Jeremy Julian, founder of Restaurant Tech Guys Podcast, shared his insights on the Digital Hospitality podcast with Shawn Walchef.  With years of experience helping restaurants embrace technology and improve operations, Julian offered simple but powerful advice for those looking to break into content creation and adapt to an ever-changing digital landscape.  “Just start.” he says. […]

The partnership between Luna Grill and unPLUG Dining has become a benchmark in the restaurant industry, illustrating how technology can elevate guest experiences and drive business growth. By leveraging unPLUG’s innovative solutions, Luna Grill successfully transformed its first-party digital experience, driving customer loyalty and operational efficiency. The journey of Luna Grill’s collaboration with unPLUG began […]

Businesses often become a part of the community in which they serve. Or at least they should.  In this recent Rising Tide LinkedIn Live Room led by the Cali BBQ Media team, the participants shared stories of philanthropy and service. Listen to the replay of the latest room where the participants discussed community service and […]

Paul Walker (@villageinn) is the President of Walker Group Restaurants. Since taking over the family business, it has grown rapidly. Though they weren’t fully prepared, Walker and company heeded the advice of his grandfather to “figure it out”.  Now with expansion on the horizon, Walker sat with host Shawn Walchef at this year’s Restaurant365 Restaurant […]

Every year, restaurant and hospitality leaders gathered at the National Restaurant Association, or NRA show. This year, host Shawn Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) met with VP of Enterprise Platform Sales, Ben Sennet, and VP Sales & Brand Partnerships, Central Region, Tammy Evrard, to discuss how Atmosphere (@atmosphere.tv) helps restaurants take on the the challenge of keeping customers […]

Tim McLaughlin is a technology savant. His company, GoTab (@gotab.inc), pushes technology, such as QR codes, to the forefront of the hospitality industry by putting the guest at the center of the POS experience.    “I would say get a demo if you want to actually know.” McLaughlin tells host Shawn Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) of calibbq.media.  […]

The National Association of Restaurant Show taking place from May 20 – 23  has been coined the “Super Bowl of the Industry” by some. Ahead of this year’s show, host Shawn Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) of Calibbq.media spoke with restaurant growth expert and commercial realtor Kyle Inserra (@kyleinserra) about why restaurant owners should attend the show and […]

Tom Rutledge (@rdmsgroup), the owner of outsource accounting firm RDMS (Restaurant Data Management System), is a problem solver. Speaking with host Shawn Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) of https://calibbq.media at this year’s Restaurant Transformation Tour put on by Restaurant365, Rutledge speaks on how their systems have proven to be a valuable tool for his company since its adoption […]

Digital Hospitality host Shawn Walchef (@shawnwalchef) of https://calibbq.media and special guests Troy Hooper, serial entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of Kiwi Restaurant Partners (@apineappleperspective) and Massimo DeMarco, CEO of Ghost Kitchen Brands and Founder of Kitchen United, as they discuss how the digital era is transforming the restaurant industry.  In this episode, which took place […]

David Esau (@davidresau) is a digital marketing consultant extraordinaire, owner of Click Track Marketing, and author of the book “Raising the Digital Bar” which is aimed at helping businesses grow their impact through digital marketing. As a former Google employee, he has a unique understanding of the digital marketing space.   As his book lays […]

If humility is a prerequisite for hospitality, Nish Patel (@nishpcny), CEO of Paperchase Accountancy, has it in spades. In a sit down with host Shawn Walchef of https://calibbq.media/ during the 2023 Restaurant Transformation Tour put on by Restaurant365, Patel referred to his business as “small” despite having accounts internationally.    Paperchase began when Patel and […]

Matt Plapp (@mattplapp) is a Restaurant Influencer and a well-known name in the marketing world, particularly in the restaurant industry. He is the founder of America’s Best Restaurant, Plapp’s strong belief in the power of digital marketing has set him apart from other marketing professionals. He is a vocal advocate of using social media, email […]

Rory Odell, Senior Vice President of Operations at Ike’s Love and Sandwiches (@ikessandwiches) understands technology has become a necessity for restaurants to generate revenue. Odell and the team at Ike’s Love and Sandwich prioritize reviewing metrics to better serve their clients. With hospitality highlighted as a critical factor to drive customer loyalty, he emphasizes the […]

Content creation is an important part of business in today’s landscape. Though it is important to create content consistently, it is equally as important to study what is working once the consistency is present.  Whatever is the decided upon metric, is the important data to be gathered and serve as the foundation for future decisions. […]

Salem Najjar (@servehg) is a serial entrepreneur, visionary, and CEO of SERVE Hospitality Group. His group is responsible for one of the largest franchisees of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in the Midwest with a total of 16 total units. As a certified CPA, Najjar uses his financial acumen to catapult his business ventures. Times have changed […]

Steven Hoffman (@foundersspace) is the CEO of Founders Space, which is a global innovation hub for entrepreneurs, corporations, and investors. As a solution to the work shortage that many businesses have experienced over recent years, Hoffman encourages the usage of Artificial Intelligence.  “Everything that can be automated will be automated over time. A.I. is an […]

David Joseph is the co-founder of DAVO by Avalara. What began as just an idea, has flourished into a near necessity of any business’ tech stack by filling the essential gap of handling business taxes. “In your business book, there are plenty of things to stress about,” says Joseph to Digital Hospitality host Shawn Walchef […]

Alfredo Miro III has an extensive history in the restaurant industry. When he joined Baker’s Burgers, the company was reluctant to make changes. They were comfortable. Now, with the implementation of Restaurant365 technology, Miro is tapping into his leadership experience to grow Baker’s Burger in a way that makes sense to the brand. Listen or […]

Mason Bendigo (@breathinairpod) is a former athlete that has channeled his energy into helping others by creating and hosting the Breathin’ Air Podcast. Bendigo strives to help others live a full existence by “breathing air”, a necessary component of life, into their listeners and help them unlock their full potential mentally, physically and spiritually.    […]

Carlos Chavira is the co-owner of Pancho’s Taqueria (@panchostaqueira) in Massachusetts. Opening a restaurant was not his initial goal, but his sister convinced him to do so. With the help of Fooda, food technology platform that connects restaurants to people while at work, Chavira is attempting to get Pancho’s back to the trajectory it experienced […]

Bill Valentas is the CFO for Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers who joined the company after it expanded well beyond its original plan of one store. As efficiency has become more paramount, he has led the company to the implementation of Restaurant365 technology products.   Watch or listen to this interview with the CFO of […]

Branden McRill (@brandenmcrill) is the co-founder and CEO of 5 Out,  which has a goal to maximize restaurant profitability by predicting performance using data and machine learning. As an experienced restauranteur, McRill found a gap in the space that pushed him to create 5 Out to incorporate technology as a way to enhance digital hospitality. Watch […]

Scott Gillman is the CEO of Dine Technology, Mascott Corporation, and partner with Restaurant365. Gillman and company has built and operated over 70 restaurants. With the increased implementation of technology, Gillman continues to push his partners to build products that become learning tools.  During the Restaurant Transformation Tour, Gillman sat down with Digital Hospitality host […]

Melvin and Davin Atallah of The BBQ House Bar and Grill (@bbqhouseob) in Ocean Beach, California have worked hard to realize the dream that most children have at one point or another in their lives: to help their parents retire.

Michael Beck, the co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Popcorn GTM, is a seasoned sales leader with over three decades of experience in the enterprise sales sector.  In 2023, Beck, alongside Paul Molinari, launched Popcorn GTM—a groundbreaking sales and marketing consultancy tailored for the restaurant technology industry. This venture represents more than just a business; […]

Juliet Hahn has taken a winding road before reaching the destination of her Your Next Stop podcast. The undeniable factor in her success, however, is her persistence to keep going. Check out this Digital Hospitality podcast interview featuring Juliet Hahn to learn about hosting a podcast, pivoting through tough times, being fearless, and finding a […]

James McGehee (Dave’s Hot Chicken) and Morgan Harris (Restaurant365) are true Digital Hospitality leaders. Both men have a full understanding of what it takes to grow a business while remaining true to the foundation of what allows such expansion in the first place. But in the fairly new, yet rapidly expanding, digital space, what exactly […]

Irena Damianova learned the secret ingredient to opening a restaurant. When the Las Vegas restaurant owner decided to move from a successful real estate career and open Balkan Bar and Grill, she didn’t know what to expect. All she knew was that flexibility was paramount to her and the restaurant’s survival. Outside of the amazing […]

Every phone call is an opportunity for your business. AI makes it so you never have to miss a call again. Popmenu cofounders Brendan Sweeney and Tony Roy were guests on the Digital Hospitality podcast to talk about how Popmenu Answering and other innovative technology tools are transforming restaurant operations for guests and staff alike. […]

There’s never too much information your business can gather. But how do you sift through the data? Photis Patriotis is the founder of Gritsee, which is an AI solution based business that seeks to optimize the operations of kitchens and businesses. It only takes seconds for artificial intelligence to find solutions to known — and […]

There’s a reason more than 28,000 restaurants trust Restaurant365 to help them become more profitable. Led by inspiring CEO Tony Smith, Restaurant365 knows — and loves — restaurants. “We have four core values. Our first one is we love good food,” Tony Smith said on the Digital Hospitality podcast, hosted by restaurant owner Shawn P. […]

No BS. That is the best descriptor for marketing specialist Erik Shellenberger. His approach to teaching bar and restaurant owners the best way to market their business. Years in the industry have equipped Erik with a unique insight as to what works and what doesn’t. ”There’s a lot of BS out there.” Digital Hospitality podcast […]

Curbivore is a forward-thinking conference that highlights the necessary pivots of businesses and other tech pioneers in the modern era. Jonah Bliss of Curbivore was a guest on the Digital Hospitality podcast where he talked about the March 4 Curbivore conference in Downtown Los Angeles and how commerce is moving to the curb. Check out […]

SparkPlug aims to propel retail businesses and brands through personalized experiences and optimizing their influence. Andrew Duffy is a Harvard grad with the right amount of book smarts and business sense. Add tech savvy in the ingredients and one of the spark plugs behind the SparkPlug platform understands what it takes to build systems that […]

How did MÄNNKITCHEN raise millions on crowdfunding platforms? By finding a need and creating a solution. How many cranks does it take you to pepper a steak using your pepper mill? Probably dozens, right? For MÄNNKITCHEN Founder Cleve Oines, it was around 70 pepper cranks one day when he realized there was a problem. Why […]

The job of building your tech stack is never done. In this interview, Shawn Walchef talks with Spin! Pizza Director of IT and Operations Support Jeff Lee about his long-history with the fast causal pizza chain and how technology can transform restaurant operations. *** ABOUT SPIN! PIZZA: Local entrepreneurs who shared a love of Italian […]

Ride1UP electric bikes (e-bikes) are built for performance and reliability. And so is the e-commerce company itself. Ride1UP developed a product they felt was life-changing: electric bikes. But how did the company leaders make sure they could get their e-bikes to as many people as they could? By becoming an e-commerce company. Ride1UP CEO Daniel […]

What does “From Scratch” mean to Chef Joe Gatto? When he does something — whether it’s hosting a food show on TV or cooking a meal — he goes all the way. Chef Joe Gatto (@chefjoegatto) was a guest on the Digital Hospitality podcast, where the “From Scratch” host talked about making a streaming series, […]

The secret to YouTube is simple. It’s not about you. It’s about your audience. On this special preview episode of the Restaurant Influencers Podcast, Sam Zien (Sam The Cooking Guy) talks with host Shawn P. Walchef (Cali BBQ Media) about how he grew his YouTube channel to millions of subscribers and running multiple restaurants. “YouTube […]

David Meltzer is a mentor to many. However, there are two titans he studies closely himself. Their names? None other than William Shakespeare and Albert Einstein. Taking lessons from both, David Meltzer (@davidmeltzer) has been able to pivot from being a powerful sports agent to a motivational media maven at the age of 50. “I […]

At the heart of the annual Holiday Bowl is hospitality and community. On this episode of the Digital Hospitality podcast, Holiday Bowl CEO Mark Neville talks about the history of the NCAA bowl game in San Diego, the nonprofit’s future at Petco Park, and how the live event gives back to the community. At Cali […]

You have a great business concept, but how do you raise the money needed to realize your vision? Check out the Digital Hospitality interview with My Yard Live Beer Co. co-owners Mark McLarry and Jamie Minotti to learn how they turned their grand vision into reality step by step. “(We thought) let’s do something brick-and-mortar […]

Hospitality and Media Maven Kyle Inserra knows that one of the most valuable currencies of our modern era is attention. Kyle Inserra (@kyleinserra) is an attention merchant. How does the commercial real estate strategist with a long history in the hospitality industry get attention these days? He publishes compelling video content online every day. On […]

The 8it App was created to solve the problem of food ordering overload. 8it app co-founder Steve Raggiani is a guest on the Digital Hospitality Podcast where the entrepreneur talked about simplifying the search for the best food, online food reviews, digital marketing, and much more. ➤ Connect with @8itapp online: linkin.bio/8itapp Three Takeaways from […]

Smartphone Storytelling doesn’t have to be difficult. These tips will help you learn to tell your story online. Speaking as a guest of honor at a Foodservice Sales and Marketing Association (FSMA) webinar, Shawn Walchef (Cali BBQ Media) shared the secret sauce to online storytelling, digital marketing for business, more inspiration and ideas. ➤ FSMA […]

Jottful is the solution to the problem of website creation and management for small business owners. Business owners are busy. It pays to find a sustainable path to having a living, breathing e-commerce website. We all know websites are hard to make and hard to keep alive. They are expensive and difficult. That’s why Digital […]

Controversy sells. At least that’s what we’ve been told. But put the word “beautiful” in front of it, and the idea of calamity somehow dissipates. Or at least that’s what those in hospitality hope to happen.  Listen to the replay of the latest Rising Tide LinkedIn Live room where the participants discussed beautiful controversy and […]

Brian Dempsey of TribeVideo wants business owners to learn to use video marketing like rockstars. Most Americans consume 2.5 hours of video content per day. That’s a lot of ways to reach them. So, why aren’t all business owners in front of the camera telling the story of their brand? Find out how to harness […]

Some people wake up and pour a cup of coffee. Steven Musielski wakes up early to pour into people he has never met. Digital Hospitality podcast guest Steven Musielski is the host and founder of The 4:13 Experience clubroom on Clubhouse. Every morning before 4am (3:38am to be exact) Steven opens up the audio app […]

Delivering the Digital Restaurant teaches how to build a successful digital restaurant business that will survive and thrive into the future. Authors Meredith Sandland (@meresandland) and Carl Orsbourn (@carlorsbourn) were guests on the Digital Hospitality podcast to discuss what they learned while writing their must-read restaurant business book, Delivering the Digital Restaurant Your Roadmap to […]