Digital Hospitality Shawn P. Walchef

In last week’s Rising Tide LinkedIn Live Room, the participants discussed How to Communicate Better Digitally. The crew was joined by Ovation Founder, motivational speaker, author, podcast host, and all around entrepreneur guru, Zack Oates where he gave invaluable tools for growth and communication.



Listen to the replay of the latest room where the participants discussed tip and tools on communicating your brand mission and follow Cali BBQ Media to keep up with the latest and join the rooms to tell your story and have your voice heardEvery Wednesday and Friday at 10am PDT, Shawn Walchef hosts the Rising Tide live room on LinkedIn. Leading voices in hospitality, and otherwise, from near and far join to discuss all things business and much more.



Key Quotes from Zack Oates



“Everyone believes that they are innately important because they are.”



“So when someone's commenting or sharing or doing a reaction that isn't just a thumbs up, like if they're doing something thoughtful, anything like that, people will engage with it more.”



“I think that it's no longer just like, hiring that PR firm and putting it out there, but it's a lot of, like, the boots on the ground stuff.”



“It really does matter when people comment.”



“A really important tool for digital creation is just use what works. You don't need to always reinvent things.”



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 DAVO Sales Tax (@davosalestax) and 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

At the National Restaurant Association Show 2024, Popmenu co-founders Brendan Sweeney and Tony Roy shared compelling insights into how AI and technology are revolutionizing the restaurant industry with Digital Hospitality host Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ Media



Roy recounted The power of consistency via a story from Ruby's Jamaican Kitchen in Alexandria, VA, during one of their pocket-sized webinars. Ruby, the owner, emphasized the power of consistency and targeted marketing. Ruby shared an anecdote with Roy and others, where a simple marketing push for her brown stew led to unexpected high sales. 



“It sounds, it's fun to hear, but it's really just, there is no catch. If you just get yourself out there in a targeted way and you do it with consistency, it drives results.” says Roy.



Brendan Sweeney elaborated on Popmenu's advanced email marketing capabilities, which use AI to personalize emails based on distinct data collected from their extensive platform. Popmenu's emails significantly outperform industry averages, with open and click-through rates double those reported by Mailchimp for hospitality emails. By leveraging over 2 billion page views and 30 million monthly visitors to their restaurant sites, Popmenu uses this data to create highly personalized emails that effectively bring customers back.



“Using AI tools, we can write an individualized email for you that's going to do the best job of bringing you back.” says Sweeney. 



As Popmenu continues to provide technology to make restaurants more efficient, Sweeney and Roy stress the importance of embracing technology in the evolving business landscape. He urged restaurant owners to spend time each week learning about and integrating technological advancements, as neglecting to do so could be detrimental. 



“Whether it's AI, automation, these things are here to stay.” says Roy. “The big question I always ask restaurants is, can you be, can you afford to be the only one that's not leveraging this type of tool?”



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 DAVO Sales Tax (@davosalestax) and 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

Last week, the Rising Tide LinkedIn Live room discussed things, assignments, and mindsets that are causing them to have to wait. 



What was learned was that some participants are no longer waiting for anything, some progress is being paused by items out of their control, while others are actively working through barriers, alleged or otherwise.



Listen to the replay of the latest room where the participants discussed “What is making you wait” 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, Shawn Walchef hosts the Rising Tide live 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 believe everybody wants to know what is the experience and what is the consistency and what am I delivering on? Because A: you deliver better service. And B: people feel like they belong more.” -Jason Berkowitz



“So, yeah, I'm not waiting on s*** anymore. Now it's just about capacity management and prioritization and staying focused on those priorities.” -Troy Hooper



“Every time I feel like I'm getting into a lull and there's buzz dying down about my brand, we do something to build it back up.” -Charlie Eblen



“How much capacity do I have? Like, yes, there's hours in the day, but there's also emotional capacity.” -Richard Liverman



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 DAVO Sales Tax (@davosalestax) and 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

Going from busboy at IHOP to owning four of the franchises is basically the definition of the American Dream.



After emigrating from Lebanon to the U.S., Walid Jamal and his brother Rabih got starting jobs at an IHOP in Michigan. Years later they were given the chance to jump into IHOP franchise ownership.



"It's been positive. It's been a great journey. IHOP is a great partner," he said.



Walid Jamal is now president of JHG Restaurants. He's also on the IHOP Technology Advisory Committee. 



"It's something I've always been obsessed with, how to make things more efficient," Walid Jamal said to Digital Hospitality host Shawn Walchef from the R365 booth at the 2024 National Restaurant Association Show. 



Implementing Restaurant365 at their four IHOPs in West Michigan was a big deal for JHG Restaurants. 



They began using Restaurant365 to bring their restaurant operations to the next level. The actionable insights the staff received via R365 helped their performance at all four IHOP locations.



"I've yet to have a year where I don't feel like there's something new that's making us more efficient or some integration or feature that just makes lives better for the managers."







Sponsored by Restaurant365



Restaurant365 is the industry’s leading all-in-one, cloud-based accounting, inventory, scheduling, payroll, and HR solution developed specifically for restaurants. R365’s restaurant enterprise management software simplifies day-to-day management for operators, allowing them to control food costs and optimize labor. Integrations and open APIs enable Restaurant365 to connect with other systems, including POS providers, vendors, and banks. The result is accurate, timely reporting that provides a clear and complete view of their businesses. Restaurant365 is based in Irvine, California with an office in Austin, Texas. Try it out at restaurant365.com.

On a recent episode of the Hospitable Podcast powered by Omniboost, Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ Media had an engaging conversation with Omniboost's CEO Kees Zorge and COO Rob Napoli. The discussion delved into creating a podcast, the importance of frontline engagement, egoless leadership, and the power of storytelling in business.



Napoli, the COO of Omniboost and host of The Bear Necessities of Entrepreneurship Podcast, emphasized their dedication to optimizing the client experience through their technology. Napoli highlighted their proactive approach by visiting client locations to ensure their integrations are functioning seamlessly. That level of commitment ensures that their systems, often operating behind the scenes, truly simplify the clients' workflows and enhance their productivity.



“We're obsessed with it. That's why I love getting to be out on location doing these things,” he explains. “We want to know is it making their life easier or more difficult? Because there's tons of problems that could happen. And that, for us, is so important to be frontline.”



Zorge, the CEO, shared his philosophy on leadership and organizational culture. He strongly believes in the elimination of ego to maintain a unified mission across the company. Zorge’s vision is to preserve the company’s core essence of hospitality and unity, regardless of the company's growth or changes, even considering potential public status in the future.



Zorge stated, “We're a team, and whether you're in the leadership team, whether you've got a “C” title or you're the Chief Dusting Officer. It's the same mission, it's the same insurgency.” 



Walchef brought his perspective on the importance of storytelling in building authentic customer relationships. He highlighted the formula for a compelling keynote: finding a story with a lesson, learning it thoroughly, and repeating it effectively. Drawing parallels to how comedians perfect their craft, Walchef underscored the importance of iteration and precision in storytelling.



“Tell us a story. And in that story, there's a lesson. And the better that you get... at telling the same story that has a good lesson, that becomes the story that your team shares. That's the story that your customers share.” expresses Walchef



The conversation on the Hospitable podcast showcased how Omniboost’s commitment to client experience, leadership without ego, and the power of storytelling can drive business success and foster a cohesive, mission-driven company culture.



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 DAVO Sales Tax (@davosalestax) and 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

Juancarlo Chacon is President of the NextGen Dining Group, and a multi unit Franchisee of Jersey Mike’s across the country.  Though early struggles, his and his family’s struggles as a youth instilled grit and determination to stick through the tough times. 



Chacon learned of Restaurant365 while operating six Jersey Mike’s locations. Initially believing the platform was not a fit for his company due to their accounting being done by a third party, Chacon soon learned that his accountant was converting to R365, prompting him to learn more about all they have to offer.



“I thought it was just accounting software. It's more than that, it's the operations behind it, the technology to be more efficient.”



Technology and efficiency is what is going to help Chacon continue to grow in the franchising space. While R365 has its own large scale event in the Restaurant Transformation Tour, Chacon attended his first National Restaurant Association Show in 2024, and that served as both inspiration to delve deeper into technology that best serves NextGen Dining and confirmation that he is on the cutting edge of technology implementation.



Watch Chacon’s interview with host Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ at the to learn more about Chacon and his franchising journey.




https://content.calibbq.media/restaurant365-ceo-tony-smith-interview