Fast Casual Executive Summit
7 benefits of taking the Fast Casual Executive Summit virtual
The virtual version of the Fast Casual Executive Summit is Oct. 20-21. Registration is open and is free to the first 500 restaurant executives who sign up.
July 22, 2020 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
Remember the good ole days of traveling to conferences — waiting in line at the airport to have the pleasure of a stranger practically sitting in your lap while you tried to answer 50 emails (if the plane had WiFi) and tweak that final report before landing?
Good times, right?
COVID-19 has obviously brought chaos and disruption to our lives, but it has also forced companies to find innovative ways to meet customers' needs. Like you, FastCasual is in a similar situation.
We understand that although traveling isn't safe right now, restaurant executives and vendors still need the opportunity to learn from one another and create partnerships. In fact, communication between industry leaders is more important than ever in these trying times, which is why we have decided to take the Fast Casual Executive Summit virtual Oct. 20-21 instead of hosting it live in Charlotte. And although we can't sit next to one another and chat over drinks, we can still learn a lot from the comfort of our own homes or offices without the hassle and expense of travel or dressing up. (Choosing between yoga pants and suit jackets is an easy task.)
And that's just one silver lining. Here's another: it's free for the first 500 restaurant operators who register, and we already have 200 attendees booked.
Need another reason to attend?
Chipotle Chief Restaurant Officer Scott Boatright will deliver the opening keynote address, and the agenda is packed full of many other executives giving advice and expertise during panel discussions covering everything from growing sales amid COVID-19 and menu trends to marketing tactics and the latest technology innovations. You'll meet pros from Sweetgreen, Mooyah, Wingstop, Slim Chickens, &Pizza and BurgerFi to name a few. (Hey, I'm not above a little name dropping here and there.)
Here's reason No. 4 to join us: We'll offer a virtual Brain Exchange. It's similar to the live event, where attendees choose from a list of hot topics they want to discuss, but instead of sitting across from one another at a table, they'll interact via Zoom.
No. 5: We're hosting virtual booths for vendors offering some of the industry's most exciting and innovative technologies. Attendees can browse them all and even set up one-on-one appointments to learn about specific services and products. Need a new POS or mobile app? Boom: You can easily see how different vendors stack up from your computer screen.
No. 6: To make the summit even more interactive, we are still hosting the Perfect Pitch — our nicer version of Shark Tank — where five up-and-coming restaurant brands will try to win your affection. You'll vote on your favorite, and the winner will receive $3,500 and free entry into next year's live event.
No. 7: No one leaves (their desks) empty-handed as we are offering downloadable resources (slides, white papers, case studies) as well as gamification opportunities with prizes.
No one could have predicted that we'd be navigating such difficult times, but I'm confident we'll get through it together. The fast casual industry has shown over the past two decades that it's made up of leaders, innovators and people who not only care about their own success but also about helping others. It's an industry that I'm proud to cover every day, and I am honored to have so many of you attend our events each year.
In the meantime, we'll stay connected via social media and online events until we can be back together in person. Just think: those those cocktails, hugs and high fives will be all the sweeter.
About Cherryh Cansler
Related Media
Subscribe
Get the latest news and resources from Fast Casual.
