2027 Call for Education Session Proposals

• Foodservice and hospitality operators that are subject matter experts and have direct experience in the proposed topic area.
• Subject matter experts from foodservice and hospitality service or membership organizations, educational institutions, or media and insights firms.

Note for Suppliers: We do not accept proposals from suppliers or any employee or representative of a supplier through the Call for Proposals. In order to participate in the Show’s program, suppliers must exhibit at the 2027 Show and sponsor the session. Please contact restaurantshowsales@informa.com for more information about exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities.

As a subject matter expert, you are joining us in our mission to deliver impactful in-person education that advances the industry. Your experience and expertise may help your peers answer their biggest questions, build their business and strengthen our community.

• Shape the Future of Foodservice: Drive meaningful impact by sharing your expertise and contributing to the advancement of the industry and your profession.
• Build Valuable Connections: Connect and collaborate with peers, industry leaders, and decision-makers throughout the event, strengthening your professional network.
• Elevate Your Brand and Open New Doors: Establish yourself as a thought leader and industry authority, creating opportunities for business growth, partnerships, and career advancement.
• Amplify Your Visibility and Reach: Expand your professional profile through the Show's marketing platforms, putting you, your company, and your session in front of thousands of foodservice professionals and industry media.
• Free Event Registration: Receive complimentary registration to the 2027 Restaurant Show—a value of up to $500+—including access to education sessions, on-floor programming, keynote and featured sessions, and the Show Expo. (Complimentary registration excludes evening events, bootcamps and ancillary events.)

Speaker Expense Reimbursement
The National Restaurant Association Show does not pay speaker fees or reimburse for travel expenses. Most speakers and their companies recognize the importance of being part the Show’s educational program and embrace the spirit of giving back to the industry by funding their own travel and lodging.

The Show provides speakers the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise, knowledge and thought leadership, as well as to network with industry professionals for business development purposes.

Target Audience

• Foodservice and hospitality operators from across the industry spectrum, including but not limited to commercial independent and commercial chain restaurants, non-commercial foodservice, retail foodservice, grocery and lodging.
• Approximately 60% of commercial restaurant operators who attend the Show are independent restaurants, and 40% are multi-unit.
• The majority of the Show operator attendees are in decision-making roles: manager, director, executive-level management, or owner/operator.

Session Types

• Insights-Driven Presentation: 45-minute focused presentations delivering experience-led intelligence with proven results. These sessions feature 3-5 key insights supported by data and real-world examples—covering topics like industry trends, performance benchmarks, ROI case studies, and consumer research. Must be centered around a visual presentation and provide practical, actionable takeaways.
• Interactive Session: 45-minute sessions where attendees actively practice one specific skill or solve one targeted challenge. After brief context-setting, participants engage in practical activities such as creating business operations framework, strategy simulations, role-play scenarios, or similar. Sessions conclude with tangible outputs—a completed framework, tested template, or practiced technique—that attendees can implement immediately.
• Connection-Focused Session: 30-45 minute forums designed for meaningful dialogue and relationship-building. With minimal presentation time (5-10 minutes), these facilitated sessions maximize interaction through structured formats like peer exchanges, roundtable discussions, lightning panels, moderated audience Q&A, or speed mentoring. Attendees engage directly with peers and experts, share challenges and solutions, and build authentic connections that extend beyond the Restaurant Show. Please note that if you select this session type, you are required to provide a moderator or facilitator.

We are seeking proposals that are tailored to one of the topic priorities, however we will consider other topics that are highly relevant and meet our selection criteria. Click here for more information about topic priorities.

Culinary Insights

• Menu Engineering for Profitability
• Operational Menu Design
• Inclusive and Wellness-Driven Menu Development
• LTO Strategy and Execution
• Revenue-Driving Food & Beverage Trends

Marketing Matters

• Performance-Driven Digital Marketing
• Generational Marketing Strategies
• Brand Value & Authenticity Marketing
• Tech-Powered Loyalty and Personalization
• Hyper-Local Marketing & Community Engagement

Operations Solutions

• Off-Premise Channel Optimization
• Multi-Channel Order & Kitchen Orchestration
• Controlling Costs & Protecting Margins
• Supply Chain Resilience, Food Safety & Risk Mitigation
• Preventive Maintenance & Equipment Strategy
• Scalable Growth & Multi-Unit Operations

Technology Strategies

• AI Adoption & Practical Applications
• Integrated Technology Platforms
• Kitchen Automation & Smart Equipment
• Data Analytics & Predictive Intelligence
• Technology Change Management
• Cybersecurity and Data Protection

Workforce Management

• Strategic Hiring & Talent Pipeline Development
• Onboarding & Training Excellence
• Retention-Focused Compensation & Benefits
• Employee Engagement & Recognition
• Career Pathing & Internal Growth
• Workforce Planning & Labor Optimization

Trends in Adult Beverage

• Adult Beverage-Led Traffic Building
• Beverage Menu Trends & Innovation
• Regulatory Navigation and Compliance
• Non-Alcohol Revenue Diversification
• Beverage Program Profitability Analysis
• Functional Beverages & Wellness Drinks
• Wine and Beer Program Optimization

The Show will select session proposals based on a variety of quality factors, including but not limited to:

• Proposal is directly related to at least one of the 2027 Show’s topic priorities.
• Content is highly relevant to today’s foodservice industry and the Show’s target audience.
• Content has not been presented widely elsewhere or is new or unique to the Show’s target audience.
• Content provides timely, practical and actionable takeaways.
• Content delivery method is appropriate and impactful in an in-person learning environment.
• Content is devoid of overt and covert commercialism.
• Session incorporates audience engagement, handouts/resources, and/or experiential elements.
• Speaker demonstrates the ability to present professionally in an educational setting.
• Speaker is knowledgeable, engaging and has direct experience with the proposed topic.
• Proposal is well-written and meets overall Submission Guidelines.

Non-Commercial Policy
There is a strict non-commercial policy in place for speakers participating in the program. Proposals that advertise or promote specific products, services, or companies will be rejected. Suppliers interested in showcasing products or services can contact RestaurantShowSales@informa.com for sponsorship opportunities.

Submit your proposal using our online application. Submissions are due no later than 11:59 p.m. CST September 18, 2026. See the Selection Criteria and Tips for a Winning Proposal sections for insight on crafting a quality proposal.

Applications must include a complete session description and learning objectives, supporting narrative, and speaker information. We strongly recommend preparing your proposal in a Word document before starting the application process. See the Submission Guidelines for a complete Session Proposal Checklist.

Speaker Commitment
Before you submit your proposal, please make sure:

• That you/your speakers have pre-established authorization from your/their employer (if applicable) to present.
• That you/your speakers have travel expenses covered.
• That you/your speakers agree—if accepted—not to cancel other than for medical or family-emergency reasons. Submitting and agreeing to speak is a professional commitment to be taken seriously.

Review & Selection Process
Proposals are reviewed by a panel of industry experts representing various industry segments and areas of expertise. Reviewers score proposals based on the Selection Criteria, and proposals with the highest scores are considered for selection. The Show programming team will notify submitters of their proposal status by October 30, 2026.

Please note that only the proposal submitter / session contact will be notified about the status of the proposal. Speakers, if different than the session contact, will NOT be contacted unless the proposal is accepted. See the Submission Guidelines for more information about how we work with accepted speakers.

Got questions? We're here to help!
For inquiries about the Show’s education program or proposal process, email us at: RestaurantShowPrograms@informa.com.

1. Focus on Relevance and Impact
   Proposals must be specific and clearly demonstrate the content's value to foodservice operators. Avoid broad or vague topics—your title and description need to communicate exactly what attendees will learn, how it will help them, and what makes the session unique.
2. Define Clear, Actionable Takeaways
   Specify the practical skills, information, and resources attendees will gain and apply immediately in their operations. Strong learning objectives make your session stand out.
3. Showcase Speaker Credentials
   Include complete speaker details in your proposal. Speaker expertise is a critical evaluation factor. Confirm all speakers' availability for the 2027 Show before submitting.
4. Choose the Right Format for Maximum Impact
   Consider which session format will maximize your content's impact. While insights-driven presentations remain valuable, interactive skill-building sessions and connection-focused forums offer powerful alternatives for engaging attendees. Choose the format that best delivers your content and creates the most meaningful experience for participants.
5. Embrace Diverse Perspectives
   Multi-speaker sessions benefit from diverse representation in gender, ethnicity, lived experience, and background, reflecting the foodservice industry's rich diversity.
6. Educate, Don't Advertise
   Focus on the "why" and "how," not the "who." Our strict non-commercial policy means promotional content will be rejected. Suppliers interested in showcasing products or services can contact RestaurantShowSales@informa.com for sponsorship opportunities.
7. Polish Before Submitting
   Proposal quality impacts scoring. Proofread carefully and prepare your content in advance—submissions cannot be edited after you submit. Review the complete Session Proposal Checklist on page 15 of the Submission Guidelines.