Digital Hospitality

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 Ent...

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 d...

Last week, The Rising Tide LinkedIn Live community hosted by Cali BBQ Media discussed digital receipts. Digital receipts are loosely defined as a documentation of the process; whatever that process may be. The room participants were encouraged to share stories about what they are building and how they are sharing that with the world.  Every Wednesday and Friday at 10am PDT, Shawn Walchef hosts the...

Teyoshe Smith , founder of Bite by Bite and Co. , has revolutionized the art of charcuterie with her unique approach and passion for nurturing others. With the goal to “normalize charcuterie across the world”, Smith has grown her business on authenticity, customer service, and grit.  Originally called Grazing Crazy, Bite by Bite and Co. , begin with no foreknowledge of the business and no concrete...

Last week, the participants of the Rising Tides LinkedIn Live room hosted by Cali BBQ Media discussed their personal entrepreneurship journeys. What they all discovered was the winding roads that have endured, led to the points they are at currently. There were stories shared and inspiration available in spades.  Take a listen to this week’s replay and join today’s conversation at 10:00 AM PST liv...

Camilla Opperman , CEO and Founder of Nimbus , is revolutionizing the concept of dark kitchens by integrating front-of-house infrastructure to enhance customer engagement. Through innovative strategies and a commitment to creating immersive food experiences, Nimbus is transforming the perception and functionality of ghost kitchens. Opperman and Nimbus are challenging the traditional notion of ghos...

Shawn Walchef lives by two deep thesis statements: Be the Show, not the commercial! Every business needs a show. Those ideas were brought to last weeks’ Rising Tide LinkedIn Live Room as the participants discussed just how to create a show.  The enlightening conversation led to the realization that doing so may not be as difficult as some may think, and a discussion of consistency was also had. Ev...

During a Live Coaching Call with mentor David Meltzer , Shawn Walchef unlocked key insights into maximizing the value and distribution of content.  Meltzer emphasized the importance of understanding the quantitative value of post-production content, explaining how a single piece of content can reach millions if distributed correctly.  Unlocking Quantitative Value “The quantitative value of the pos...

Many of the Rising Tide LinkedIn Live Room regulars took to the road to converge on the National Restaurant Association Show 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. The annual trade show brings together the best and brightest in the hospitality industry to learn, network, and build. A previous Rising Tide Room discussed best practices as it pertains to attending industry events large or small, but after being...

Cali BBQ and Cali BBQ Media Founder, Shawn Walchef spoke on The Restaurant Growth Show powered by Dynpricing to discuss dynamic pricing and restaurants greatest fear. He also spoke to hosts Gordon Paterson and Jose Albis about incentivizing customer loyalty. Cali BBQ, have garnered national attention for implementing dynamic pricing . Often misunderstood as “surge pricing,” Walchef clarifies the d...

Just keep going. That adage has one that speaks to the persistence necessary to find success in life. In this week’s Rising Tide LinkedIn Live room by Cali BBQ Media , participants discussed stories and lessons learned surrounding the idea of persistence in business. What transpired was an inspiring conversation and the sharing of impactful stories from hospitality industry leaders. Take a listen...

Jason E. Brooks , an entrepreneur, author, speaker, coach, and founder of Hospivation LLC, has a passion for the hospitality industry, and is dedicated to empowering leaders through his book, “ Every Leader Needs Followers .”  His book provides a roadmap for transformation, offering ten actionable keys to success while preserving individuality.  “I’ve been trying to find how can I truly give back?...

How do you navigate large industry events? In preparation for the upcoming National Restaurant Association show in Chicago, this week’s Rising Tide LinkedIn Room was all about best practices while attending large events.  Industry expos and conferences can be exhausting and frustrating if not approached correctly. The consensus in the room was if funds are going to be allocated to events, they sho...

No one is coming to tell your story. Storytelling is a vital tool for any brand looking to grow and create a loyal customer base. Many leaders struggle with out to do so consistently and effectively. 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 a...

Gary Campbell , the CEO and Co-Founder of WineView , credits persistence and storytelling for his company’s burgeoning partnership with Toast . He understood the importance of knowing his market inside out, especially when it came to earning the major partnership.  “You pretty much got to get in person.” he says to show host Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ Media. “You have to have a unique value prop.” ...

Do you believe that every piece of content has to be new and original?  In the world where content creation is becoming a requirement for conducting business, it is also becoming increasingly important to have a strategy for doing so.  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 j...

Discover the keys to thriving in the content creator economy with David Meltzer’s invaluable guidance, shared during a recent coaching call with Cali BBQ Media. Digital Hospitality host and Cali BBQ Media owner Shawn Walchef has had the pleasure of having world renowned entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker, and business coach David Meltzer as a friend and mentor for a number of years.  In th...

David Meltzer is the Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing . He is also a world renowned motivational speaker , author, entrepreneur, business coach, and podcast host . For Cali BBQ Media founder Shawn Walchef , Meltzer is a mentor and friend. On Meltzer’s quest to empower over one billion people to be happy, he has made a number of appearances on Cali BBQ Media’s shows . It is well worth your time to...

Matt Wampler’s journey to becoming the co-founder and CEO of ClearCOGS stemmed from a personal pain point in his restaurant career. Recognizing the lack of resources for obtaining essential answers, he envisioned ClearCOGS as a solution to translate overlooked data into actionable insights.  And now ClearCOGS has a huge announcement! Wampler’s mission is clear: empower restaurant operators by prov...

An Inclusive Dining Experience Ernie Carrillo, the founder of Joe & Ernie’s Pizzeria , is crafting an inclusive dining experience that caters to everyone’s tastes and dietary needs. From vegan options to gluten-free delights, Carrillo’s commitment to quality and diversity sets his pizzeria apart in Southern California’s vibrant culinary scene. “I think pizza is that type of thing where everyon...

Solomon Choi , the CEO of Jabba Brands , believes in the power of giving more to ask for more.  Reflecting on his early career, Choi made a bold decision for his family business early in his career, which ultimately paid off. By providing greater service, Choi was able to raise prices confidently, recognizing the value of catering to a captive audience.  “Ask for more by giving them more,” says Ch...

Christine Schindler, the Co-Founder and CEO of Pathspot , is spearheading a transformative movement in the restaurant industry by digitizing back-of-house operations.  Pathspot’s mission is clear: to enhance efficiency and safety in restaurant environments by consolidating various operational and safety procedures into a single, streamlined platform.  “Pathspot is a system for operational and safe...

Finding time for thought leadership can be a challenge. However, for Zach Goldstein , the CEO of Thanx , the responsibility to share knowledge and uplift the industry is paramount. Goldstein acknowledges the industry’s lag in becoming data-driven and sees thought leadership, even if its ROI is not immediately visible, as a means to assist operators.  He believes that amplifying best practices and...

The birth of Schedulefly was rooted in the chaos of manually creating restaurant schedules using Post-It Notes. Wil Brawley and his partners recognized the inefficiencies in this process and envisioned a streamlined solution aimed to eliminate the constant need for phone calls and last-minute changes. Schedulefly emerged as that solution, and revolutionized communication within the restaurant indu...

As the restaurant industry becomes increasingly immersed in the world of technology, Chris Fletcher , founder of Tech on Toast , is addressing the gaps between restaurant operators and tech suppliers.  Tech on Toast: Bridging the Gap Between Operations and Technology Chris Fletcher, founder of Tech on Toast , recognized a significant gap between tech suppliers and restaurant operators during his e...