical to integrate systems vital to any restaurant menu technology ecosystem.

Industry Wins - FOH

Hospitality Technology’s senior editor for restaurants, Anna Wolfe, caught up with Jon Taffer, star of the hit TV series Bar Rescue, as he was preparing to open the first Taffer’s Tavern, in Alpharetta, Georgia. Learn about Taffer's technology-driven Kitchen of the Future, which has no raw protein, no hood, and cooking times under six minutes. "The future of food is not chefs, it's technology," says Taffer. Plus, what industry buzzword Taffer says is BS. Listen now to this HT exclusive.

Industry Wins - BOH

RTN is home to the Restaurant Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Rest-ISAC), a focal point for cyber threat prevention, protection, response and recovery for restaurants. Learn about how it works, and why you should join this critical conversation.

What's Next - BOH

Back in 2018, Spyce’s original concept debuted in Boston, created by four MIT grads seeking healthy and affordable fast-casual food. The point of difference: a robotic kitchen. The concept raised $21 million. After a year in business, the fab four took their learnings and revamped their concept. Spyce 2.0 debuted in November 2020 with an all-new cooking system, a dynamic customizable menu and in-house delivery. Michael Farid, CEO, gives a behind-the-scenes look.

What's Next - BOH

Join CKE, Inspire Brands and Yum! as the restaurant industry embraces the first Open API Standard. With strong out-of-the-gate adoption from the industry's most powerful restaurant and technology companies, this initiative provides a new playbook for successful integration, and compliance will become tablestakes for any supplier looking to hold onto and grow market share in the restaurant space.