The biggest stories in restaurant technology don’t always come from keynote speeches — sometimes they unfold right on the show floor. That’s exactly what happened at FSTEC 2026, where Branded Hospitality Media turned the bustling exhibition hall into a live recording studio for its Hospitality Hangout podcast. In partnership with Displai, the company captured unfiltered conversations with leaders from Bobby’s Burgers, Bonchon, and Church’s Chicken, offering a rare, candid look at how technology is reshaping guest experiences and operational strategies across the industry.
Restaurant executives joined the Hospitality Hangout LIVE from the FSTEC Conference to talk technology, guest experience and growth
Our guests from Bobby's Burgers, Bonchon, Church's Chicken and Displai shared unfiltered takes on what's working for their brands. Big thanks to Displai for helping turn the show floor into a stage”— Michael 'Schatzy" SchatzbergNEW YORK CITY, NY, UNITED STATES, October 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Branded Hospitality Media recorded the Hospitality Hangout live from FSTEC 2026, the foodservice technology conference held September 23-25 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. The activation, presented in partnership with Displai, brought together executives from some of the industry's fastest-moving restaurant brands for candid conversations on the technology shaping how restaurants operate and serve guests.
The Guests
Recorded on site at FSTEC, the episodes feature:
• Patric Knapp, Bobby's Burgers by Bobby Flay
• Ashley Helkenn, Bonchon
• Jeff Caplan, Church's Chicken
• Tuan Ho, Displai
The live recordings were part of Branded Media's on-site podcast activation at FSTEC, which turned the show floor into a studio and gave attendees a front-row seat to the conversations happening across the industry. By recording where operators, technology leaders and suppliers were already gathered, Branded Media captured unscripted insight from the people making decisions in real time. The activation reflects Branded Media's broader approach of meeting the hospitality community where it is and turning major industry moments into content that lives well beyond the event itself.
The series was made possible by Displai, which joined as partner and brought its own perspective to the lineup through Tuan Ho. Displai helps restaurants and other brick-and-mortar brands create better in-location experiences through AI-powered digital signage, self-service kiosks and visitor analytics.
Episodes from FSTEC 2026 will be available starting November 24th on the Hospitality Hangout, on all your favorite streaming platforms.
About Branded Hospitality
Branded Hospitality is a New York-based hospitality media and investment platform dedicated to accelerating innovation across the restaurant and foodservice industry. Through The Hospitality Hangout podcast, strategic advisory work, and an extensive network of operators, investors, and technology leaders, Branded serves as a connector and amplifier for the people and companies driving the future of hospitality. Learn more at brandedstrategic.com.
About Branded Media
Branded Hospitality Media delivers storytelling, insights, and activations that turn visibility into measurable growth through podcasting, newsletters, events, and digital content.
Julie Zucker
Branded Hospitality
julie@brandedstrategic.com
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Why it matters: As restaurant brands race to adopt new technologies for operations and guest engagement, live, unscripted conversations from industry leaders offer a more honest look at what’s actually working. Branded Media’s approach of embedding content creation directly into major trade shows could become a new model for how the hospitality sector shares knowledge and builds community beyond the event itself.
