Kim DeCarolis, Senior Vice President of Strategic Growth at Craveworthy Brands, is at the forefront of identifying and implementing trends in hospitality technology. DeCarolis spoke on pioneering growth for Craveworthy Brands with host Arun Kumar.

Watch now to learn about technology trends, making loyalty more engaging, and maintaining brand identity through AI influence.

Sponsor:

Follow Incentivio on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@incentivio

Episode Links:

• Kim DeCarolis LinkedIn
• Craveworthy Brands Online
• Craveworthy Brands Instagram
• Craveworthy Brands YouTube

Takeaways:

Identifying trends in hospitality tech - Kim Decoralis highlights the trends taking place in the hospitality technology industry in which we are starting to see more and more companies focused on solving a specific problem for their customers.

Creative ways to make loyalty more engaging - Combining your brand’s personality and your target audience when creating your loyalty rewards is a great way to make the brand more approachable and the rewards more enticing.

Maintaining brand authenticity in the era of AI - As AI becomes a tool used more and more in brand messaging, it’s never been more important to ensure that your brand’s voice is authentically represented in all forms of marketing.

ABOUT KIM DECAROLIS–

Kim DeCarolis comes into Craveworthy Brands with over a decade of experience in driving organizational growth through sales leadership in the restaurant operations and technology industry, DeCarolis has made significant strides in fostering high-growth partnerships and advancing innovative solutions. As the first woman named to the Executive team as Vice President of Sales at Punchh, she played a pivotal role in scaling revenue to $50 million. Her tenure as Director of Strategic Franchise Sales for FAT Brands further showcased her ability to create and nurture successful partnerships. As an active member of the Women's Food Service Forum, Kim DeCarolis is committed to advancing women in the restaurant industry. Her career is defined by a passion for growth, leadership, and innovation in the dynamic restaurant and tech sectors.

ABOUT DATA DELICACIES—

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

• Data Delicacies on Spotify
• Incentivio Online
• Incentivio Instagram

Produced by Incentivio - https://www.incentivio.com/

Produced by Cali BBQ Media - https://betheshow.media

The restaurant industry is saturated with countless restaurants serving burgers and fries. In his conversation with Data Delicacies host, Arun Kumar of Incentivio, Jamil Bhuya, the founder of Burgers n’ Fries Forever (BFF), spoke on how he has made BFF a sought-after destination across various demographics.

Watch now to learn about creating an engaging dining experience, the power of word of mouth marketing, and the role human motivation plays in customer loyalty.

Follow Incentivio on YouTube

Episode Links:

• Jamil Bhuya Online
• Jamil Bhuya Instagram
• Jamil Bhuya Twitter
• Burgers n’ Fries Forever Online
• BFF Instagram
• BFF TikTok

ABOUT JAMIL BHUYA–

Jamil's entrepreneurial drive centers on cultivating brands through heartfelt design and human-focused storytelling. At 22, he founded Burgers n’ Fries Forever (BFF) and successfully expanded it to two cities, achieving an average unit volume (AUV) of over $1.6 million. His efforts in influencer partnerships, paid advertising, PR, and organic content have resulted in millions of digital impressions. Jamil also launched Yellow Beauty, an e-commerce CPG brand, growing it to six-figure annual revenue with a bootstrapped budget. Previously, he served as Marketing Director for a restaurant group, leading a creative team across four different restaurant concepts. Over the past year, he has developed more than 30 digital marketing plans for various restaurant groups and franchises. Recently, he introduced Small Fry Studio, a Fractional CMO service.

ABOUT DATA DELICACIES—

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Incentivio Online

Incentivio Instagram

Produced by: Incentivio - https://www.incentivio.com/ | Cali BBQ Media

Building customer loyalty can be a daunting task for many businesses, but Peter Baghdassarian, the current head of family owned quick service Mediterranean micro chain Massis Kabob, has made it remarkably straightforward. Leveraging QR codes and a no-nonsense approach to technology, Baghdassarian is setting new standards for customer engagement and satisfaction.

Watch now to learn more about simplifying loyalty programs, the importance of functional technology, and building relationships with tech sales people.

Follow Incentivio on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@incentivio

Chapters:

[06:46] - Maintaining Proximity to Brick and Mortar Spaces

[08:09] - Performing Spot Checks on Locations

[14:44] - Tech Trends in Hospitality

[27:09] - Deciding When to Implement New Technology

[34:19] - Interest in Biohacking

Episode Links:

• Massis Kabob Online: https://www.massiskabob.com/
• Peter Baghdassarian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-baghdassarian-a480728/
• Massis Kabob Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/massiskabob/
• Massis Kabob Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/massiskabobery

1. QR Codes: Simplifying Loyalty Programs - Having customers sign up for loyalty programs can be a complicated pain for business owners. With Massis Kabob, Peter Baghdassarian has streamlined that process with QR Codes and less data collection for frictionless customer experience.
2. Importance of Functional Technology - It seems like a simple concept to not release an app prior to it functioning correctly. However, it happens and Peter Baghdassarian firmly believes that it should not. With the increase in technology reliance, he believes it is important for companies to have technology that functions properly to obtain and maintain customer trust.
3. Honesty in Tech Sales - As you would imagine, Peter Baghdassarian receives quite a bit of sales calls with sales people attempting to sell the latest and greatest innovation. In the name of efficiency and relationship building, he believes it is best practice for sales pitches to be as honest and transparent as possible during their interactions.

ABOUT PETER BAGHDASSARIAN –

Peter Baghdassarian spent over two decades in the entertainment industry, contributing to live-action films, TV series, and major animated projects before fully transitioning to the restaurant sector. He now co-manages and expands Massis Kabob, a family-founded Mediterranean quick-service restaurant chain that started 48 years ago, alongside his brother. Under their leadership, Massis Kabob has grown to seven bustling locations in Southern California. Peter's enthusiasm for technology and cuisine drives him to continuously seek ways to enhance the business,

integrating new tech for improved efficiency and customer experience without losing the essence of what has made Massis Kabob beloved for nearly half a century. An alumnus of the University of Southern California, Peter holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Management from USC Annenberg School and a law degree from USC Gould School of Law, and he frequently shares his insights as a speaker on industry panels.

ABOUT DATA DELICACIES—

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Data Delicacies on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29ExS0n9X3Z3FyK4HuSPKH

Incentivio Online - https://www.incentivio.com/

Incentivio Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/incentivio/

Produced by Incentivio & Cali BBQ Media

In a compelling interview on “Data Delicacies” with host Arun Kumar, Zack Oates, founder of Ovation, shared insights on focus, customer-centric strategies, and the future of AI in personalization.

Watch now to learn about the importance of a singular focus, being the “anti-survey” company, and the future of AI in hospitality.

Follow Incentivio on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@incentivio

Chapters:

[03:13] - The "Why" Behind Ovation

[06:51] - Balancing Work, Family, and Business Commitments

[10:35] - Becoming Obsessed with Building Value

[27:04] - Defining Loyalty

[35:08] - Closing the Education Gap in the AI Era

[45:16] - Utilizing AI Day to Day

Episode Links:

• Ovation Online
• Zack Oates Instagram
• Zack Oates Facebook
• Zack Oates LinkedIn
• Ovation Podcast
• Dating Never Works . . . Until It Does: 100 Lessons from 1,000 Dates (Book)

"You Can Do Anything. You Can't Do Everything" - Zack Oates’ dad Bart carved out a successful NFL career. Zack Oates attributes that success to Bart being able to do “one thing deep” and focus on being good at that thing. That mentality was passed down to Zack and it has served him well in his own business endeavors.

Surveys with the Customer in Mind - Zack Oates has branded Ovation as the “Anti-Survey” company. They have differentiated themselves from other survey companies by beginning with collecting data on how customers preferred being surveyed as opposed to simply forcing customers to inefficiently answer long questionnaires.

The Future of AI in Personalization - Ovation uses Artificial Intelligence, but Zack Oates values the personal touch of in person conversations. He does, however, see the future of AI adding to the personalization of hospitality by adding a layer to the customer satisfaction.

ABOUT ZAK OATES –

Zack Oates is an accomplished author, devoted husband, and proud father. Recognized as one of the Top 100 Entrepreneurs, he has had the honor of ringing the NASDAQ bell and winning the world’s largest business competition. With an MBA from BYU, Zack has founded three companies and provided customer experience consulting for Fortune 100 companies. His expertise in dating and customer experience consulting led him to create Ovation, a leading tool for actionable guest feedback in restaurants, where he serves as Founder and CEO.

ABOUT DATA DELICACIES—

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Produced by: Incentivio - https://www.incentivio.com/

Alistair Levine is the CEO of multiple restaurant concepts and a Partner and Head of Business Development at KitchenSync. He shared his vision with Data Delicacies powered by Incentivio. A vision that includes leveraging a hybrid approach that capitalizes on the unique strengths of both technology and human expertise.

Listen now to learn about the importance of human touch and technology, the strategic usage of dynamic pricing, and making good decisions with good data.



Technology vs. Human Touch - Alistair Levine understands that both human touch and emerging technology are both important pieces of today’s hospitality industry. He has a goal at Kitchen Sync to create a hybrid approach that takes advantage of the strengths that both entities have to offer.

Dynamic Pricing for Better Guest Experience - When it comes to technology, Alistair Levine believes that as the options become more complicated, restaurants will have to narrow their focus to find root problems on the path to solutions.

Making Good Decisions with Good Data - Even though Alistair Levine believes that hospitality is a human driven industry, he also believes that Artificial Intelligence will serve a purpose of helping businesses make better decisions based on their ability to receive enhanced data from reliable sources.

Follow Incentivio on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@incentivio

• KitchenSync Online: https://www.kitchensync.us/
• Alistair Levine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alistairlevine/
• Alistair Levine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistair-levine-6997b359/
• KitchenSync LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kitchensync3/
• Left Bank Brasserie: https://www.instagram.com/leftbankbrasserie/
• LB Steak Santana Row: https://www.instagram.com/lbsteaksantanarow/
• Meso Restaurant: https://www.instagram.com/meso.restaurant/
• Petite Left Bank: https://www.instagram.com/petiteleftbank/
• Rollati Ristorante: https://www.instagram.com/rollatiristorante/

Branden McRill, a restauranteur and CEO and Co-Founder of 5-Out, envisions a future where restaurants operate with unparalleled efficiency. Powered by Toast, 5-Out harnesses the potential of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics to drive profitability.

Watch now to learn about revolutionizing restaurant operations, adopting AI and machine learning, and properly vetting AI resources.

Follow Incentivio on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@incentivio

Chapters:

[01:06] - Braden McRill's Background

[07:23] - Pulling from Prior Experience

[16:48] - The 5-Out Origin Story

[28:01] - The Early Days of Forecasting

[34:34] - Skepticism Around AI and Machine Learning

[48:24] - Vetting Effective AI/ML Options

***

Episode Links:

5 Out Online: https://www.5out.io/

Branden McRill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandenmcrill/

Branden McRill LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/branden-mcrill-35b1baa/

5 Out Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5out_io/

Takeaways:

Revolutionizing Restaurant Operations with 5-Out - With 5-Out powered by Toast, Branden McRill has a vision to use artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics to drive efficiency in restaurant operations to make restaurants more profitable.

Emerging Adoption of AI and ML in Restaurant - As Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AIML) continues to emerge, more companies will adopt the technology. Branden McRill is already beginning to see quick and full service begin to adopt the AIML as a part of their business model and tech stack.

Vetting Artificial Intelligence Resources - Artificial Intelligence and machine learning, or AIML, is in its very early stages of business integration. According to Branden McRill, proper vetting of potential resources is important to the effectiveness of their product, and specific questions should be asked and answered.

***

ABOUT BRANDEN MCRILL—

Branden McRill brings over 26 years of hospitality industry experience to his most current role as co-founder and CEO of 5-Out where he is responsible for driving the vision, strategy, and implementation of 5-Out. McRill’s extensive background also includes founding and co-founding successful restaurants and cafes like The Post PHL, Walnut Street Cafe, Rebelle, and Pearl & Ash. Additionally, he served as beverage director and manager for esteemed chefs and groups such as Marcus Samuelsson, Jean-Georges, David Burke, and Alain Ducasse.

ABOUT DATA DELICACIES—

Data Delicacies is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of technology and data as it pertains to restaurants. Host Arun Kumar interviews some of the best and brightest in the industry about all things hospitality tech, artificial intelligence, machine learning.

Data Delicacies on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/29ExS0n9X3Z3FyK4HuSPKH

Incentivio Online - https://www.incentivio.com/

Incentivio Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/incentivio/

Produced by: Incentivio - https://www.incentivio.com/

Data is king!

Every hospitality business uses data to make important decisions. Knowing how to obtain efficient, effective data is paramount for business success.

Incentivio, the “fully automated intelligence-driven guest engagement platform for restaurants & virtual kitchens”, introduces Data Delicacies; which will present those data conversations to the public.

Host Arun Kumar, who also serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Incentivio, says “we’re going to be talking to some of the best and brightest in the industry. We’re going to be talking all things hospitality, we’re going to be talking a lot of tech, and AI, machine learning, and all the fun stuff”

Debuting on Wednesday, May 7, Data Delicacies will release weekly on YouTube with interviews from the industry leaders, restaurant owners, and special appearances from Incentivo insiders.

Be sure to follow Incentivio on all platforms and subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date with all things Data Delicacies.

As Kumar says in anticipation of the show’s debut, “Can’t wait to build this amazing community.”