2025 is poised to be another banner year for the restaurant industry, with an array of information-packed trade shows, expos, and conferences already on the books. Covering key issues, from economic forecasts and consumer trends to franchising strategies and digital tech, attendees can gain firsthand knowledge about the latest equipment, financial strategies, digital technology, marketing tools, and more.
Whether you’re a restaurant owner, manager, or franchisee, restaurant conferences and trade shows are valuable resources for gaining relevant industry insight, unearthing the latest trends, and networking with other food service pros.
Many shows are already posting their scheduled speakers and agendas, with an impressive list that is set to surpass all pervious years. With the new year quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to plan ahead and mark your calendars for the bevy of conferences and conventions planned for 2025.
Bottom-Line Boosting Benefits
For restaurant professionals who want a competitive edge in the food service industry, attending national, regional, and local shows is a savvy business strategy, offering an opportunity to add to your business-building tool chest.
Offering a multitude of bottom line-boosting benefits, trade shows provide attendees with a wealth of insider knowledge, access to the latest news and information, and shed light on evolving consumer trends and innovations in restaurant technology and delivery.
Conferences also provide excellent networking opportunities, offering those who attend a chance to connect with industry leaders, suppliers, and potential partners.
To help you maximize your investment and prioritize your travel plans, we’ve put together this list of the 2025 restaurant events you won’t want to miss.
Top Restaurant Conferences in 2025
Jan. 13-15, 2025
JW Marriott, Orlando Grande Lakes, Orlando, Florida
Each year, this invitation-only conference brings together hundreds of public and private company management teams, institutional investors, sell-side research analysts, investment bankers, private equity professionals, and select media to explore consumer trends and public company prospects as the year begins.
Attendees can participate in panels on pressing topics like shareholder activism and investment opportunities in sports, lunch lectures led by notable industry leaders, and connect with national brands like Lululemon, Shake Shack, Five Below, Crocs, Darden Restaurants, and Domino’s Pizza.
Feb. 10-13, 2025
Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
This International Franchise Association event is designed for franchisees to learn franchise-specific business development ideas, develop plans for personal growth, and network with other operators.
A multi-day huddle of the best in food franchising, attendees will learn to develop strategies for growth, interact with other restaurant owners, and meet influential experts.
March 10-12, 2025
Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, Nevada
The multi-unit Restaurant Technology Conference includes education sessions that explore how restaurant technology can foster improvements in operations, marketing, consumer experience and other aspects of the business.
Key 2025 Events
QSR Education
A dedicated QSR education room will focus on enhancing the QSR Experience by tackling key areas that impact your business:
How to improve service time while maintaining quality.
Streamline operations for growth.
Leverage technology to optimize processes and reduce labour costs.
Improving the Full-Service Experience
Explore how to elevate the Full-Service Experience in a dedicated education room for dine-in settings. Learn how to refine the guest journey with insights on:
Use data to build strong, lasting guest relationships.
Create customized, memorable dining experiences.
Unlock new ways to grow your revenue beyond the table.
Keynote Speakers
Damola Adamolekun, the new CEO of Red Lobster
Christopher-Thomas Moore, SVP and Chief Digital Officer at Domino's
March 24 - 26, 2025
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
For three information-packed days, attendees will step into the pulse of the industry by discovering strategies and innovations driving financial success in the dynamic world of food and beverage.
The Bar & Restaurant Expo is tailored to address the unique challenges facing the hospitality industry today by offering practical solutions and innovative ideas to unlock untapped revenue streams.
From single-unit operators to national chains, join 13,000+restaurant movers and shakers for an exciting and insightful event where experts and successful entrepreneurs come together to network, share their knowledge and strategies, and learn how to maximize profits in the always-evolving food and beverage sector.
There will be exclusive conference sessions, cutting-edge solutions, and samples from over 500 suppliers.
March 11-13, 2025
Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Many of the fastest growing and most successful chains in the restaurant industry are embracing innovation throughout their operations. But these forward-thinking brands are constantly looking for the next innovations in technology, menu items, marketing tactics, and training programs to propel them to even greater heights.
At the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, executives from leading brands will share their success stories of the numerous ways they have innovated to grow their business. Attendees will gain insight and inspiration to help them be more progressive in every facet of their businesses and get ahead in today’s competitive market.
Presenters include executives from McDonald’s, Blaze Pizza and The Halal Guys.
April 10-11, 2025
Downtown Los Angeles
The last few years have marked an unprecedented shift in how people view and use their cities, and the restaurants, bars, small businesses and transportation systems that make them unique.
As commerce rapidly moves to the street, Curbivore will be gathering in person in sunny Downtown LA, giving the community a chance to see, touch and feel the technology that’s reshaping our future, as well as meet with the civic leaders and forward-thinking entrepreneurs that are ensuring nobody is left behind as we reshape our cities and businesses for the better.
Curbivore draws restaurants, retailers, startups, technologists and policy makers to discuss the intersection of transportation systems, small business, urban design and commerce.
April 13-16, 2025
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, Phoenix
Elevate your business presence at the Restaurant Leadership Conference (RLC). Serving as a central gathering spot for executives from leading chains and up-and-coming brands to connect and forge partnerships, RLC is the catalyst for business expansion.
Speakers will include a roster of top industry experts who will converge, sharing their valuable insights and knowledge on the latest trends and challenges in the restaurant industry.
May 17 - 20, 2025
McCormick Place, Chicago
The National Restaurant Association Restaurant Hotel-Motel Show is the most influential foodservice event in the Western Hemisphere, showcasing industry insights, innovations, and trends. Since its inception in 1919, the Show has brought restaurant operators and foodservice professionals together for four days of demos, exhibits, food and beverage sampling, education, and networking. A venue for the global culinary community to gather and explore the latest advancements in food, beverage, equipment, technology, and solutions driving the industry forward.
Overflowing with innovative exhibitors, inspiring programming and irreplaceable networking opportunities, the National Restaurant Show is a once-a-year opportunity to experience the best of foodservice and find the products and connections you need to grow and thrive.
The National Restaurant Association Show features exhibits from suppliers, culinary demonstrations, discussions of major industry trends and learning sessions for attendees featuring major brands and startups.
2025 Exhibitor Directory
Date: November 10 - 12, 2025
Location: Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV
The Restaurant Finance & Development Conference is the restaurant industry’s premier event for restaurant company owners, operators, and financial execs. RFDC is all about the business side of the restaurant business and an opportunity to get up-to-speed with what’s happening in the restaurant business and capital markets.
Attendees will gain key insight by attending expert educational sessions covering a wide variety of financial, economic, accounting, technology, strategy and restaurant operations topics, including capital raising strategies, third-party delivery, as well as investment, merger, and acquisition trends.
March 25-27, 2025
Las Vegas Convention Center
The biggest US trade show in the pizza industry, The annual International Pizza Expo features educational seminars, workshops, and national competitions. Unchallenged as the industry’s leading event, visitors will have the opportunity to network with thousands of pizzeria professionals as they convene in Las Vegas, Nevada for 3-days dedicated to all things pizza.
Suppliers from across the globe, educational sessions taught by top industry professionals, and national competitions, this event promises to be a little slice of pizza heaven!
August 3-5, 2025
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA
Packed full of educational programs, feature demonstrations, and culinary competitions, the Western Foodservice and Hospitality Expo offers attendees endless information about menu trends, state-of-the-art design, and restaurant décor.
August 24-27, 2025
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida
An annual leadership conference, forum, and community of foodservice and hospitality professionals, the 2024 Prosper Forum will focus on equity, inclusion, and exploring ways to build a diverse pipeline of leadership talent.
September 2 - 4, 2025
Atlanta Marriot Marquis, Atlanta, GA
The QSR Evolution Conference focuses on the development and needs of quick-service restaurant operators. Attendees will hear and share perspectives on running the quick-service restaurant of the future.
Topics covered will include:
Growth and Sustainability
Franchising
Labor, Leadership, and a Changing Consumer Habits
Technology
Drive-through service
Keynote Speakers
Tom Curtis, President of Burger King North America
Katerina Glyptis, President of Tim Hortons U.S.
Jeff Klein, Chief Marketing Officer, Popeyes
Scott Murphy, Chief Brand Office, Inspire Brands
Mike Hancock, President, Firehouse Subs
Jim Holthouser, Chief Executive Officer for GoTo Foods, parent company of Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli, Schlotzsky’s, and Seattle’s Best Coffee
Sep 14 – 16, 2025
Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, FL
FSTEC celebrates innovative restaurant technology in both commercial and noncommercial foodservice, including the latest cutting-edge tools in foodservice.
Maximizing Your Trade Show Investment
To help you maximize your investment and strategize your trade show attendance, we've put together a few tips for getting the most out of these multifaceted events.
Determine your Objectives
Whether you want to discover new technologies for improving kitchen operations, learn about the latest in delivery operations, or talk to other restaurant owners face-to-face, determining objectives before the events will help you stay focused.
Develop a Game Plan
Research each event’s agenda, speaker lineup, and seminar schedule and choose which sessions you want to attend in advance. If there are overlaps in the schedule, make a plan as to which events are most important to you and find out if recordings will be available after the show for seminars or speakers you may have missed.
While it’s important to plan ahead, it’s also wise to remain open to last minute, spur-of-the-moment opportunities and be willing to be somewhat flexible.
Make Connections
One of the greatest opportunities to take advantage of at restaurant conferences is the ability to forge or strengthen connections. Instead of being stuck in conference sessions the entire time, do some advanced footwork and set up meetings with other attendees.
Dive into the potential list of delegates and consider reaching out via email to set up a meeting or conversation. LinkedIn can be a great source, but many events offer custom mobile apps that allow attendees to manage their networking objectives.
Create a Post-Conference Strategy
Make the most of your investment with a post-conference strategy that allows those who could not attend the event to benefit as well. Share the insights and information you gathered with the rest of your team and make a plan to test or implement what you’ve learned.
Take Away
As a restaurant owner/operator, attending food conferences, expos, and trade shows can be highly beneficial for your business. With unparalleled opportunities to network with other industry pros and discover new trends about the latest financial strategies, technologies, and products, attendees can gain valuable insights, find ways to get a leg up on competitors, and learn new profit-building strategies.
Though the larger national events are enormously beneficial, attending local and regional events can be extremely worthwhile as well. Keep your eyes and ears open, stay in touch with other industry insiders, and be sure to check our blog throughout the year for the latest news, schedules, and information about trade shows, events, and conferences.
By Eileen Strauss
