Bridging Hospitality and Innovation: A Recap of the 2025 IRA Tech Tour

Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 Location: Google Chicago Headquarters, Fulton Market

The intersection of hospitality and technology has never been more critical, and this past Wednesday, the Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA) brought that reality to the forefront.

Held at the vibrant Google Chicago Headquarters on Morgan St., the 2025 IRA Tech Tour offered an exclusive look into the future of the industry. Hosted in partnership with the Cook County Small Business Source, the sold-out event brought together a curated group of restaurant operators and management professionals for a morning dedicated to solving the industry's most pressing technological puzzles.

A Meeting of Minds at Google

From 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM, the atmosphere in Fulton Market was electric. Operators from across Illinois gathered not just to network, but to tackle the "challenges and opportunities" defining the next decade of food service.

Hosting the event at Google’s headquarters provided the perfect backdrop—a symbol of the data-driven, fast-moving world that restaurants must now navigate. The partnership with the Cook County Small Business Source underscored a vital theme of the day: that while technology is often global, the support systems and funding to implement it must be accessible at the local level.

Key Takeaways: Scaling with Soul

While the event covered a broad spectrum of tech—from AI-driven inventory management to next-gen POS systems—the human element remained central.

A standout moment of the tour was the session featuring Deric Rosenbaum, President of Groucho’s Deli. Rosenbaum provided a masterclass on how to leverage technology not just for efficiency, but for growth. He shared insights on how Groucho’s used tech to unify operations and streamline service, preparing the brand for franchise expansion without sacrificing the neighborhood feel that defines them.

His message resonated with the room: Technology should not replace hospitality; it should build the infrastructure that allows hospitality to scale.

Why It Matters

For the operators in attendance, the Tech Tour wasn't just about seeing shiny new gadgets. It was a strategic deep dive into:

• Unifying Operations: How to make disparate systems (delivery, inventory, payroll) talk to each other.

• Smart Expansion: Using data to decide where and when to grow.

• Operational Efficiency: Reducing friction for staff so they can focus on the guest experience.

Looking Ahead

As we close out 2025, the IRA Tech Tour served as a powerful reminder that the most successful restaurants are those that view technology as a partner rather than a hurdle.

For those who couldn't make this exclusive session, stay tuned to the Illinois Restaurant Association channels. If the insights from Google HQ are any indication, 2026 will be a year of massive opportunity for those ready to adapt.

These are Photos from the Illinois Restaurant Association Tech Tour 2025