Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast Ovation

Today's guest is Craig Dunaway, COO of Penn Station East Coast Subs, who shares insights from his 25 years in the restaurant industry. Learn how to spot lasting trends, adopt new technologies wisely, and use a 'fast follow' approach to stay ahead without breaking the bank.
We'll dive into how third-party delivery services are changing the way customers interact with restaurants and why building personal connections is crucial. Discover how brands like Chipotle keep customers loyal despite challenges like rising labor costs and changing preferences.
Thanks, Craig!

It's Bo time! Today's episode is with Sergio Pérez, Senior Director of Omnichannel at Bojangles, who takes us through his journey from an intern to a strategic executive in the world of restaurant marketing. 

We also talk through the 3 C's: Convenience, Consistency, and Connection, and how you can use them to acquire new guests and keep them coming back for a lifetime.

This one's a marketing must-listen. 

Thanks, Sergio!

Today we sit down with Shake Shack's CIO, Dave Harris. As you can imagine, he had some great insights on tech stacks, the balance between human and tech-centered hospitality, and the potential he sees AI having on the industry. 

If you're looking for some high level views on tech in your restaurant, as well as some in-the-weeds tactics, you'll love this episode. 

Thanks, Dave!

Why should all of us care if restaurants are adopting a big-picture strategy? Sure, Mcdonald's should have a strategy team, if not an entire department. But let's get real - say you've got 14 locations. How do you justify having someone as talented and expensive as Jared Cohen?
Jared and Zack explored this on the podcast this week and we learned how he's taken his experience as Senior Director of Global Strategy at Mcdonald's and turned it into real-world change as the COO of Protein Bar & Kitchen.
What stood out to us was the intelligent ways he uses customer data gathered by Ovation and Incentivio to provide a customized guest experience. 
Today's Ovation goes to you, Jared! 

Today's episode is with Matt Tucker,  a titan in the industry who was formerly the President and COO of Olo, and is now the Head of Tock. 

Matt and Zack discuss: 
The 'cockroach' strategy—a testament to the relentless hustle required to weather the tempests of industry uncertaintiesBen Horowitz's "The Hard Thing About Hard Things"Matt's insights on building teams based on trustMoreThanks, Matt!

Today's episode is with the  CEO of Big Chicken and Beer Park, Josh Halpern, from whom we learn all about the good and the hard that comes from a star-backed brand. Sure, Shaq can bring them in. But how do you get them to stay? Stay tuned to find out, and learn some valuable lessons about loyalty for your restaurant. 

Thanks, Josh!