Listen

Hear the latest episodes

Watch

See the latest videos

Read

Browse the latest content

National Restaurant Association Show 2026 – What To Know

In This Episode

Interview Takeaways

  • Relationships Create The Real ROI – The biggest opportunities at NRA often happen outside the booths. Meetups, dinners, after-hours events, and hallway conversations consistently lead to partnerships, clients, and long-term connections.
  • Preparation Makes The Show More Valuable – Attendees emphasized the importance of planning ahead, mapping out booths, scheduling meetings, downloading the app, and using AI tools to navigate the massive show floor more effectively.
  • The Industry Is Moving Faster Than Ever – From AI and analytics platforms to catering technology and restaurant operations tools, the show highlighted how quickly hospitality innovation is evolving and why staying curious matters more than ever.

Shawn Walchef  hosted another Rising Tides Live conversation ahead of the National Restaurant Association Show Show, this time focused on what attendees hope to take away after the event. Operators, consultants, creators, and technology leaders shared lessons from the show floor, from discovering new AI tools and restaurant tech to building real relationships through meetups, dinners, and spontaneous conversations. The biggest theme throughout the discussion was that NRA is more than a trade show. It is a place where the hospitality industry comes together to learn, connect, and create opportunities that continue long after Chicago.

Listen to the replay of the latest room where the participants discussed community service and follow Cali BBQ Media to keep up with the latest and join the rooms to tell your story and have your voice heard.

Every Wednesday and Friday at 10am PT, Shawn Walchef hosts the Rising Tides Live room streaming with StreamYard on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and more. Leading voices in hospitality, and otherwise, from near and far join to discuss all things business and much more.

Episode Links

Listen To This Episode

About Cali BBQ Media

Digital Hospitality is an interview-based video podcast hosted by business owner Shawn P. Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) and produced by his Cali BBQ Media company. The weekly digital series explores the ways successful businesses and entrepreneurs have merged old and new with innovative digital strategies that harness the power of the Internet and social media. Shawn is the founder of Cali BBQ Media and creator of the Restaurant Influencers podcast on Entrepreneur Media.

Join our Newsletter

Be the Show, Not the Commercial

Tell your story, share your mission, build stronger connections. See how the Cali BBQ Media team can help your business grow through the power of your own story. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *