There are a lot of incredible people at incredible brands who are out there doing incredible things to grow their restaurant businesses.
I’m always amazed at how willing these people are to share their playbooks, their discoveries, and their best practices, and honestly, I’m grateful to have exposure to it all and learn from their success.
It’s one of the many reasons I go to so many trade shows and conferences… and why you should too.
These shows are where the knowledge, growth, and networking actually happens.
I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t be the person I am. And my business and clients wouldn’t see the same level of success if I wasn’t going to these events.
There are a whole bunch of shows you should consider, but I want to put these two on your radar.
RESTAURANT FRANCHISING & INNOVATION SUMMIT
March 16–18, 2026 📍 San Diego, CA
If you are a franchisor, franchisee, or work with franchised brands… you need to be at this show.
They describe it like this:
“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 franchises. Attendees will gain insight and inspiration to help them be more progressive in every facet of their businesses.”
And I’m telling you right now — you will not find a more intense, more intelligent, more friendly, and more willing-to-share group of people in the franchising world than the people at this show.
I love that it’s the first major show of the year because it kicks off a great energy around growth and camaraderie.
RFIS offers an intimate setting with incredible thought leaders gathered together to share, discuss, and collectively figure out how to improve the restaurant franchising business.
I go every year and I always leave with so much knowledge, so many new friends, and a full tank of energy.
From financing to operations to marketing to sales to brand building, this show covers the most comprehensive conversations around successful restaurant franchises.
It’s a great show for brands, operators, vendors, and anyone who supports franchise growth.
They’ve even added a focused track this year specifically on Marketing!
Restaurant operators - check it out! And if it sounds like your kind of bag, use code FCCEDITOR for 20% off registration.
I’m excited to go.
Also… I’m organizing a trip to Sea World.
So if you want to come, hit me up and ask Michael Beck or Jeremy Julian => I’m really fun at amusement parks.
RESTAURANT MARKETING WORKSHOP
June 2–3, 2026 📍 Boston, MA
This is it. This is the Mack daddy. This is the one.
If you are in marketing for multi-unit restaurants… get to this show.
And yes — here is a ton more exclamation points to add on to that sentence: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Before this show existed, there was nothing like it: a conference for marketers, by marketers, sharing the exact playbooks and tactics that are working right now to achieve marketing goals.
Reactions from attendees in 2025 (the inaugural year) were overwhelmingly positive about the takeaways and connections made.
Some of my colleagues were literally showing me their notebooks, flipping through page after page after page after page of ideas, frameworks, and tactics they couldn’t wait to bring back to their brands.
Topics include:
social media
CRM
loyalty
direct mail
local search
guest feedback
third-party mastery
and “what the heck do we actually do with AI?”
If it’ll grow the business and it’s something restaurant marketers need to master, expect to learn it here from the best of the best.
I’m personally honored to be involved again this year in building the onstage content for year two. I made it my personal mission to ensure this show delivers the goods.
I highly recommend you put it on your calendar now.
Also: we’re still looking for a few great leaders from brands who are interested in sharing their knowledge on stage.
If you would like to be a speaker or present, please send me a message ASAP.
And if you’re interested in sponsorships and partnerships as a vendor, also reach out to me right away. There’s only a limited number of opportunities to participate.
See you on the show floor ... and the event networking event happening at a Boston Red Sox / Baltimore Orioles on day 1!
PS I’m also really fun at a baseball game
Do you need help with your marketing?
Send me an email: [email protected]
— Rev Ciancio
WHAT DOES REV DO?
I help restaurants build guest marketing programs.
I help hospitality tech companies with lead generation and content marketing.
