Franchise Conference

Restaurant Industry

518 Attendees

Creating Excellence Through Education

The 2023 Applebee’s Franchise Conference brought together franchise owners from across the United States for a dynamic and inspiring gathering. This event was a celebration of leadership and collaboration, aiming to forge a unified vision for Applebee’s future. Attendees participated in insightful general sessions, explored vendor showcases, and engaged in valuable networking opportunities. The conference offered a deep dive into corporate strategies while fostering connections among franchisees. From meticulous planning to seamless production, we created an engaging platform designed to inform, inspire, and unite the Applebee’s community.

STATS

3 Days
60 Speakers
109 Sponsors
46 Animations

Welcome Reception

The conference began with a dazzling Welcome Reception, a perfect blend of networking and entertainment. Attendees had the chance to reconnect with colleagues, meet new acquaintances, and even design their own custom sneakers. True to Las Vegas flair, the evening featured an interactive drink wall, mesmerizing acrobats, and electrifying live music, setting the stage for an unforgettable event.

Stage Design & Production

Unbridled Productions meticulously crafted a custom stage for the event, considering the meeting goals, destination, and venue space. From initial sketches to detailed renders to the final onsite stage, the Production team managed every aspect of the event. They oversaw the entire event load in, orchestrated seamless rehearsals, and transformed the ballroom from a professional General Session setting into a dazzling evening Awards Ceremony.

Animations

Our Motion Design team produced 18 captivating animations for this event, featuring dynamic background loops, eye-catching title spots, and riveting transition animations. A standout creation was the extended walk-in animation, designed to engage attendees at the start of each General Session. These animations not only reinforced the conference’s theme and visual identity but also kept the audience’s attention during various speaker sessions, enhancing the overall delivery of information.

Walk In Loop
Titles
Transitions
Background Loop

Showcases

Applebee’s hosted two educational showcases. The Supplier Showcase highlighted partners and introduced new offerings, providing an opportunity to build relationships with supplier partners. The Departmental Showcase allowed franchise owners to engage deeply with Applebee’s Corporate departments. Both showcases equipped franchise owners with the knowledge needed to thrive in the ever-evolving restaurant industry.

Awards Celebration

The Awards dinner held on the final evening, provided a fitting conclusion to the conference while honoring the achievements of the General Managers across the company. The evening featured spectacular food, drinks, entertainment, and a silent and live auction to benefit the Bill Palmer Legacy Foundation.

Gifting Experience

Always a fan favorite, the Gifting Experience offered attendees a truly unique conference keepsake. Participants were invited to design their own pair of custom shoes, adding an exciting and interactive element to the conference. This gift not only delighted attendees but also underscored Applebee’s dedication to providing memorable and meaningful experiences to its franchise owners, boosting conference engagement and attendee satisfaction.

Attendee Testimonials

"The welcome reception was a great way to kick off a great conference. Great opportunity to see faces I had not seen in a while and catch up, meet new people, great food, great drinks and great entertainment. Relaxed and welcoming atmosphere."

I enjoyed hearing about growth plans to bring in more guests, new restaurant locations, and packages for interior and exterior updates.

"The opening reception was cool with the entertainers in true Vegas Style."

"My favorite part was the vision of the organization by leadership. I loved the new purpose-based strategy."

"I loved the interaction with franchisees, executives and, of course, the SHOES!"