Dine Brands Global, Inc. operates some of the world’s most recognized restaurant concepts—IHOP, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar, and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop—through an extensive franchise network. Join Acting CIO Chris Padilla as he discusses the company’s technology strategy -- including innovative AI deployments -- for enhancing operational efficiency, supporting franchisee success, and improving the guest journey across casual and family dining experiences.

This storyteller series distills how retail, convenience, lodging, and grocery have built mature, revenue-driving technology programs and shares the playbooks restaurants can adapt now. 

MURTEC celebrates the remarkable leaders and trailblazers who are shaping the future of the restaurant technology space and the rising stars who represent the next generation of industry leadership. This engaging session is a must for anyone who’s passionate about innovation.

Sol Rashidi — Forbes “AI Maverick & Visionary of the 21st Century,” former Amazon tech executive, and 3x TEDx speaker — shares hard-learned lessons from over a decade at the forefront of enterprise AI. She’ll show business leaders how to normalize the conversation around AI, including governance, decision-making, and the human implications of automation. Attendees will take away clear frameworks for identifying where AI truly adds value. With concrete examples from Fortune 100 deployments and a clear roadmap for measuring impact, this keynote will highlight AI strategies that amplify human judgment, institutional knowledge, and leadership capacity.

As guest expectations evolve, technology has become the primary driver of brand differentiation and frequency. This forum explores how data, automation, and next-gen interfaces are being used to capture the guest's attention and wallet. From the next generation of loyalty and personalized ordering to AI-voice drive-thrus and automated hospitality, we examine the tools that drive top-line growth. This is the room for stories about building a better, faster, and more personalized guest journey.  

Format: MURTEC's Innovation Forums bridge the gap between inspiration and implementation. First, you'll hear a series of inspiring case studies from the stage, followed by 30 minutes of collaborative discussion rounds with the featured restaurants and their tech partners. 

Operational mastery is the ultimate competitive advantage. This forum explores how integrated ecosystems—unifying back-of-house intelligence with the point of transaction—command every aspect of the restaurant to streamline workflows, protect margins, and empower staff. From automated kitchen production and AI-driven inventory to frictionless payments, this room delivers the high-performance strategies that optimize your business from the inside out.

Format: MURTEC's Innovation Forums bridge the gap between inspiration and implementation. First, you'll hear a series of inspiring case studies from the stage, followed by 30 minutes of collaborative discussion rounds with the featured restaurants and their tech partners.

This session cuts through the noise to show how computer vision and edge computing and IoT are already improving order accuracy, speeding service, and reducing costs.
 

This session unpacks how tap-to-order, network tokenization, and wallet-linked loyalty are reshaping the economics of guest experience, turning payments from a cost center into a strategic growth lever.

HT presents proprietary data on tech and AI adoption patterns, investment priorities, and operational benchmarks across the industry, with commentary from top restaurant technologists.

Learn which AI solutions are actually increasing transactions, predicting kitchen bottlenecks, and transforming labor planning. You’ll get a concise framework for matching the right AI tool to the right operational problem.

Details coming soon!

Step into MURTEC After Dark: Electric Connections, an after-hours experience set in a neon-lit lounge above the Las Vegas Strip. Unwind with electric entertainment, signature sips, and bold bites while connecting with fellow restaurant-tech leaders in a vibrant, relaxed atmosphere. Designed to spark real conversations and meaningful connections, this is where the MURTEC community comes together after hours—Vegas style.

Start your day with breakfast and networking in the MURTEC Exhibit Hall, open to all MURTEC and AI Summit at MURTEC attendees and sponsors. Following breakfast, all education sessions, lunch, and networking will take place in the AI Summit at MURTEC meeting spaces.

As AI dominates the business conversation, it can be challenging to separate hype from reality. This foundational session demystifies AI, providing a clear, jargon-free understanding of its core concepts, capabilities, and limitations.

The success of AI begins with the right data foundation. This essential session focuses on the critical, often-overlooked data pre-work business leaders must master.

Learn how one brand nailed the data layer.

Learn how the Chief Marketing Officer at Capriotti's Sandwich Shop transformed a daily firehose of information and choices into strategic advantage by training a personal AI bot on her decision patterns, priorities, and business instincts — redefining what leadership looks like in the age of AI.
 

Don't let perceived complexity stop you. A strong Knowledge Base (KB) is crucial for efficiency, customer service, and AI readiness. This practical session demystifies the process, offering a simple, actionable blueprint for all teams.

Fresh data from HT's annual Restaurant Technology Survey suggests how operators are investing in generative and agentic tools.

AI offers a vast, and often confusing, array of tools—from generative models and predictive analytics to robotic process automation (RPA). This strategic session cuts through the noise, providing business leaders with a framework for practical tool selection.

As threat actors increasingly leverage AI to launch sophisticated, large-scale attacks—from deepfakes and advanced phishing to autonomous malware—traditional defenses are no longer enough. The next frontier in cybersecurity is not just reacting, but proactively countering AI with AI.
 

AI is fundamentally changing restaurant operations, yet many teams lack the core knowledge to engage with it effectively. This session closes the gap, providing essential AI literacy for every role—from the back office to the kitchen.