BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS: Restaurant Leadership Conference 2024

??The Restaurant Leadership Conference just concluded in Scottsdale, AZ. Informa, the company behind the event described it as “It's time to look to the future. RLC is the home for restaurant executives to hone their leadership skills, discuss solutions to industry challenges, and connect with other senior leadership.”

This is a great show if you want to know what leaders at the biggest and most proactive brands are thinking about and how they are improving their businesses. It’s a little more relaxed in its pacing which gives you more room to have longer and more meaningful conversations.

Plus, the desert is awesome.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. THE MAGIC BUTTON IS ACTUALLY A SCREEN

Want higher check averages? Want faster lines? Want more guests who are menu curious? Want more customers into your CRM? Want higher guest satisfaction?

Get kiosks. There are 100 more reasons why you should get kiosks, but you really shouldnt need any more.

2. CHATGPT WROTE THIS

Restaurant chains benefit from AI technology for its ability to analyze customer data, enabling personalized experiences and targeted marketing campaigns. AI streamlines operations by optimizing inventory management, predicting demand, and enhancing efficiency in kitchen workflows. Moreover, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants improve customer service by providing instant responses and handling reservations, ultimately enhancing the overall dining experience.

I wrote this: the hot topic of the day is AI. Its time to start to use it to improve any of the things ChatGPT mentioned above.

3. ENABLING FRANCHISEES

More than Ive ever heard at a show before there was a lot of talk about super serving and enabling franchisees. If you are the franchisor, they are your customer and their guests are their customers. You are responsible for their success and that includes helping them to get the right tech to enable kitchen efficiency, guest acquisition and retention, training, employee retention, third party dispute resolution, accounting and so on and so on and so on ...

4. ITS TIME FOR THE 80%

This is the 2nd show in a row where I’ve heard people from stage talk about marketing to all guests. For awhile ever had a heavy focus on loyalty but that’s only a small segment of our guests. What about all the people who don’t want to download an app or aren’t interesting on loyalty but still love your brand? I’ve been saying this awhile and I’m glad to hear it’s being embraced —- use email.

Need some suggestions on how to run, optimize or even get started with a successful email program? Reach out to me.

5. SOME ADVICE ON SALES

According to answers given by a number of very intelligent, friendly and proactive C suite leaders: Networking, relationship building and awareness all trump cold calls and cold emails. If you are going to cold email, make sure you understand who you are reaching out to, what other solutions they already use and be sure to say who your competitors are and why you are better.

6. EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE RESPECTED

There is a group you can join on LinkedIn called WORTH - Women Of Restaurants, Technology, and Hospitality. "The primary mission of this group is to provide a safe space for women to ask questions, share, and gain insight into some of the personal and professional challenges impacting us on a daily basis in this traditionally male-dominated industry."

I joined this group today. If you are interested in more, check out the WORTH LinkedIn group - WORTH - Women Of Restaurants, Technology, and Hospitality .

If you were at RLC, what did you learn?

----

- 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.

#RLC #RLC2024

#restaurantleadershipconference #restaurantbusiness #restauranttech #restaurantowners #restaurantmarketing #restaurantindustry #restaurantowner