Complete the nomination form, entering your contact information as well as the restaurant’s contact information. If you are nominating a restaurant brand, you will need to supply a restaurant point of contact.  Finalists must be able to attend MURTEC Executive Summit. 

 

Categories:

Awards will be presented to:

• Emerging/Mid-Size Breakthrough (100 or fewer locations) and Enterprise Breakthrough (101+ locations)
• Customer Engagement (loyalty, CX, digital ordering, etc)
• Enterprise (Back-of-house, operations, labor, supply chain, data)
• Moonshot (Disruptive/Emerging tech: Robotics, AI, Sustainability)
   

 

Here are the questions you'll be asked during the nomination process by award category:

 

Restaurant Brand (company being nominated)

Restaurant Executive Name & Title (from the restaurant being nominated)

Executive's Phone and Email

Nominator's name, email and phone (if different from above)

Nominee for:

1. Customer Engagement (loyalty, CX, digital ordering, etc.)
2. Enterprise (Back-of-house, operations, labor, supply chain, data)
3. Moonshot (Disruptive/Emerging tech: Robotics, AI, Sustainability)

 

Areas of Innovation: Select all that apply.

• AI / Machine Learning (Generative AI, Voice, Predictive Analytics)
• Automation/ Drones/Robotics
• Back Office
• CRM
• Digital Ordering/Mobile Pay
• Food/Beverage Management
• Human Resources
• Hyper-Personalization (Next-gen Loyalty/CRM)
• Kitchen Management/Operations
• Off-Premises Optimization (Ghost kitchens, Geofencing)
• Loyalty
• Payment Security
• Point-of-sale
• Supply Chain
• Sustainability
• Workforce
• Other:
   

Total Number of Locations:
Number of Locations Leveraging this Strategy:
 

Challenges:
What were the challenges/problems that this company set out to solve? 
 

Solution Summary:
Include the names of the solutions (either the vendor’s brand or proprietary solution) that the restaurant deployed or developed and key functionalities. Please include month & year this project began.  What makes this specific project a breakthrough rather than just an upgrade? 
 

Goals:
Describe the specific "pain point" or business challenges that triggered this project. What was the "cost of doing nothing"? Provide background on the “before” scenario that the restaurant company needed to resolve. What were the goals?

Research & Development:
Please describe the technological and/or strategic research and development work that was completed by the restaurant company that helped to make this project a success. How did your team customize, integrate, or rethink the process? We are looking for human effort and strategic pivots. Explain the innovations that were made by the restaurant company, including key technological improvements and strategic best practices. 
 

Results:
What results have the restaurant company achieved since committing to a particular agenda? Please provide at least two KPIs (e.g., % increase in ROI, seconds saved in labor, % lift in guest satisfaction, etc).
 

Employee Experience:
(Optional) How was this technology rollout received by frontline staff and/or franchisees/owners? Any testimonials you can share?
 

The "Aha!" Moment":
(Optional) Was there a specific moment during the rollout where you realized this would be a gamechanger? Or a significant hurdle you had to overcome? Please describe.
 

Looking Ahead:
(Optional) Provide details on how this innovation benefits the operation moving forward and what are the plans for next-generation improvements and/or additions.

Stay tuned! Finalists will be notified in August 2026. Winners will be announced live during the MURTEC Executive Summit (October 21-23, 2026 at Loews Coronado Bay, Coronado, California., near San Diego)

To qualify for the award, finalists must be in attendance at MURTEC Executive Summit.

Join us at the MURTEC Executive Summit on October 21-23, 2026 where the winners will be announced live!