EnsembleIQ’s Hospitality Technology Launches 2023 MURTEC Breakthrough Awards, Celebrating Restaurant Company Outstanding Achievements in Business Innovation, Sponsored by Fortinet

Submission Deadline August 4; Awards Will Be Presented During the MURTEC Executive Summit, October 2-4, at the Charleston Place Hotel in Charleston, S.C.


CHICAGO, July 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EnsembleIQ’s Hospitality Technology today announced it is now accepting nominations for the 2023 MURTEC Breakthrough Awards, honoring restaurant companies for outstanding achievements in business innovation. Sponsored by Fortinet, a developer of network and cybersecurity solutions, the awards are presented to operators for leveraging groundbreaking technology and innovative strategies to improve customer engagement or the overall enterprise.

The 17th annual MURTEC Breakthrough Awards will be presented at the MURTEC Executive Summit, a sister event to MURTEC (Multi-Unit Restaurant Technology Conference), taking place October 2-4 at the Charleston Place Hotel in Charleston, S.C. The MURTEC Executive Summit is where restaurant leaders in technical and non-technical roles unite to see their future through the lens of strategic technology.

Nominations for the MURTEC Breakthrough Awards are being accepted through August 4, 2023. Submit your nominations here.

“In the ever-evolving culinary world, we celebrate the indomitable spirit of the restaurant industry. With relentless innovation and a tech-savvy touch, you continually elevate the art of delivering extraordinary guest experiences,” said Courtney Radke, Field CISO for Retail and Hospitality, Fortinet. “We applaud your unwavering commitment to harnessing technology's power and fusing it seamlessly with your unmatched expertise to captivate customers' hearts and palates. It is with great pride and admiration that Fortinet presents The MURTEC Breakthrough Award, an honor bestowed upon those who embody excellence in revolutionizing the restaurant industry.”

“Whether it’s workforce, supply chain, safety and security, or the array of guest-facing and operational challenges that restaurants are addressing, technology has truly transformed our industry in recent years,” said Hospitality Technology Editor-in-Chief Robert Firpo-Cappiello. “The 2023 MURTEC Breakthrough Awards will recognize restaurant companies that continue to push the boundaries of what tech can do for brands and their customers.”

MURTEC Breakthrough Awards are given in two categories:

Enterprise Innovator–This is presented to the company that has leveraged a specific strategy or technology beyond standard practice to improve overall restaurant operations. Results should reveal an increase or marked improvement in efficiency, cost savings, etc. Areas of innovation can include but are not limited to: back-office and/or front-of-house applications, labor management, point-of-sale technologies, cloud computing, and enterprise-grade mobile applications.

Customer Engagement Innovation–This is presented to the company that has leveraged a specific strategy or technology to increase guest satisfaction, loyalty, and/or brand reputation. Potential concepts can include but are not limited to: mobile applications, social networking, loyalty and CRM.

Nomination Guidelines:

  • Restaurants can nominate themselves
  • Technology vendors can nominate a restaurant, but are not eligible themselves for an award
  • Winners must be present to accept the award at the MURTEC Executive Summit
  • To nominate a company, please fill out the nomination form, here
  • Deadline for nominations is August 4, 2023
  • Winners will be notified after August 12, 2023
  • Awards will be presented at the MURTEC Executive Summit

About Fortinet

Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) secures the largest enterprise, service provider, and government organizations around the world. Fortinet empowers its customers with intelligent, seamless protection across the expanding attack surface and the power to take on ever-increasing performance requirements of the borderless network—today and into the future. Only the Fortinet Security Fabric architecture can deliver security without compromise to address the most critical security challenges, whether in networked, application, cloud, or mobile environments. Fortinet ranks number one in the most security appliances shipped worldwide and more than 500,000 customers trust Fortinet to protect their businesses. Learn more at www.fortinet.com

Previous MURTEC Breakthrough Award Winners

  • Bartaco (2022 Enterprise)
  • Taco Bell (2022 Customer Engagement Innovator)
  • Checkers & Rally’s (2022 Enterprise)
  • Little Caesars (2021 Enterprise, 2019 Customer Facing)
  • El Pollo Loco (2021)
  • Amara at Paraiso (2021)
  • Firehouse Subs (2019)
  • Panera Bread (2019)
  • TGI Fridays (2018)
  • Focus Brands (2018)
  • P.F. Chang's China Bistro (2017)
  • The ONE Group (2017)
  • Twin Peaks Restaurants( 2017)
  • Outback Steakhouse (2016)
  • Fun Eats and Drinks LLC (2016)
  • Panera (2015)
  • Firehouse Subs (2015)
  • Chili’s Grill & Bar (2015)
  • Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems (2014)
  • Truluck’s Restaurant Group (2014)
  • Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar (2013)
  • Tony Roma’s (2013)
  • Legal Sea Foods (2012)
  • Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems (2012)
  • Subway Restaurants (2011)
  • Domino’s Pizza, LLC (2011)
  • Jack in the Box (2010)
  • ERJ Dining, LLC (2010)
  • Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar (2010)
  • Morton’s Restaurant Group (2009)
  • T.G.I. Friday’s (2009)
  • Hard Rock International (2009)
  • Cara Operations (2008)
  • uWink (2008)
  • Marco’s Pizza (2008)
  • Legal Sea Foods (2007)
  • Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (2007)
  • Kahala – Cold Stone Creamery (2007)
  • Jason’s Deli (2006)
  • Noodles & Co (2006)
  • Buca Inc. (2006)

About Hospitality Technology

Hospitality Technology (HT) is the only multichannel brand dedicated to covering the role of information technology in improving business performance for both hotel and restaurant operators. The Hospitality Technology editorial portfolio includes an online publication that reaches more than 16,000 hospitality industry executives, networking and educational events (MURTEC, Hotel Technology Forum and MURTEC Executive Summit), a comprehensive website, e-newsletters, web seminars, and several exclusive annual reports and studies. Hospitality Technology is the parent brand of the Restaurant Technology Network (www.restauranttechnologynetwork.com), a membership community of restaurants and suppliers working together to solve industry challenges by shaping standards and sharing best practices. Visit Hospitality Technology online at www.hospitalitytech.com. Hospitality Technology is published by EnsembleIQ, headquartered in Chicago.

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About EnsembleIQ

EnsembleIQ is the premier resource of actionable insights and connections powering business growth throughout the path to purchase. We help retail, technology, consumer goods, healthcare and hospitality professionals make informed decisions and gain a competitive advantage. EnsembleIQ delivers the most trusted business intelligence from leading industry experts, creative marketing solutions and impactful event experiences that connect best-in-class suppliers and service providers with our vibrant business-building communities. To learn more about EnsembleIQ, visit ensembleiq.com.

Media Contact
Joe Territo
Chief Strategy Officer
EnsembleIQ
jterrito@ensembleiq.com