History of McDonald’s Worldwide Convention More than 12,000 McDonald’s franchisees, suppliers, crew members and employees from across the globe will come together for McDonald’s highly anticipated 2022 Worldwide Convention in early April. This year’s event in Orlando, Florida, is an opportunity for the McDonald’s System to celebrate their collective successes, showcase diverse strengths and plan for the future of the brand. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to connect and share with other people in the McFamily who share the same passion for making a positive impact in local communities. Worldwide Convention is a McDonald’s tradition dating back to October 1965, when McDonald’s Owner/Operators first gathered at the Hollywood Beach Hotel in Hollywood, Florida to meet and learn from one another. At the time, McDonald’s had 738 restaurants across the U.S. - and McDonald’s founder, Ray Kroc, marveled at how much the company had grown. McDonald’s today haa approximately 40,000 restaurants in more than 100 markets around the world. Accordingly, the attendee list has grown with time to include Owner/Operators, suppliers, employees and restaurant crew, who attend free-of-charge. Over the years, McDonald’s has held 28 Conventions spanning several cities in North America, including Las Vegas, Toronto and Chicago. One of the most memorable Conventions, according to McDonald’s Senior Archives Manager Mike Bullington, took place in Hawaii in 1971, where attendees wore Hawaiian shirts and muumuu dresses. No matter the location, Convention has always been an opportunity to invigorate the McDonald’s System and remind everyone – from Owner/Operators and suppliers to employees and crew – why we do what we do.
At the first Convention in 1965, Ray Kroc shared that he dreamed about what McDonald’s would look like on its 50th anniversary, saying, “I try to imagine it –but I admit that I cannot.” Now, as we prepare to gather the System during McDonald’s 82nd year, it's clear our people are leaving a legacy that would’ve made Ray proud.