The National Restaurant Association is now accepting proposals for education sessions from individuals and organizations for its 2012 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB). Experts and trendsetters are encouraged to share their expertise and best practices on industry hot topics that will help foodservice and hospitality industry professionals grow their business. In addition to the many top experts attendees will have the opportunity to see in 2012, NRA Show and IWSB attendees will also have the unique opportunity to hear from leading restaurant executive David Novak, chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, Inc., on Monday, May 7, 2012.

NRA Show 2012 will be held May 5–8, 2012 at Chicago’s McCormick Place; IWSB will be held in conjunction with the NRA Show, May 6–7. Proposals for education sessions may be submitted online at www.restaurant.org/show/education and www.winespiritsbeer.org/education through November 25, 2011.

“Education sessions are an important and exciting part of NRA Show and IWSB programming,” says David Gilbert, chief operating officer of the National Restaurant Association. “Each year we strive to provide attendees with a wide range of topics and speakers to help improve their business both now and into the future. The NRA Show and IWSB gather the best and brightest in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry to share new ideas, inspiration, and techniques for business enhancement. We look forward to the 2012 lineup and welcome proposals from individuals and organizations worldwide.”

Novak leads the world’s largest restaurant company in terms of system units with nearly 38,000 restaurants in more than 110 countries and territories, and revenues surpassing $11 billion in 2010.

Yum’s restaurant brands – KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell – are the global leaders of the chicken, pizza, and Mexican-style food categories, with 1.4 million company employees and franchise associates across its worldwide system. Outside the United States in 2010, Yum! Brands opened approximately four new restaurants each day of the year, making it a leader in international retail development.

NRA Show 2012 and IWSB education session proposals may be submitted in five categories:

• Jobs and careers, including employee recruitment and retention, staff training, employee management, and motivation.
• Profitability and entrepreneurship, including cost control, research and insight, guest attraction, and retention and marketing.
• Food and healthy living, including menu innovation, food safety and traceability, nutrition, and sourcing.
• Sustainability and social responsibility, including recycling standards, water conservation, and energy savings.
• Technology, focusing on mobile marketing, POS systems, inventory management, guest entertainment, and other electronic/on-line innovations.

Proposals should focus on current trends and solutions to help restaurant and foodservice operators succeed in the short-term while positioning themselves for long-term growth, without highlighting specific products or services.

Speakers who share best practices or have recognized expertise are preferred. Proposals may be submitted for a single speaker or as interactive panel discussions. Companies exhibiting at NRA Show 2011 are not eligible to present in the categories of jobs/careers, profitability/entrepreneurship, food/healthy living, or sustainability. In the technology category, sessions must be in panel discussion form and be presented by 2011 technology exhibitors, focusing on the foodservice operator perspective.

IWSB education session proposals may be submitted by operators, associations, consultants, and beverage alcohol industry experts as a single speaker or a panel discussion, but must focus on trends, marketing, responsible service, and profitability and business solutions specific to beverage alcohol and bar programs.