Digital Hospitality

By: Shawn P. Walchef
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  • Summary

  • Digital Hospitality is an interview podcast series that explores the ways successful people have harnessed the power of the Internet and social media. The show is hosted by Cali BBQ Media Founder Shawn P. Walchef.
    Cali BBQ Media
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Episodes
  • The Power of Just Starting with Jeremy Julian of The Restaurant Tech Guys

    The Power of Just Starting with Jeremy Julian of The Restaurant Tech Guys
    Sep 16 2024
    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. Reflecting on his own journey, he emphasizes that it’s easier than ever to create content, thanks to modern tools and platforms. He encourages aspiring podcasters and creators to overcome their fear of imperfection. “It doesn’t need to be perfect," he says, “Getting over the cringeworthiness of your own voice is probably the biggest thing... but you won’t know your cadence or format until you start.” Even with his podcast and position as CRO at Custom Business Solution , or CBS Northstar, a hospitality technology platform, digital hospitality goes beyond technology for Julian. It’s also about meeting guests where they are and ensuring they have a seamless, memorable experience no matter how they choose to interact with your brand. “Every business is in the hospitality business,” Julian points out, stressing that businesses today must provide value to customers across digital channels. “No longer are there days where people don't have some level of influence. So you've got to meet your guests where they are.” Meaning, businesses need to cater to the varying needs of guests, from the busy soccer mom looking for convenience to the couple on a date night expecting a special experience. He believes companies must not only meet but exceed these expectations to remain relevant and competitive. "If you're not going to serve that guest how they want to interact, you're not going to be relevant." says Julian. As the restaurant industry becomes more digital, Julian urges owners to "adopt and adapt." He highlights the growing consumer demand for personalized, efficient service driven by tech giants like Amazon, Apple, and Facebook. Julian emphasizes the importance of using data to make informed decisions, enhancing both operations and customer experience. “Consumers are expecting more from you,” he explains, noting that modern tools now provide an abundance of data that can help restaurant owners make smarter, data-driven decisions. “If you’re not using that data to validate decisions or make better ones, you’re failing.” Cali BBQ Media Digital Hospitality is an interview-based video podcast hosted by business owner Shawn P. Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) and produced by his Cali BBQ Media company sponsored by Marqii (@getmarqii) The weekly digital series explores the ways successful businesses and entrepreneurs have merged old and new with innovative digital strategies that harness the power of the Internet and social media. Shawn is the founder of Cali BBQ Media and creator of the Restaurant Influencers podcast on Entrepreneur Media.➤ Restaurant Influencers — https://link.chtbl.com/RIpodcast➤ Business Coaching — https://forms.gle/cnQ3sefMcAxQXbKa6➤ Cali BBQ Content — https://content.calibbq.media
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    37 mins
  • Elevating Guest Experience with Maddie Nixon of Luna Grill and Simon Weaver of unPLUG Dining

    Elevating Guest Experience with Maddie Nixon of Luna Grill and Simon Weaver of unPLUG Dining
    Sep 9 2024
    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 with a vision to create a seamless, personalized experience for its guests. “Loyalty is huge for us.” says Luna Grill Senior Digital Marketing Manager Maddie Nixon, recognizing the importance of loyalty. “Once people try it, they love it, and it becomes really easy for them to ingrain it into their lifestyle beyond just even ordering for the individual.” Luna Grill aimed to deepen guest engagement by using technology that not only enhanced the ordering experience but also reflected the brand’s high standards. unPLUG’s platform helped streamline operations, allowing Luna Grill to offer a digital experience as top-tier as their in-restaurant service. Through this partnership, Luna Grill is able to guide customer behavior and foster loyalty by offering personalized, data-driven interactions. “We really like to drive habits, and we really like to engage with people beyond just that singular visit.” Nixon explains. Tailored Solutions for Complex Challenges unPLUG recognized an opportunity to address common challenges faced by operators, such as implementing and managing technology effectively. Luna Grill’s needs called for more than an “off-the-shelf” solution. With the guidance and tenacity from Nixon, unPLUG collaborated with Luna Grill’s marketing, IT, and operations teams to develop a feature set that was both flexible and comprehensive, allowing them to hit the market with something truly unique. From optimizing guest loyalty to simplifying payments and integrating seamlessly into existing tech stacks, the partnership was built on weekly feedback and constant evolution. Simon Weaver, Chief of Staff at unPLUG Dining noted, “We got out of the mode of solving negative problems and into the mode of solving positive problems.” A key component of the Luna Grill partnership with unPLUG was leveraging data to optimize marketing strategies. Luna Grill increased its SMS subscribers and enhanced loyalty participation through unPLUG’s integrations with Punchh Loyalty and Attentive text marketing. By using data insights, Luna Grill was able to refine its approach to engagement, exploring new ways to interact with guests beyond just digital orders. The combination of real-time insights and deep customer engagement allowed Luna Grill to not only drive repeat business but also elevate the entire guest experience. “It really felt like we needed to assess what we were going to do to take our growth to the next level. What are the levers that we want to pull to make sure that we can grow? We can be poised for growth location wise, we can drive volume. How do we need to adjust operationally, whether it's through technology or through menu innovation, to make sure we can get to the next level. And I think that's where technology felt like the right fit for our consumer, who is also ever changing and always incorporating more and more technology into their life.” Nixon pointed out. “Our guests are changing, they’re growing, they’re getting smarter. We want them to come back and keep enjoying the food.” Looking Ahead: Innovation and Expansion The collaboration between Luna Grill and unPLUG doesn’t stop at current success. Future plans include scaling operations with new restaurant openings and implementing advanced AI-driven features such as menu recommendations and 1-click ordering. The launch of a brand-new web ordering portal further underscores Luna Grill’s commitment to innovation. As Luna Grill continues to evolve, unPLUG will remain a key partner,
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    54 mins
  • Rising Tide LinkedIn Live: Business Travel Hacks You Should Know

    Rising Tide LinkedIn Live: Business Travel Hacks You Should Know
    Sep 3 2024
    As the world begins to settle back into its norm post pandemic, business travel is back in full swing. For the participants in a recent Rising Tide LinkedIn Live Room hosted by Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ Media, travel, both business and personal, comes with rituals and “aha moments” that they have implemented into their adventures. Listen to the replay of the latest room where the participants shared tips and strategies for effective business travel and follow Cali BBQ Media to keep up with the latest and join the rooms to tell your story and have your voice heard Every Wednesday and Friday at 10am PDT, Walchef hosts the Rising Tide room on LinkedIn. Leading voices in hospitality, and otherwise, from near and far join to discuss all things business and much more. Key Quotes: “I highly encourage using your smartphone like a brain while I'm traveling to help me with logistics." - Shawn Walchef “You can build your own Google Maps side of things…list of places that he wanted to visit, like around the conference area.” - Elizabeth Doss “Have a consistent list of all the things you don't want to forget or that you need, and then use the damn list.” - Troy Hooper “Hands down, the best thing I've ever done from a travel standpoint was the TSA Precheck.” - Charlie Eblen “Business meals are 50% tax deductible.” - Douglas Higgins
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    1 hr and 20 mins
Leadership Marketing Economics
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