Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2014 | Page 68
WIN CITY
2014 Multi-Unit Franchising Conference rocks it in Vegas
F
BY KERRY PIPES AND EDDY GOLDBERG
ranchise Update Media’s 13th
annual Multi-Unit Franchising
Conference (MUFC) has grown
steadily into a powerhouse that
has become the must-attend event for
multi-unit franchisees, franchisors, and
suppliers alike. But as many of the 1,400
attendees noted during the three-day event,
MUFC still retains its personal, boutique
feel as a place to reunite with old friends
and make new ones.
This year’s theme was “Planning For
Growth: Your Pathways to Success.” The
conference was held in Las Vegas at Caesars
Palace, April 23–25, and will return there
next year, April 8–10, 2015.
80 franchisees, industry executives, and suppliers soaked in the sun at the nearby Arroyo
Golf Club at Red Rock. The tournament
was one of three fundraising events at the
conference (see sidebar). After a post-golf
meal at Arroyo, the golfers headed back
to Caesars Palace for a franchisee-only
welcome cocktail reception, complete
with masseuses.
Wednesday: Came the dawn
Teeing off in the desert
The conference kicked off on Tuesday with
a pre-conference, shotgun-style golf tournament, sponsored by Popeyes Louisiana
Kitchen and Jersey Mike’s Subs. More than
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MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE IS S UE III, 2014
Conference Chair
Aziz Hashim
As morning rolled around, the registration
desk buzzed with activity, and attendees
gathered for the formal start of the conference. Franchise Update CEO Therese
Thilgen welcomed the crowd and shared
the numbers about the attendees and exhibitors (see sidebar) before welcoming this
year’s Conference Chair Aziz Hashim to the
stage. Hashim introduced the conference
and its themes of opportunity management,
risk management, and collaboration man-