2026 Marketing Executives Group (MEG) Conference

For more than four decades, MEG has brought together restaurant marketing leaders to share ideas, spark innovation, and build meaningful community.

MEG 2026 explores The Human Element: Marketing in the Age of AI—how marketers can pair emerging technology with timeless creativity, empathy, and connection to elevate brands and deliver unforgettable guest experiences.

Keynote: Will Guidara, Restaurateur, Eleven Madison Park, The #1 Restaurant in the World; New York Times Bestselling Author, Unreasonable Hospitality

How Giving People More Than They Expect Can Get You To #1
Will Guidara transformed Eleven Madison Park from a modest brasserie into the best restaurant in the world—by putting human connection at the center of everything. In this keynote, he shares how embracing a “one size fits one” philosophy and elevating the guest experience beyond expectations can create magic

With powerful takeaways for leaders, teams, and brands, Will shows how unreasonable hospitality can help you win—by making people feel truly seen, valued, and unforgettable.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

National Restaurant Association events are designed for industry professionals who work directly for a restaurant or foodservice operation.

Eligible Categories:

Operator
Works directly for a restaurant or foodservice operation (members and non-members welcome).
Industry/Allied Partner
Works for a supplier (e.g., food product manufacturers, distributors, technology providers, advertising or marketing agencies, media buying firms, print and promotional material suppliers, market research firms, and similar supplier organizations). Must sponsor to attend. Contact partnerships@restaurant.org for opportunities.
Consultant
Provides consulting services to restaurant brands. Consultants must register as the brand they represent.
State Restaurant Association Staff
One complimentary registration per SRA. Additional staff from the same SRA receive a 50% discount. Contact meetings@restaurant.org for a registration password.
Press
Press are welcome to attend all programming except for the Connection Conversations Roundtable Discussions. Press must register in advance and contact Jaclyn Sanford (jsanford@restaurant.org) to request a press registration password.
Non-Profit
Organizations serving social or charitable purposes.

OPERATOR PRICING

National Restaurant Association Members*:

Early Bird Rate (through March 20, 2026): $399
Regular Rate (starting March 21, 2026): $499

Non-Members:

Early Bird Rate (valid through March 20, 2026): $499
Regular Rate (starting March 21, 2026): $599

Consultant: $599

Non-Profit: $599

*Sending a team?
Contact membership@restaurant.org to confirm member eligibility or update your company roster.

BONUS: FREE SHOW BADGE

Restaurant operator attendees receive a free badge to the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show. Beginning April 17, attendees will receive an email with instructions for claiming their badge. Suppliers or sponsors wishing to attend the NRA Show should contact alliedmembership@restaurant.org.

CANCELLATION POLICY

All cancellation requests for Association Entity events must be submitted in writing to meetings@restaurant.org.

Cancellations received more than 30 days before MEG (before April 13, 2026) may qualify for a refund, minus a $25 administrative fee (unless noted otherwise in your registration terms).
Refunds are not available for cancellations made within 30 days of MEG.
Attendees are responsible for cancelling their own travel, hotel, and third-party reservations.
The Association is not responsible for fees incurred through third-party providers.

HOTEL INFORMATION

Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park
200 North Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60601

A link to book your hotel room will be included in your registration confirmation email.

NEED ASSISTANCE?

MEG Program Manager (Jaclyn Sanford): jsanford@restaurant.org
Sponsorship questions: partnerships@restaurant.org
Membership questions: membership@restaurant.org
Registration questions: meetings@restaurant.org

The undersigned, on behalf of himself/herself and his/her entity, hereby agrees to provide the National Restaurant Association (“Association”) permission to share all provided contact and other information with the Association’s affiliates, event sponsors, exhibitors, etc. The undersigned understands that information the undersigned provides is subject to and will be treated in accordance with the Association’s Privacy Policy as set forth on https://restaurant.org/privacy-statement/ or as may be amended by the Association from time to time.