What if you could walk into your restaurant or your corporate office tomorrow and reinvent it by waving a magic wand? What changes would you immediately make? There are systems, technology, operations, menu decisions, and other things that, if you knew then what you know now, you would have done differently.
Every one of us can name something that, if we could just snap our fingers, we would change. Think about the things you have done right that continue to move your business forward and set you apart. Where did you get that idea? Where could you get more ideas like that?
I think we can all agree that reinvention is a competitive advantage.
No matter your service model, good food is table stakes, good service enhances it, and reinvention is the spark behind growth.
Who remembers when Monopoly at McDonald’s was all little board pieces you kept in a Ziploc bag so you did not lose any? Now it happens in an app.
Who remembers when Domino’s publicly admitted their quality was poor and then completely reinvented their recipe and brand?
Did you know before there was ever a Moon’s Over My Hammy at Denny’s, they were originally a coffee shop known as Danny’s Donuts?
Change is constant in our business, and those that reinvent separate themselves from the pack.
There is not a magic wand that can reinvent your restaurant, but there is a place where serious operators go to figure out what to change and how to execute it: the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago this year - May 16-19, 2026.
It is the biggest event in our industry, with a massive display of networking, education, products, and technology for operators who want to rethink how they run their business.
Whether you are wondering what machine makes the best milkshakes, if there is AI that can help manage cost of goods and labor, how to find affordable compostable packaging, or how to systematize and grow your business, all you have to do is step into McCormick Place with an open mind.
If you are looking for inspiration that actually turns into action, there is a lot to gain at the Show.
If you have been before, comment with one discovery that changed how you operate or what you are looking forward to this year.
If you are looking for what is next, or asking yourself what you do not know that you need to know, this is the Show for you.
The National Restaurant Association Show is where operators redesign for performance.
Here are some things you will gain by attending the National Restaurant Association Show:
Exposure to automation that reduces labor pressure
New labor strategies operators are actually using
Business model ideas beyond traditional service formats
Menu innovation driven by data and margin awareness
Packaging and sustainability solutions that do not kill profitability
Technology that impacts cost of goods and operational visibility
Face-to-face conversations that lead to long-term partnerships
Competitive perspective on what others are doing right now
I am an operator. My partners and I own a single-unit hamburger shop in New York City, and I am a fractional CMO for multiple brands. If I am telling you this is a do-not-skip Show on my calendar, it is because it has proven itself to be that valuable to me.
Once you have made your plans to attend, put my panel on your calendar. If I am getting on stage with some of my friends and colleagues, you will walk away with an idea, a strategy, or a tactic that moves your business forward.
This year I will be speaking at:
Saturday, May 16 | 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
McCormick Place: Room S404 – South Building – 4th Floor
I will be joined by Kenneth Scharlatt, AHLA CFBE of Savage Orchid Hospitality, and we will break down how to use AI to aim smarter, protect margin, and move beyond blanket discounting.
The National Restaurant Association Show takes place May 16–19 in Chicago at McCormick Place.
Advanced Expo badges are $149 through April 6, and you can save an additional $26 with my code REV26 when you register.
The code expires May 7 and will not work onsite.
While we are talking about AI …
Have you downloaded this yet?
This step-by-step guide shows you how to train AI to be your thought partner, how to make sure your restaurant comes up in relevant searches in ChatGPT and Gemini and give you several other frameworks to help super charge the way you use AI to be more efficient.
I had so many restaurants asking me the same questions about AI, the same questions I had too so I did all the research, all the testing and wrote them out in a free ebook to help you.
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So, will I see you in Chicago for the National Restaurant Association Show?
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Do you need help with your marketing? Send me an email [email protected]
- Rev Ciancio
WHAT DOES REV DO?
*I help restaurants to build guest marketing programs.
*I help hospitality tech companies with lead generation and content marketing.
