The Restaurant Leadership Conference 2025 (RLC 2025) brought nearly 2,000 industry leaders to Scottsdale, Arizona, with Mark Wahlberg and Martha Stewart bringing the star power and industry experts bringing the perspective.
From rising labor costs and economic uncertainty to shifting guest expectations and tech fatigue, operators are facing real challenges, but also real opportunities. Those that are gaining ground are simplifying operations, investing in purposeful innovation, and doubling down on what makes them unique.
From strategy to service to tech that actually delivers, here are the biggest RLC 2025 trends—and what they mean for restaurant brands looking to thrive, not just survive.
Innovation Only Works When It’s Aligned
Flashy tech is out. Smart, scalable tools are in.
Operators are doubling down on tools that streamline labor, enhance efficiency, and support omnichannel strategies. AI was naturally a hot topic—but the conversation has matured. The focus is now on using AI strategically: to forecast demand, optimize menus, and personalize engagement in ways that align with the brand’s core identity.
April Jianto, Director of Operations Execution for Burger King, weighed in on the debate during a Tuesday session on what it truly takes to scale restaurant operations in today’s market:
“Technology comes at a tangible cost to our franchisees, so when we look at what we want to implement from a national perspective, it is something that truly will have a great ROI or great benefit to our franchisees.”
This reflects one of the biggest restaurant industry trends of 2025: tech must serve strategy, not distract from it.
Experience Is the New Currency
With guests dining out less frequently, each visit matters more. Diners are making decisions based on how a restaurant makes them feel—across digital and physical touchpoints.
As George Felix, CMO of Chili’s, put it:
“Marketing brings them in. Operations brings them back.”
From curbside to counter to mobile check-in, every detail counts. It’s not just about driving traffic—it’s about delivering memorable, frictionless experiences worth repeating.
Data Is the Differentiator
The brands pulling ahead are those turning guest data into actionable insights. Whether through email capture, transaction data, or behavior-based targeting, operators are using data to drive relevance, retention, and smarter decision-making.
Menu Innovation
Menu innovation doesn’t have to mean abandoning your brand. Sometimes it just means listening to your guests—and moving quickly when the right opportunity arises.
Dave’s Hot Chicken proved this with Dave’s NOT Chicken—a fried cauliflower item that started as a hunch and turned into a significant sales booster. An initial test revealed that 80% of the guests coming in were new, and 60% were women—an entirely new audience for the brand. Now, it’s a recurring seasonal item.
Resilience Amid Uncertainty
While tariffs, inflation, and economic uncertainty remain top of mind, the tone at RLC remained confident. Most operators are proactively defending margins through menu price adjustments and operational efficiencies. The industry’s resilience, honed during the pandemic, continues to fuel innovation and optimism.
The biggest takeaway from RLC 2025? The brands winning right now are the ones staying focused—connecting strategy to execution, using tech that actually helps, and making every guest interaction count. Strong connection—between people, platforms, and purpose—is what powers long-term success.