The Restaurant Facility Management Association’s 2016 Annual Conference begins in Nashville this weekend.

Around 1,400 restaurant facility managers and vendors will be in Music City to learn from their peers, explore efficient new solutions, see the latest technology and trends, and make new connections with partners.

Association:  Restaurant Facility Management Association

Conference:  RFMA 2016 Annual Conference

Venue: Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

The RFMA 2016 Annual Conference begins on Monday morning with an opening session at one of Nashville’s most famous landmarks, the Grand Ole Opry, where attendees will be treated to a private concert from Phil Vassar. Also on the meeting’s menu:

Tables turning. Express Exchange is essentially a reverse exhibit hall. Restaurateurs will be seated at a table, and exhibiting companies will have the opportunity to present a two-minute introduction of the products or services they offer. This will allow attendees to be exposed to new companies in their areas of interest and then make plans to visit them on the expo floor for more information.

Expert exhibitors. RFMA knows having a good tradeshow experience is top priority for exhibitors. To ensure that happens, it is offering a session on Monday morning that includes “boothmanship training” and a panel discussion with restaurateurs on how they currently work with their vendors and partners.

TED Talks á la RFMA. New this year will be eight-minute Riff Talks, RFMA’s version of a TED Talk, which will allow speakers to talk to the audience about something they’re passionate about—industry related or not. The eight speakers were selected by the RFMA Conference Curriculum Committee after they posted previews of their talks on YouTube.

Get a taste test of the meeting from afar by keeping your eyes on Facebook, Twitter (#RFMA2016), or YouTube.

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