• Lived Experience Shaping Better Hospitality – Christine de Wendel’s perspective on hospitality comes from working alongside restaurant operators during moments of peak pressure, especially during COVID. Seeing how a simple act like paying the check could disrupt an otherwise great meal shaped her belief that technology should protect the guest experience, not interrupt it. sunday was built around the idea that hospitality moments matter most at the edges of a meal, not just during service.
• Payment as a Guest Experience, Not a Transaction – sunday reframes payment from an operational afterthought into a core part of hospitality. By allowing guests to pay quickly, securely, and on their own terms, the platform removes waiting, awkward interruptions, and friction at the table. That simplicity improves table turns, increases tips, and creates a smoother flow for both guests and staff without changing how restaurants deliver service.
• Data That Strengthens Human Connection – By owning the payment moment, sunday gives restaurants insight they rarely had before, especially in full service environments without reservations. Guest data, Google reviews, and engagement signals are captured at the moment satisfaction is highest. Instead of replacing human connection, that data helps operators recognize regulars, improve performance, and design experiences that keep guests coming back.

• Christine de Wendel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-de-wendel
• Sunday app: https://sundayapp.com/
• Sunday LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sundaytech/
• Big Momma Restaurant Group: https://www.bigmammagroup.com/
• Big Momma IG: https://www.instagram.com/bigmamma.uk/

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• Visibility Changes Everything – Most operators are forced to manage kitchens reactively because they lack real-time insight into equipment, temperature, and energy performance. Connected operations give teams the visibility needed to spot issues early and prevent costly failures.
• The Back of House Is the Next Frontier – Front-of-house technology has matured, but the biggest gains now come from the kitchen. Connecting equipment and systems helps brands improve consistency, uptime, and food safety across every location.
• Proactive Control Beats Firefighting – When kitchens shift from alerts after failure to signals before problems happen, operators protect revenue and reduce stress. Platforms like Open Kitchen turn data into action, helping teams run smarter at scale.

• Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/
• Join Our Next Show: https://betheshow.media/rising-tides/
• Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/
• Nick Bryant LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-bryant
• Powerhouse Dynamics: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powerhouse-dynamics/

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• Get Out of the Building – Real growth happens when operators leave day-to-day operations and put themselves in rooms with other builders. Trade shows and conferences create space for curiosity, learning, and relationships that simply do not form from behind a desk.
• Proximity Accelerates Everything – Being physically present with industry leaders, creators, and brands unlocks better conversations, stronger content, and unexpected opportunities. When the right people are nearby, collaboration and storytelling become easier and more authentic.
• Showing Up Creates Leverage – The biggest deals often come from visibility, not pitching. Speaking, participating, and engaging in person puts operators in front of decision-makers, turning presence into partnerships and long-term growth.

• Shawn Walchef LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/
• Cali BBQ: https://calibbq.media/

DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying...

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• Hospitality Is Built on Small, Intentional Actions – Across every story, the most meaningful moments were not grand gestures but thoughtful ones. Extra tips, handwritten notes, surprise gifts, shared meals, or simply making space for someone who might otherwise be alone. Real hospitality shows up in the details, especially when no one is expecting it.
• Community Grows When People Show Up for Each Other – This episode reinforced that progress does not come from watching or waiting. It comes from participation. By sharing stories, opening doors, inviting others in, and supporting peers, the community continues to grow stronger. Showing up consistently creates momentum for everyone involved.
• The Holidays Highlight What Matters Year Round – While the conversation centered on holiday hospitality, the lessons extend far beyond the season. Caring for teams, recognizing effort, and prioritizing human connection are not seasonal strategies. They are foundational practices that sustain culture, leadership, and long-term success.

• Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/
• Join Our Next Show: https://betheshow.media/rising-tides/
• Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/

DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying...

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• Lived Experience Driving Safer Hospitality – Alervio was born from Anthony Wood’s personal health journey, where sudden food allergies turned everyday dining into a source of anxiety. That lived experience shaped his belief that hospitality should reduce stress, not create it. By building tools that understand how individuals interact with food, Alervio helps operators care for guests in ways menus alone never could.
• Technology That Removes Friction at the Table – Rather than adding more responsibility to busy servers or complex training for staff, Alervio shifts allergen communication to the table itself. Guests input their needs directly, while the system translates that information into clear guidance for the kitchen. The result is fewer mistakes, lower risk, and a calmer experience for both guests and operators.
• Compliance as an Opportunity, Not a Burden – With California’s SB 68 allergen labeling law approaching, many operators see regulation as another operational headache. Alervio reframes compliance as a chance to build trust and stand out. By simplifying data ingestion and menu transparency, the platform helps restaurants meet new requirements while strengthening guest confidence and brand integrity.

• Alervio Online: https://www.alervio.com/
• Alervio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alervio/
• Anthony Wood LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-wood-6262611a3/
• SB 68: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB68

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• Operator Led Intelligence – Red Onion was built by leaders who understand restaurant reality. Ward’s decades in multi-unit operations shaped a platform designed to answer real questions about guests, marketing, and performance, not surface-level reporting.
• Data That Proves What Works – Restaurants generate massive amounts of data, but most of it goes unused. Red Onion connects transactions to marketing events, menu changes, and operational shifts, helping teams measure what actually drives sales, retention, and profitability.
• Insights That Drive Action – Red Onion is not just analytics. By layering guest behavior, employee performance, and event impact, the platform gives operators clear direction on where to adjust, invest, and improve to grow revenue without guessing.

• Ward Olgreen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wardolgreen/
• Red Onion ai: https://www.redonion.ai/
• Red Onion ai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/redonion-ai/
• Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/
• Join Our Next Show: https://betheshow.media/rising-tides/
• Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/

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• People First, Systems That Support Them – Kevin Hildebrand believes hospitality starts with the humans running the restaurants. CRS Hospitality has grown to 15 concepts by creating a culture where managers are supported, teams collaborate across locations, and no one is left to struggle alone. Growth happens when people have the tools and structure to thrive, not just when new restaurants open.
• Technology Chosen for Real Operational Impact – CRS adopts technology only when it solves a true problem. Kickfin became essential because it fixed a daily pain point that was draining time and energy from managers. By integrating with Toast and making payouts transparent and instant, Kickfin helped simplify one of the most frustrating parts of restaurant operations.
• Modern Hospitality Requires Adaptation, Not Assumptions – Guest behavior continues to shift, and CRS is reshaping its restaurants accordingly. From redesigning floor plans for more takeout capacity to implementing digital tools that reduce administrative stress, Kevin and his team stay focused on meeting guests where they are. Hospitality today blends people, process, and technology working in sync.

• Kevin Hildebrand: https://www.crshospitality.com/team-member/kevin-hildebrand/
• Kevin Hildebrand LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-hildebrand-95558068/
• CRS Hospitality: https://www.crshospitality.com/
• Kickfin Online: https://kickfin.com/
• Kickfin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kickfin/
• Kickfin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kickfin2618
• Kickfin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kickfin/
• Kickfin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kickfin/

DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying...

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• Make It Easy to Remember – A restaurant name only works if customers can say it, spell it, and share it without effort. The simpler the name, the faster it travels through word of mouth, advertising, and search.
• Name What You Actually Do – As a concept evolves, the name must evolve with it. Clarity beats creativity when guests are deciding where to eat. If the name does not immediately signal what you offer, it creates friction.
• Your Name Is Infrastructure – A strong name powers everything downstream. Social handles, search results, media brands, and expansion all move faster when the identity is clear, consistent, and owned everywhere.

• Shawn Walchef LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/
• Cali BBQ: https://calibbq.media/

DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying...

Marqii is designed to create unforgettable customer experiences...